Anna Mason

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie)—I'd like to acknowledge the invaluable support provided by the friends and families of our Rural Fire Service brigade members, particularly during the catastrophic 2019 – 2020 bushfire season. While they may not be on the front lines fighting fires, the support they offer active members behind the scenes is a really important part of the broader firefighting effort. Anna Mason from Bonnells Bay is a wonderful example of this. Anna's husband Chris Mason serves with the Peninsula Rural Fire Brigade, and throughout the last bushfire season she went above and beyond to care for all of the brigade's 43 members. Not only was Anna on hand to provide much-needed emotional and mental support to brigade members as they returned from their gruelling shifts, she also arrived at the station in the early hours of the morning to make breakfast for those finishing night shifts. What's more Anna looked after the children of brigade members, allowing RFS volunteers to go out and fight bushfires. I congratulate and thank Anna for her continued support of the Peninsula Rural Fire Brigade members.