- Volunteering champion recognised for work with victims of crime
Compassion and respect for victims of crime has led to Yokine resident Rae Willis winning the Department of the Attorney General's highest volunteering honour, the 2016 Bert Harris Award.
Attorney General Michael Mischin today presented Mrs Willis with the annual award, which honours volunteers who give outstanding support to victims of crime.
"The department regards Mrs Willis as the gold standard of volunteers," Mr Mischin said.
"She has a calm and comforting presence and is at ease when dealing with victims who are distressed and upset."
Mrs Willis is a longstanding volunteer, having previously worked with Meals on Wheels, the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Friends of the Institute for Child Health Research before joining the Victim Support and Child Witness Service in 2013.
The award is named after the late Bert Harris, a long-time former volunteer with the department's Victim Support and Child Witness Service, which supports both adult and child victims of crime, as well as witnesses to criminal activity, as they go through the court process.
The Attorney General also commended the other nominees for the award, including Christine Westphal (Crawley), Janet McCauley (Secret Harbour), Mar Knox (West Leederville), Paul Mattin (Carramar) and Patricia Hill (Bedford).
Fact File
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