|
Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [1.00 p.m.]: I offer my condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the horrific bushfires in Victoria. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their homes, those who have been injured and who have a battle ahead of them to recover, and the people who must regroup and re-establish their communities. Over the past few days and weeks as we have dealt with the tragedy of these bushfires we have been reminded that Australia is not a group of isolated States—it is a nation and, in many respects, a large family. We grieve for and empathise with the pain and loss being experienced in Victoria.
I have been particularly touched by the response of my community of Manly. I will not do justice to that response because my constituents have demonstrated deep, significant and heartfelt compassion. I congratulate them and reaffirm the important message being sent to the people of Victoria that they are not alone. The Manly Lifesaving Club has a very real connection with this tragedy because members Lynne and Howard Schauer lost Lynne's brother Garry, his wife, Jacinta, and their six-year-old daughter, Erryn. Their 12-year-old daughter, Maddison, suffered burns to 50 per cent of her body and will be in hospital for at least three months. It is hard to comprehend the tragedy that has befallen that young girl. Not only is she struggling to recover in hospital but she has also lost her entire family in one swoop. It would be inhuman not to feel the pain and despair that she must feel.
I commend Manly Lifesaving Club for gathering around these members, who have been very active not only in the club but also in the wider local community. The club will hold a fundraiser this Friday at 7.00 p.m. to help pay for the treatment of Maddison's burns and to help her extended family to rehabilitate and to fathom this unbelievable loss. Similar responses have occurred across Manly. Most people have not been affected as the Schauers have been. I pass on to them my heartfelt sorrow and 100 per cent support in this tragedy. Those who have not been as directly impacted have done a great deal to help and have contributed enormously. They include the Salvation Army local chaplain, a volunteer firefighter who was so moved that he loaded a trailer with toys and drove from one town to the next in the affected area handing them out. He reported that the response was overwhelming. People appreciated that someone cared enough to stand beside them.
North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club also raised money for the bushfire appeal at a Valentine's Day disco; Mackellar Girls Campus responded quickly by holding a mufti day and raised more than $5,000, and challenged other schools to do the same; Harbord Diggers and the Mounties group raised $50,000 and will match every donation made at the club; Toni and Guy's hairdressing salon offered $25-haircuts and donated the proceeds; Manly West Primary School had a gold coin donation campaign and raised $2,325 from just 688 students; and staff at the Bluewater Cafe raised more than $2,000 by donating the tips they received last weekend and patrons who were aware of the gesture added to their efforts. The northern beaches Lions clubs have done a particularly good job in fundraising. Club members liaised with Sydney Ferries to travel on ferries and have raised $17,780 from commuters and ferry staff. I also pay tribute to the Sydney Ferries staff who have contributed. The proceeds will distributed directly to the Lions clubs at Marysville and Kinglake and at Whittlesea, Churchill and Traralgon in Gippsland.
An event held in my electorate typifies this State's response to the bushfire tragedy. Last Saturday night representatives of all churches in the Manly area came together to pray for the affected families and victims of this great tragedy and determined as a community to make a difference and to support the victims. It was a moving event and I pay tribute to everyone in Manly who put a shoulder to the wheel. I particularly extend my condolences to the Schauers. We cannot understand the depth of their tragedy, but we stand alongside them willing to help in any way we can. We pass on our best wishes and the support of this Parliament.
|
