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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-11-26 Daily Xml
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Pinery Bushfires

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (15:29): Ten years ago, the Pinery fires tore through more than 86,000 hectares of our region, leaving devastation that is still etched in our collective memory. Yesterday was the actual day, 10 years ago. We remember the lives lost, the homes and farms destroyed, the animals killed or maimed, and the livelihoods that were shattered. For many, the pain of that day has never fully healed and, for some, recovery remains incomplete even now. Yet, in the face of devastation, our communities rallied.

The commemorative events held over the past few days remind us that the bonds which hold us together can never be destroyed. On Sunday, I joined the Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Rhiannon Pearce MP, as around 500 people gathered at the Ahrens and Johnsons FARM Centre in Freeling for the Pinery 10 Years On event. Families, survivors, volunteers and supporters came together to reflect on the tragedy and to pay tribute to those affected. I want to honour the committee members who organised this event and thank all those who contributed: committee members and groups like the Lions Clubs of Mallala, Balaklava, Gilbert Valley and Gawler.

Following the speeches, we moved outside, where Light Regional Council Mayor, Bill Close, and Vince Monterola AM AFSM, who was appointed the Pinery recovery coordinator in November 2015, planted a commemorative tree and unveiled a memorial plaque. The tree will grow as a living memorial, symbolising both remembrance and renewal, while the plaque ensures that future generations will know the story of what happened here.

Yesterday, the Wasleys Bowling Club hosted its own remembrance. This venue burnt down during the fires, and it stands as a symbol of both loss and recovery. At 3.18pm yesterday, the exact time the fire tore through the club and froze the clock, the bowling club community observed a moment of silence. I want to acknowledge the bowls club and the Wasleys community for organising such a meaningful event. The efforts ensure that the memory of what was lost is honoured, while the spirit of renewal is celebrated.

During the event, I met Debbie Massaeu, who was in one of the burnt-out cars I recall from those haunting days. Her story is a reminder of the human courage that emerged from the tragedy and the lives forever changed by that fire. Ten years on, those memories remain vivid. I recall the images of burnt-out buildings, the Wasleys Bowling Club, the post office reduced to ruins and the vehicles abandoned on the road between Freeling and Daveyston. Those vehicles carried a silence that was difficult to contemplate. The trauma was visible in the eyes of farmers and residents, who on any other day would have seemed very stoic.

Many older farmers wondered if they would have the strength to rebuild. The fire stripped away not only the buildings and crops but also the memories stored in garages, sheds and family archives. As one farmer told me, 'I have lost so many memories.' The loss of history, family records, artefacts and heirlooms was as painful as the loss of physical structures. Yet, despite the enormous pain, what shone through was compassion and solidarity.

Emergency services workers, both paid and volunteer, fought bravely at the frontlines. Vets and animal welfare groups searched the scorched countryside for animals in need of help. Men and women groups stepped forward to help those directly affected with their process of grief. Neighbours reached out with simple acts of kindness, sharing meals, lending equipment or simply listening. Over time, fences were mended, crops were replanted, herds were restocked and buildings were rebuilt. Life returned to some form of normality, though the memories of loss remain.

The Pinery fires revealed the best of humanity in the face of tragedy. They showed us that healing is not a single moment but a continuing process. Each act of remembrance, each gathering, such as those I have attended in the past few days, contributes to that healing. As we mark this 10th anniversary, let us honour those we lost, acknowledge those still carrying the scars and celebrate the resilience of our community.

Let us thank the volunteers, the service workers, the community groups and neighbours who stood shoulder to shoulder when it mattered the most. Let us remember Allan Tiller and Janet Hughes, who lost their lives, and express our condolences to their families. The Pinery fires were a tragedy but they also revealed the strength of our community. Ten years on, we stand not only in remembrance but in gratitude for the courage shown, the compassion given and the unity that endures.

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