- Outstanding personnel honoured at WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards
- Achievements range from saving lives to championing diversity
- Volunteers and staff involved in the Tropical Cyclone Seroja and Wooroloo Bushfires response honoured
Marine Rescue volunteers who saved the life of a fisherman and a firefighter who tripled the number of women volunteering at her brigade were among the outstanding personnel honoured last night at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards.
The annual honours, which recognise outstanding contributions to emergency services, saw awards presented to groups and individuals across 16 categories.
Marine Rescue Albany received the Award for Outstanding Group Operations for saving a fisherman who was washed adrift and spent two hours in the ocean in February this year.
Merredin's Sheree Lowe took out the Western Australian Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Award for her work in supporting women to become volunteer firefighters, which led to a three-fold increase in the number of female personnel at her brigade.
The State Emergency Service Team Achievement Award was presented to the Communications Support Unit for building an essential piece of communications equipment that assisted the incident management teams at the Red Gully and Wooroloo bushfires.
The Kalbarri Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service took out the Firefighting Team Achievement Award, working tirelessly and racking up almost 1,300 combined hours to help the community recover from Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
James Taylor, Captain of Broome Regional Bush Fire Brigade, was awarded the Murray Lang Bush Fire Service Award for his extraordinary efforts in fundraising, recruiting new volunteers and his involvement in the development of a new fire station.
And the Department of Fire and Emergency Services Operational Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution went to Area Officer Andrew Thompson AFSM for his dedication to mentoring at-risk youth and promoting mental health initiatives among volunteers.
Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Reece Whitby:
"I want to congratulate all the winners on their inspirational achievements and also acknowledge the other finalists, who should be proud of their efforts over the past year.
"All of our award nominees have worked selflessly at an incredible pace and in challenging circumstances, demonstrating great commitment to their role.
"They have made an invaluable contribution to Western Australia, protecting lives and properties in their local communities.
"The WAFES awards are a reminder for all Western Australians to acknowledge our first responders and thank them for their efforts in making this a safer State."
Minister's office - 6552 6300
Marine Rescue Services Awards
Award for Outstanding Group Operations
Marine Rescue Albany
Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement
Alex Williams ESM, Marine Rescue Walpole
Award for Youth Achievement
Zac Berglund, Marine Rescue Dampier
Department of Transport Award for Excellence in Marine Safety
Marine Rescue Jurien Bay
Volunteer Marine Rescue WA Commander's Award
Marine Rescue East Kimberley
Firefighting Awards
Murray Lang Bush Fire Service of WA Award
James Taylor, Broome Regional Bush Fire Brigade
Western Australia Career Fire and Rescue Service Award
Rik Fennell, Joondalup Fire and Rescue Service
Western Australia Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Award
Simone Conklin, Eucla Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
Western Australia Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Award
Sheree Lowe, Merredin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Team Achievement Award
Kalbarri Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Youth Achievement Award
Jay Dwyer, Quinns Rocks Bush Fire Brigade
State Emergency Service Awards
Peter Keillor Award
Connie Eikelboom ESM, Armadale State Emergency Service
Team Achievement Award
Communications Support Unit
Youth Achievement Award
James Cotter, Carnarvon State Emergency Service
Department of Fire and Emergency Services Awards
DFES Operational Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution
Area Officer Andrew Thompson AFSM, Lower South West Regional Office
DFES Corporate Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution
Nicola O'Callaghan, Marine Services
