18/7/96
Stations across the State will vie for the title of ‘Best Kept Station' in a joint initiative by the Fire and Rescue Service of Western Australia and the Keep Australia Beautiful Council (KABC).
The inaugural ‘Best Kept Emergency Services Station of WA' awards were today launched at Bassendean Fire Station by Liberal Member for Swan Hills June van de Klashorst on behalf of Emergency Services Minister Bob Wiese.
Mrs van de Klashorst said it was important to stress that stations would not be assessed in their architectural or aesthetic beauty - simply their cleanliness and tidiness.
"Fire stations throughout WA range from the very latest - such as Joondalup, which was opened last year - through to the oldest operational station at Kellerberrin, which was built in 1914," she said.
"Bassendean station, which houses both career firefighters and volunteers, probably falls somewhere in between, having been built in 1967."
Mr Wiese said the Keep Australia Beautiful Council held an annual competition to choose the tidiest town of WA, and all towns in the State were judged on strict standards. The Best Kept Station awards were an additional section.
This year's judge, Barry Robert-Shaw, would travel the State judging the overall appearance of the Fire and Rescue Service of WA's fire stations from August 1 to mid-November.
Fire stations in the Pilbara-Kimberley and Eastern Goldfields regions, as well as stations in Geraldton, Bunbury, Albany and the Perth metropolitan area, would take part in the competition.
Stations would be judged on points including the condition of the paintwork, glass areas, amount of litter, fencing standards, directional streets signs and garden beds.
The `Best Kept Station' awards would be run by the Fire and Rescue Service but independently judged by the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
"All stations will have a chance to win a certificate of excellence or a regional award, as well as the opportunity to take off the major title," Mr Wiese said.
Media contact: Mark Thompson on 322 2311
