Mr Pallas  (Tarneit)  — I congratulate  two  members of  my  local community, Barbara Wells and Allan Kendall, who recently celebrated 45 years of  service to the Werribee Country Fire Authority (CFA).  It was a great pleasure to see their hard work  publicly recognised  by the Werribee CFA at its annual  dinner on  24 May.

Barbara Wells began her service to the Werribee CFA  in the ladies auxiliary and then in the  auxiliary,  working in administration, organisation and fundraising for the Werribee CFA. I have spoken to  local members of the brigade who tell me that  the most valued aspect of Barbara’s work has been ensuring the  welfare of local brigade members.

Allan Kendall has worked for the CFA as an operational  firefighter and has also made a valuable  contribution to the  running of the organisation,  transferring his business skills  to  strengthen  the  local  brigade. In the 1950s and 1960s Allan was instrumental in lobbying to bring a  rescue truck and the jaws of life to Werribee.

One of the most heartening aspects of the long service of both Barbara and Allan is  that  it  has  inspired  their families to follow  them  into  CFA  service, including  Barbara’s son  Michael,  who is now  the  local brigade captain.  The families  have  contributed  over 200 years of combined service to the CFA.  CFA volunteers provide an invaluable service to our local community, often  for very little thanks, and it is a  credit to both of these members not  only  that they have served for so long but that they have inspired others to do so.