PM Scott Morrison pays tribute to firefighters in Christmas message
Scott Morrison paid tribute to the two firefighters who died fighting bushfires in NSW as he addressed the nation in his Christmas message. While the PM acknowledged the tough times Aussies faced this year, he also encouraged everyone to look ahead to 2020.
NSW
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Scott Morrison has paid tribute to Australia’s serving men and women — including volunteer firefighters — in his Christmas message celebrating the “kindness and courage” of the country’s spirit.
The Prime Minister started his annual message with an acknowledgment of the tough times faced by many people around Australia in 2019.
“From the floods up in North Queensland earlier this year, to the drought that continues to ravage the country for years now and of course the bushfires which have been raging since September, despite all of these great challenges Australians have stood up, Australians have shown tremendous spirit and responded,” he said.
“This spirit has been expressed in the kindness and the courage and the love extended from one Australian to another standing with their families and their communities.
“This great spirit is what makes Australia the amazing country that it is, and at this Christmas time we give thanks despite these terrible challenges for the wonderful country we’ve been blessed to live in.
“On behalf of our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas.”
Mr Morrison also recognised the partners and families of NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers Andrew O’Dwyer and Geoff Keaton who died battling blazes in NSW last week.
“To Melissa and Jess and all of your family, to Andrew and Geoff’s parents, we know this is going to be a tough Christmas for you this year,” he said.
“The first one without both of these amazing men, and to all of those out there at the Horsley Park Station, we send our great love and our best wishes to you, they are a reminder of why this country is amazing.”
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Mr Morrison’s wife Jenny stood by his side in the video message, offering her own best wishes to the country.
“Christmas has always been a really special time of year for our family, but we know this year it’s going to be a really difficult Christmas for so many Australians,” she said.
In his video to Australia’s service men and women, Mr Morrison said there is no greater gift to Australians than the sacrifice Australian Defence Force troops make while serving overseas during Christmas time.
He said they put their lives at risk to keep other Australians safe.
“There are more than 1500 Australians service men and women deployed overseas upholding our nation’s interest, defending our values, keeping us safe and putting yourselves at risk in order to do so,” he said.
“I know you would love to be home for Christmas, to be close to your family and friends, but I want you to know that dedicating your lives to the service of others, the service of our great country, there can be no greater gift that you can provide to all of us this Christmas.”
Last year Mr Morrison visited 800 troops deployed in Iraq as part of a secret visit to the Middle East to thank them for their service training Iraqi troops and fighting Islamic State.
He also was planning on visiting Afghanistan but the trip was cancelled at the last minute because of security concerns.
In this year’s video message, Mr Morrison also paid tribute to ADF personnel who had assisted firefighters battling blazes around the country.
“And we thank all those ADF personnel who have provided such strong support over recent weeks to our firefighters all around the country,” he said.
“On behalf of Jenny, and all of my family, and all Australians, I want to wish you and all of your family a very Merry Christmas.”
OPPOSITION’S MESSAGE TO AUSSIE PUBLIC
Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese also highlighted the resilience of Australians in the face of difficulties.
“In 2019, we think particularly of those people in the community who have been fighting bushfires. We think of those empty seats at tables where people have lost loved ones,” he said.
“This is the greatest country on earth. And the thing that makes it the greatest country on earth is our people.”