- 44 finalists chosen from different regions
across Western Australia
- 127 nominations received for 15 categories
- Winners to be revealed at WAFES Awards gala
dinner on 7 September
A marine rescue group that battled
treacherous seas off the coast of Esperance to save a stranded vessel and a
volunteer firefighter who helped residents escape a raging bushfire are among
44 finalists announced for the 2024 Western Australian Fire and Emergency
Services (WAFES) Awards.
Emergency
Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the annual awards recognise the vital
contribution that emergency services personnel make to Western Australia every
year, particularly volunteers who donate their time for the benefit of their
community.
More than
28,000 emergency services volunteers and staff across WA work round-the-clock
to prepare, respond to and recover from emergencies including cyclones, floods,
fires, storms, land and ocean rescues and hazardous material spills.
Fifteen
awards are up for grabs across three categories in 2024 - individual, team and
youth - acknowledging excellence in firefighting, Marine Rescue and the State
Emergency Service.
A number
of the 2024 finalists have been recognised for their efforts at major
emergencies from the past year including the Nanga Brook bushfire, Mariginiup
bushfire, Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa and Tropical Cyclone Lincoln.
Other nominations acknowledge finalists who
have excelled in emergency preparedness or community education and engagement.
The winners will be revealed at the WAFES Awards
gala dinner at Crown Perth on Saturday, 7 September.
Further details are available at https://dfes.wa.gov.au/wafesawards
Comments attributed to Emergency
Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Over the past
year, our emergency services have faced incredible challenges and dangers,
selflessly putting themselves at risk to serve their community.
"Day or night these people are ready to respond to
major bushfires, storms, cyclones, floods and land and sea search rescue
operations without hesitation.
"They are always on hand to help, whether it's helping
us to prepare for disasters or responding and rebuilding our local communities
after an incident.
"On behalf of the Cook Government and all
Western Australians, I would like to thank and commend these amazing finalists
and all of our emergency services personnel for their efforts and commitment.
"The WAFES Awards are a chance for all of us to
recognise the inspiring stories of our first responders and to acknowledge and
thank them for their heroic efforts.
"The 44 finalists come from all walks of life,
highlighting the diversity and community spirit of Western Australia's
emergency services."
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Career Fire and Rescue Individual
Achievement Award
Jayden Edwards, Firefighter, Bunbury Fire Station
Mark Papadopoff, Station Officer, Butler Fire Station
Doug Spear, Station Officer, Daglish Fire Station
DFES Corporate Staff Individual Achievement
Award
Anni Fordham, Public Information Manager
Kathleen Colgate, Land and Buildings Executive Manager
Lynelle Fozard, Youth in Emergency Service Coordinator
DFES Operational Staff Individual
Achievement Award
Bec Benson, Marine Services District Officer
Lisa Bishop, Firefighter School District Officer
Victoria Gardener, Natural Hazard West Kimberley District Officer
Marine Rescue
Individual Achievement Award
Bradley Nicholas, Marine Rescue Cockburn
Cameron Bell, Marine Rescue Dampier
Fabio Renzullo, Marine Rescue Windy Harbour
Murray Lang Bush Fire Service Award
Anthony Mort, Cuballing/Popanyinning BFB
Luke Johnson, West Swan BFB
Murray Brooker, Mt Lindesay BFB
Peter Keillor Award
Danny Jeater, Swan
SES
Craig Makin, SWORD
SES
Nathan Donald,
Broome SES
Volunteer Fire and
Emergency Services Individual Achievement Award
Peter Stark, Lower
South West VFES
Jessica Jenkins,
Marble Bar VFES
Michael Simpson,
Waroona VFES
Volunteer Fire and
Rescue Service Individual Achievement Award
Harry Casey, Cue
VFRS
Brian Dunphy,
Kalgoorlie VFRS
Thomas Kuster,
Lancelin VFRS
TEAM AWARDS
DFES Staff Team Achievement Award
Pilbara Regional
Team
Asset Design Fleet
Delivery
Strategic Volunteer
and Youth Programs
Firefighting Team
Achievement Award
Tom Price Bush Fire
Brigade
Kununurra Volunteer
Fire and Rescue Service
Broome Volunteer
Fire and Rescue Service
Marine Rescue Team
Achievement Award
Marine Rescue
Esperance
Marine Rescue Port
Walcott
Marine Rescue Port
Denison
SES Team Achievement
Award
Swan SES
Roebourne District
SES
Gary Littlewood and
Maxine Burrell
YOUTH AWARDS
Firefighting Youth
Achievement Award
Andre Bradley, Tom
Price BFB
Chais O'Dwyer,
Kununurra VFRS
Lily Ludgate, Secret
Harbour VFRS
Marine Rescue Youth
Achievement Award
Byron Schaffer,
Marine Rescue Broome
Tristan Rausch,
Marine Rescue Geraldton
SES Youth
Achievement Award
Joshua Yates,
Margaret River SES
Jack Watson, Tom
Price SES
Corey Wozencroft,
Mandurah SES
