The newly appointed Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Jenny McAllister, visited the Gilmore electorate for her first ‘meet and greet' with Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers. 

Minister McAllister visited Manyana RFS unit on 2 August to hear first-hand stories from the fire-line over morning tea. Many of the volunteers in this unit were involved in fighting the Currowan Fire on 31 December, 2019.  

“Manyana Rural Fire Service has been through the toughest of times. I was grateful to hear from local volunteers about their experience and service,” said Minister McAllister, highlighting the government’s commitment to disaster preparedness and community resilience. 

Minister McAllister, along with Fiona Phillips, MP for Gilmore, and State Member for South Coast, Liza Butler, also toured Conjola Park. A new floating Jetty in Yooralla Bay was recently installed as part of ongoing recovery efforts for the area. The Commonwealth Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant Program provided $2.2 billion for this effort after the devastation that occurred last New Year’s Eve where 89 homes were lost in the fires.

“The new jetty, playground and barbeque area provides an important meeting place where local families can connect and it is heart-warming to see this great facility in such a spectacular location,” said Minister McAllister.

The federal and state Governments are funding a new fire station at Manyana and a major upgrade to the Lake Conjola facility under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) package.