Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — I rise today to note the sad passing of Keith Herring, ASM, a community stalwart in my electorate of Yuroke. Keith will be fondly remembered for his leadership of the Craigieburn and District Ambulance Committee, which was formed in 1994 out of community frustration at the 40-minute waiting times for ambulance services. Keith was also a founding member of the local community emergency response team, known as CERT, the first of its kind in Victoria. CERT mobilised the community and continues to be an effective volunteer organisation that has saved countless lives. With a growing number of people moving to Craigieburn, Keith continued to fight for better emergency services, helping to successfully lobby for a local 24-hour ambulance service. His leadership and service were recognised in 2007 with a well-deserved Ambulance Service Medal.

Of course Keith’s commitment to the community extended beyond emergency services. His contribution to the tennis club and the Craigieburn Festival helped what was once a small town on Melbourne’s outskirts flourish into a growing urban centre. Keith’s advocacy did not slow down in retirement when, as president of the Bridgewater Lake Retirement Estate Residents Committee, he campaigned for differential council rates for retirement villages. My thoughts and those of the community are with Keith’s wife, Mary, an equally valued member of the community; their children and grandchildren; and the community of colleagues, neighbours and friends who will benefit from Keith’s legacy for years to come.