Page 460 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 10 February 2009
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None of us will ever be the same, but we do know that you can rebuild. Through all the dreadful events that we have faced, we have worked together after the event to rebuild and tried to heal wounds we thought could never be healed. Now, as then, we will work together to do what we can to help those who have suffered and who will continue to suffer through the long path to recovery.
Canberrans were touched by the support offered from all around the country in our hour of need. Now it is our turn to help. We will offer whatever support we can. We will stand with our fellow Australians in their time of need. Already Canberrans are on hand to help fight the fires which still blaze. We will open our hearts and our wallets to contribute to the appeals which have been launched. Individually and as a territory, we have already given, and we will continue to give. The path to recovery will be a long one, but we will be there to help. I offer my sincere condolences to all touched by this tragedy.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens): On behalf of the ACT Greens, I rise to offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to those who are suffering from the horrendous firestorms that have swept through Victoria in the past few days. Our thoughts are with the families and communities that are experiencing terrible hardship as a result of what has been described as the greatest peacetime tragedy Australia has seen. As of early this morning, 173 people have died and there are warnings that the death toll will rise as police access the devastated areas.
We can only imagine the extreme grief and pain that many people from these close-knit communities must be enduring—losing not only family members but the entire social fabric of their home town. I have seen reports from people who have lived their entire lives in these picturesque towns; it is heartbreaking to watch their despair at losing a lifetime of irreplaceable memories.
Throughout the coming weeks, I believe that we will all keep in our minds and hearts the 22 people who are in the Alfred hospital with horrific burns, among them a two-year-old girl. These people will need constant support and care long after the initial shock and alarm of this tragedy has passed.
We are heartened to see the generosity of many Australians in the donation of millions of dollars to the official Red Cross relief fund, and encourage Canberrans to donate where possible, as we all well know the need we experienced ourselves after the devastating fires that swept through Canberra in 2003.
Our sincere admiration and thanks go to the firefighters and state emergency services personnel who have risked their own lives to save the lives and property of others. These people are indeed unique, and the fact that many are volunteers highlights the enormous gratitude we owe them. Sadly, the work of these brave individuals is not yet done, as many towns are still under threat. With approximately 28 fires continuing to burn, we fully support the ACT government’s contribution of relief funds and personnel, pledged by the Chief Minister yesterday, and we wish all personnel a safe and speedy return.
In the weeks and months to come, we will be indebted to the countless individuals from various charities who will work tirelessly to help these communities rebuild their
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