Daniel Hulme MP - Working for you in Franklin

[6.16 p.m.]

Mr HULME (Franklin) - I would like to extend my appreciation to six volunteers from the Bruny Island branch of Timber Communities Australia who this Thursday morning will be returning home after a week in Victoria where they have been doing work to assist communities that have been affected by the recent bushfires. The volunteers left Bruny Island last Wednesday and have spent a week in Traralgon South in Gippsland. The community of Traralgon South has been severely affected by the bushfires. In this district 11 lives were lost and many homes have been devastated. The community has shown extraordinary resilience; they have established a community-driven fire relief committee. The number of members of the community who are willing to support the relief effort is incredible, despite having suffered immense personal loss themselves. The homes that are still standing, and there are very few of them, have been flying Australian flags as a symbol of the community's resolve to pull through the tragedy. The volunteers from Bruny Island have been repairing fencing on properties in Red Hill Road in the district. In this district alone there are over 4 000 kilometres of fences that need repairing.

There is also a quilting group on Bruny Island, Blue Gum Borders, who have been producing various items of toys and clothing and other items for children affected by the fires. These items have been sent with the volunteers for distribution to the children. In under four weeks, 13 members of the group made 30 children's quilts, 16 cloth dolls, 10 pairs of knitted socks, 16 knitted beanies, and two knitted rugs. These items have been mostly made from fabric provided by the group. There has also been some fabric donated and The Patch Works in Hobart donated some wadding. When the volunteers were distributing the goods one of the children affected by the fires told the volunteers that he had lost both 'his dad and his dog' in the fires. The volunteers said that the smile that it brought to this child's face was absolutely priceless when they handed him a quilt and a beanie.

I think I can speak for all members of this House when I say that this selfless contribution is to be applauded. It serves to demonstrate that when we try to estimate the limits of human capacity for compassion, charity and community spirit our expectations are confounded.

The volunteers who went from Bruny Island are farmers and foresters. Despite suffering pressures in their own industry, they have willingly given up a week to undertake unpaid work to serve another community that has lost so much. The volunteers - and I do not think they will mind my naming them - were Trevor Adams, Pat Bortignon, Ian Kaden, Des Adams, Ken Marsh and Karen Marsh. Mrs Marsh was assisting with meals and washing at the hotel where the fencing workers were staying.

This endeavour would not have been possible without generous support from many other businesses and communities. The Bruny Island community contributed $1 500 towards the cost of fuel and other incidentals. The Cricket Club Hotel, where the volunteers were staying, did not charge them for their accommodation. The volunteers and their vehicles were transported by Toll and TT‑Line free of charge. Gaffney Machinery in Somerset donated a tractor which Toll shipped free of charge. The tractor was transported to Traralgong South by Mannway Logistics. Healthcare Insurance donated first aid kits to the volunteers, which, thankfully, have not as yet been required.

I am not the first member of this House to acknowledge this contribution. The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Mr Llewellyn, issued a media statement to thank the volunteers for their contribution, including the quilting group. Prior to leaving, I understand they were met in Somerset by the member for Braddon, Mr Kons, who wished them well in their endeavours.

Timber Communities Australia has informed me that they are planning further visits from other branches. Volunteers from the Meander branch are departing tonight and in a week's time they will be joined by members of the Ranelagh branch. This contribution by Timber Communities Australia is a welcome addition to all the community fundraising efforts that have been made around the State; efforts such as the cricket match I attended between the Snug and Margate cricket clubs to raise funds for the Marysville Cricket Club, also attended by the Deputy Premier and Leader of the Opposition, which they both mentioned in this year's first sitting of Parliament.

The Government has also provided great assistance to the relief effort with the dollar-for-dollar contribution up to a maximum of $750 000 for each dollar raised by the community. We also took up clothing collections through our electorate offices and I welcome the contributions of the Opposition and the Tasmanian Greens for this effort.

Time expired.