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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-08-28 Daily Xml
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St Florian's Day

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. R.B. Martin:

That this council—

1. Recognises that 4 May 2024 marks St Florian's Day;

2. Acknowledges that St Florian is the patron saint of firefighters; and

3. Gives thanks to all past and present employees, members and volunteers of the MFS and CFS for their service.

(Continued from 1 May 2024.)

The Hon. S.L. GAME (00:22): I rise briefly to support the motion brought forward by the honourable member to acknowledge St Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, and I join wholeheartedly with the honourable member in giving thanks to all who have served and continue to serve in the MFS and CFS. St Florian epitomises the courage, bravery and unwavering commitment displayed by our firefighters, and we join the honourable member in celebrating the many employees, volunteers and members of our fire service.

Florian was the commander of the firefighting squad in the Roman army around 250 AD and became a Christian saint because he refused to follow the Emperor's orders to persecute Christians. For this act of disobedience Florian was sentenced to death by fire. In response to this punishment, Florian declared, 'If I am sentenced to death by fire I will climb to heaven on the flames.' We celebrate St Florian and pray that all firefighters will continue to be protected in the dangerous work they do.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (00:24): Today, I rise to acknowledge St Florian's Day, a day dedicated to honouring the bravery, commitment and selflessness of our firefighters, especially the extraordinary men and women of the Country Fire Service. St Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, symbolises the courage and resilience that our CFS volunteers embody every day.

In regional South Australia, where bushfires are a near constant threat, these volunteers are often the first line of defence. They are frequently called on to leave behind their own families and to step into harm's way to safeguard our lives and our properties. They are the backbone of our rural safety network, facing extreme conditions while balancing their everyday lives and responsibilities.

None of this, however, is to discount the similarly critical role of our paid firefighters of the Metropolitan Fire Service. In Mount Gambier we are fortunate to have both the CFS and the MFS working together to ensure our safety. I particularly want to acknowledge a mate of mine, Adrian Puust, who is the station officer in Mount Gambier and who was just this month recognised for his 35 years of dedication to firefighting. Adrian is not only a highly experienced but also a respected member of our community.

Like all our CFS and MFS firefighters, Adrian's contributions go beyond firefighting as they also assist with road crashes, traffic management and community services like home fire safety sessions. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Adrian during a seniors forum in Mount Gambier, where he generously offered up his valuable insights into road safety and safe driving behaviour.

Harking back now to the CFS, the sacrifices made by those volunteers is immense and must be acknowledged. They miss family events, they work long hours without pay and they endure physical and emotional exhaustion. Despite witnessing the destruction of homes, livelihoods and natural habitats, they continue to serve with unwavering dedication. Their courage is a testament to the strength of our regional communities.

While today is one of recognition and gratitude, we must also acknowledge the challenges our CFS volunteers face. The ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the CFS is highlighting concerns about the adequacy of resources, support and infrastructure available to our volunteers. These issues, if not addressed, will hamper their ability to respond effectively in the future.

Today, let us focus on the positives, on the incredible work of our volunteers and firefighters in all they do, despite the challenges. Their commitment to protecting our communities is nothing short of heroic. We owe them not only our gratitude but our full support to ensure they have the resources they need to continue their vital work. To all the volunteer firefighters across South Australia, and especially those in our regional areas, thank you. Your courage, dedication and selflessness are the foundation of our communities' safety and resilience. On behalf of all South Australians, I salute you.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (00:27): I rise to offer my support for the motion, acknowledging St Florian and giving thanks to all those who have served, and continue to serve, in the ranks of both the Metropolitan Fire Service and the Country Fire Service.

St Florian is the patron saint of firefighters, and his iconography is often depicted in art as a Roman soldier with a lance and a bucket of water, sometimes shown pouring water over a burning building. For centuries, his feast day has been celebrated on 4 May. St Florian was born around 250 AD, in the ancient Roman city of Aelium Cetium, which is in present-day Austria. He joined the Roman army and rose to the position of a high-ranking officer. He was tasked with organising firefighting brigades, and he is remembered for his courage and leadership in saving towns and villages from fire.

Florian's execution during the Diocletianic Persecution was brutal. After refusing to offer a sacrifice to the old Roman gods and remaining true to his Christian faith, in 304 AD he was scourged, flayed and eventually thrown into the Enns River with a stone tied around his neck. His body was later retrieved by Christians and buried with honour.

Due to his history with firefighting brigades and his miraculous protection against fire, Florian became the patron saint of firefighters. St Florian's story is a testament to bravery, faith and the commitment to helping others in the face of danger. His legacy endures in the hearts of many, especially those in the firefighting community.

St Florian's Day, or International Firefighters' Day as it is also commonly known, was first commemorated in Australia in 1999, following the tragic events of 2 December 1998 when five members of the Geelong West Fire Brigade were killed while fighting a large bushfire in Linton, Victoria.

