It is with sadness that I contribute to the condolence motion for the victims of the bushfires.

I commend and wholeheartedly support the first motion of this Parliamentary calendar.

This Parliament speaks with one voice on an issue that has impacted us all in every community, whether or not the fires came to our electorates.

The motion is a tribute to and recognition of all of those who have played a role in some way and to ensure that those who have lost their lives, property, homes and businesses will always be in our thoughts and that we will always be here to help them.

In a perfect world there would be no need for this condolence motion.

In a perfect world the firefighters and residents who lost their lives would be safe with their families and friends.

In a perfect world the nearly 2,500 homes that were razed would still be standing, filled with pictures, furniture and memories.

Sadly, the devastating bushfires over the past few months have served as a stark reminder that our world is far from perfect.

On behalf of my constituents and my family, I offer my deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the 33 people who lost their lives across Australia, including the 25 people here in New South Wales.

The pain of losing someone you love is unimaginable.

I offer my utmost thanks to the thousands of firefighters and emergency services personnel who put their lives on the line to protect people and property, including our international friends who came to help in our time of need.

This shows the level of respect that people around the world hold for Australia and Australians. Their bravery and unwavering commitment will always be remembered and treasured.

The bushfires over the past few months have brought unspeakable tragedy.

I know that our summers are hot, and I have always loved our summers, but the continual heatwave and the hot and windy conditions is something I have never experienced.

I hope that we never have to experience this again, though I know that cannot be guaranteed.

The tragedy has not dampened the formidable Aussie spirit.

It has been heartening to see so many acts of kindness, strangers helping strangers.

The call for donations was overwhelming.

We answered, and we answered fast.

People opened their doors to shelter those who lost everything.

In the chaos and heartache the great Aussie tradition of volunteerism was inspiring, the generosity was flowing and the kindness was unlimited.

Like many other Australians I watched in horror as volunteer firefighters battled ferocious fires.

They left their families to brave these horrific conditions. Sadly, some volunteers lost their own homes while fighting to save the homes of others.

The spirit of these volunteer firefighters and the scenes of devastation prompted a sea of donations and a new wave of volunteers.

People packed up trucks or car boots with food and water to relieve our NSW Rural Fire Service fireys.

The community response to these terrible bushfires has been extremely heartening.

People gave very generously in my own electorate.

One example was the Silver Coin Project—Back to School Bushfire Appeal.

Residents donated thousands of school stationery supplies, which were packed into nearly 600 backpacks and donated to six schools in the electorate of Wollondilly that were affected by the bushfires.

Drop-off points across the Macarthur region were inundated with donations.

 It was a great privilege to join the volunteers as they prepared the backpacks full of much-needed supplies.

Whilst we managed to fill almost 600 backpacks, there were still more containers and boxes of school items, which will be donated to bushfire‑affected schools in the local area.

On that note I also recognise the tremendous efforts of Jenny and Darko, who run the Silver Coin Project, for their initiative and dedication to the success of the Back to School Bushfire Appeal.

They came up with the idea and within days it all went so well.

I recognise their dedication not only to this cause but so many others throughout the year.

I also acknowledge Nicole at Ingleburn Village where the charity kept and stored all the supplies. The management of Ingleburn Village was very generous in offering space for free to ensure that donations, which just kept on coming, were able to be stored in a secure place.

I also acknowledge members of the Rotary Club of Ingleburn who were there, as they always are, to do the barbecues, the Salvation Army who were collecting donations and, of course, the many other community groups which in their own way were collecting every coin and every dollar for those in need.

The images of the bushfire devastation may have made many of us feel a little helpless.

Donating and volunteering made us feel a little less helpless and that we can all play a part in rebuilding our communities.

It was the least we could do for the volunteer firefighters and communities who bore the brunt of the ferocious fires.

On my way to work I noticed a house in Leumeah, which is on the southern bounds of my electorate, with a large sign draped over its back balcony with the words "Thank You RFS", complete with a big red love heart.

This illustrates the profound impact the bushfires have had on all of us, regardless of where we live, and shows how grateful we are for those who came to help in any way possible.

I also saw a cafe putting up a sign that said all RFS fireys were able to eat for free at any time of the day.

The generosity, thoughtfulness and gratitude can be found anywhere and everywhere in Australia.

It is heartening to know that in our time of need Australians always look after each other.

The healing process ahead is a long one for the families that have lost loved ones and the communities still reeling from widespread devastation.

The rebuilding process can be daunting for those who lost their homes, businesses and livelihoods.

However, all of us can contribute in our own small way through donations and if you are thinking of having a holiday there is no better way to support communities on the South Coast than to holiday there.

Many families and businesspeople have worked so hard to build up their small businesses. To see them lost or destroyed through no fault of their own is very disheartening.

What we can do is make sure we go and spend our dollars to help the local economy and rebuild businesses, livelihoods and jobs for those people.

To everyone affected by these terrible bushfires, please know that the people of New South Wales and all Australians stand beside you through your recovery.

As a nation we have great resilience.

With the help of all Australians, through our generosity and kindness, we will get through the rebuilding process together.

I commend the motion to the House.