A State Emergency Service (SES) unit that has travelled thousands of kilometres to provide critical support at major firefighting incidents was among the achievements to be honoured at the Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services Awards.
Thirteen awards were presented across three categories — Individual, Team and Youth — to recognise excellence in firefighting, Marine Rescue, SES and Department of Fire and Emergency Services staff.
The State-Wide Operational Response Division SES Logistics Unit received a Team Achievement Award for undertaking a grueling 26-day deployment, travelling vast distances between Carnarvon and Denmark to offer logistical support at major emergencies.
Marine Rescue Jurien Bay was honoured for its assistance in locating five people, including a child, who were stranded in waters near Jurien Bay in April 2021.
Station Officer Tony Gaynor received the Career and Fire Rescue Individual Achievement Award after spending five weeks in Fiji offering logistical support to a community grappling with the impacts of COVID-19.
Lieutenant Craig Doyle, of Broome Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, was also recognised for his extraordinary efforts in attending 112 incidents in the 2021-22 financial year.
Colin Nicholson posthumously received the Peter Keillor Award for his work upskilling and empowering volunteers at Collie State Emergency Service Unit.
Mr Nicholson was a member of the unit for 30 years until his death in November 2021. His wife, Monika, was a recipient of the award in 2002.
Minister for Emergency Services, Stephen Dawson said the awards were a fitting opportunity to recognise those who had gone above and beyond, often putting their lives on the line to save others.
“I would also like to extend my gratitude to not only our award winners, but the entire Emergency Services family for their amazing efforts in the past year,” Mr Dawson said.