This horrific incident shocked the local community and also deeply affected volunteer firefighters across the country. JJ Edmondson, a volunteer firefighter with the Country Fire Authority in Victoria, was particularly moved by the tragedy of fellow volunteers losing their lives whilst doing something they were trained and proud to do—protecting others.

JJ made it her mission to organise an internationally recognised symbol of support and respect for all firefighters and set a date for which it could be observed worldwide. St Florian's feast day had long been recognised in Europe as the day of fire service, and that was the perfect date for this international day of observance. Each year on 4 May, people all around the world are encouraged to take a moment to remember past firefighters who have died whilst protecting their communities and safety of others. It is also a day to acknowledge active firefighters. This can be done by proudly wearing and displaying an International Firefighters' Day as a mark of respect.

The colours of the International Firefighters' Day ribbon symbolise the main elements firefighters work with work with—red for fire and blue for water—and are also internationally recognised as colours of emergency services.

In South Australia, we have both the Country Fire Service (CFS) and the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), who put themselves at risk to protect others by responding to fires and many other incidents and emergencies, such as road crashes, complex rescues, chemical incidents and biohazards. Their history goes all the way back to 1862, just 28 years after our state was recognised as a colony, when the 'Act to provide for the appointment of an Inspector of Fire Brigades, and for other purposes therein mentioned' was enacted.

Although the titles of the organisation and the roles within have changed over the years, the purpose remains the same: to safeguard the irreplaceable. When we think of the Metropolitan Fire Service, many may automatically think of bright trucks sweeping down busy city streets, but there are 17 regional MFS fire stations supporting country communities. As a proud representative of regional South Australia, I would particularly like to acknowledge those stations today.

The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service is comprised of approximately 1,200 personnel, including full-time and retained (regional part-time) firefighters and non-operational personnel, across the 37 stations and a range of support facilities throughout South Australia. Community engagement is a cornerstone of the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service mission. Through fire safety education, public demonstrations and school programs, they work proactively to reduce fire risks and enhance public safety awareness.

The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service also collaborates with other emergency services and government agencies to coordinate comprehensive disaster response and recovery efforts. The South Australian MFS commitment to excellence is reflected in their continuous investment in cutting-edge technology and equipment, ensuring they remain at the forefront of emergency response capabilities. Their dedication to protecting the community and minimising the impacts of emergencies makes the South Australian MFS an indispensable asset to the state.

Likewise, the Country Fire Service has a clear and ambitious vision to be the best volunteer firefighting service in the world. Over 13,500 volunteers, including cadets and operational support members, make up the backbone of the CFS, supporting their communities in times of needs across 425 brigades in six regions covering our great state. Their relentless efforts in fire prevention, readiness and response significantly reduce the loss of lives, properties and natural environments.

The CFS exemplifies country community resilience. Their rigorous training, advanced equipment and strategic planning equip them to effectively battle everything from wildfires to dangerous chemical spills from overturned trucks in the middle of nowhere. The courage and dedication of volunteers facing unpredictable and hazardous situations make them true community heroes, deeply appreciated by locals like me and my family in Winkie.

I have spoken in this place previously about my admiration for the CFS. They are crucial to our country towns. As someone who has experienced natural disaster several times over, through flood, storm and fire, I cannot thank them enough. I wish to thank every single member of our Country Fire Service and the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, particularly the volunteers and those on the frontline, who put up their hands to train hard and risk their lives for their communities in times of emergency. Thank you for all that you do to make our community a safer place to live. I commend the motion.

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (00:33): I would like to start by thanking the Hon. Sarah Game, the Hon. Ben Hood and the Hon. Nicola Centofanti for their generous contributions, all sharing the sentiments that I am sure everyone in this chamber has, of thanks and appreciation for the great work that the personnel, staff, volunteers from the MFS and the CFS do here in South Australia.

There is no-one that I respect more that in times of danger runs towards that danger to help others rather than running away from it, and people that serve in the MFS and CFS certainly do that and put their own lives at risk to help, save and protect others. That courage that they have is just such an amazing and admirable quality.

I would just like to quickly place on the record—and I do not say this at the expense of others that maybe I do not know about—that the member for Waite in the other house, Catherine Hutchesson, is a serving CFS member and has been for quite some time. She is very active in her CFS community. A friend of mine and of many here on the Labor benches, the former minister and former member for Colton, the Hon. Paul Caica, was a longstanding firefighter, and on his retirement from parliament he went back to help serve and represent those people through a position at the United Firefighters Union. If there are others on the other benches that I do not know of, please do not take offence. I am sure—

The Hon. J.S. Lee: Adrian Pederick.

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN: Adrian Pederick is also a member of the CFS, is he? Yes, excellent. So thank you to Adrian as well and every member of the CFS and the MFS who serve our community so well. I appreciate it and thank them, and I commend this motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.

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