Mayor responds to firefighting tragedy

‘It’s just devastating news,’ is how Central Highlands’ Mayor Kerry Hayes described the death of a 21-year old Rolleston man while preparing fire breaks on a property near Carnarvon yesterday evening.

‘This was an energetic young person showing tenacity and commitment to saving his family’s property in the face of an emerging serious bushfire situation, and he’s lost his life,’ the mayor said.

‘I know I speak, not only on behalf of my fellow councillors, but for the local Rolleston community and every person in this region when I say how deeply moved we are by this tragedy and how profoundly sad we feel for the man’s family and friends.

‘We hear all too often how tough life on the land is and the events of this week have bought this fact into sharp focus.

‘For every one of the trained and skilled fire fighters and emergency personnel on the ground right now in this region there is a property owner, a son, a daughter, an employee, a neighbour, and a friend all pitching in to fight the frightening force of nature that a bushfire is.

‘I want them all to know that we—the council and all the emergency services authorities—have their welfare at the absolute forefront of our operations. We are providing every support we can muster and have numerous technical and physical eyes on every situation in this region,’ the mayor said.

‘I want to thank everyone, from sandwich makers and water carters to machinery operators and frontline fire fighters, for your courage and commitment.

‘Again, I can’t express enough how genuinely affected we all are by this tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends throughout the difficult days ahead.’