- Awards celebrate the exceptional efforts of emergency services personnel
- 44 finalists have been announced across 15 categories
More than 40 inspiring finalists have been announced for the 2023 Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services (WAFES) awards.
This year, nominations for award categories hit a record number of 140, an increase of more than 35 per cent from last year.
The annual awards, which acknowledge the vital contribution emergency services make to Western Australia, will be announced at the WAFES conference in September.
Categories that attracted the highest number of nominations included the Marine Rescue Individual Achievement Award, the Firefighting Team Achievement Award and the Peter Keillor Award for the State Emergency Service.
A number of finalists have been recognised for their efforts at major emergencies, including the team at Fitzroy Crossing Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services, who have been nominated for their work during January's devastating floods.
Other nominations acknowledge teams or individuals that have excelled in emergency preparedness or community education and engagement.
Awards are presented to volunteers as well as operational and corporate staff at the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Further details are available at https://dfes.wa.gov.au/wafesawards
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"On behalf of the State Government I would like to congratulate every finalist for their continued work and commitment to the emergency services.
"Year after year, an impressive force of volunteers and career personnel devote themselves tirelessly to protecting our State.
"It is heartening to see nominations for the WAFES Awards increasing each year.
"The WAFES awards are a special way for us to say thanks to those who have gone above and beyond."
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Career Fire and Rescue Individual Achievement Award
Greg Henry, Station Officer
Lexie Bowring, Station Officer
Martin Sellar, Firefighter
DFES Corporate Staff Individual Achievement Award
Donna Virgo, Regional Training Coordinator
Nerroli Pyne, Principal Industrial Relations Consultant
Scott Hares, Executive Manager Plant and Equipment
DFES Operational Staff Individual Achievement Award
Jeff Davis, Principal Scientific Officer
Rebecca Benson, District Officer Marine
Simon Miller, District Officer Marine
Marine Rescue Individual Achievement Award
Ian Astill, Marine Rescue Geraldton
Krisma May, Marine Rescue Broome
Trevor Hutchinson, Marine Rescue Two Rocks
Murray Lang Bush Fire Service Award
Glenys Malatesta, Gelorup Bush Fire Brigade
James Morton, Gingin West Bush Fire Brigade
Wayne Hatton, Tom Price Bush Fire Brigade
Peter Keillor Award
Donald Smailes, Kalamunda SES
Leonie Briggs, Canine Unit SES
Sabrina Horan, SWORD SES
Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services Individual Achievement Award
Alex Espey, SWORD Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
Ian Cooksey, Fitzroy Crossing Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
Simone Conklin, Eucla Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Individual Achievement Award
Ian MacGregor, Toodyay Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Paul Parker, Dongara-Denison Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Tom Kusters, Lancelin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
TEAM AWARDS
DFES Staff Team Achievement Award
Community Liaison Unit
Kimberley Regional Team
Marine Services
Firefighting Team Achievement Award
Busselton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Fitzroy Crossing Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
Wellington Mills Bush Fire Brigade
Marine Rescue Team Achievement Award
Marine Rescue Albany
Marine Rescue Dampier
Marine Rescue Jurien Bay
SES Team Achievement Award
Bayswater SES Training Team
Southwest / Lower Southwest Vertical Rescue Team
SWORD SES Logistics
YOUTH AWARDS
Firefighting Youth Achievement Award
Callum McLerie, Kalgoorlie Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Dylan Goldup, Kununurra Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service
Zoe Creach, Fitzroy Crossing Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
Marine Rescue Youth Achievement Award
Marine Rescue Dampier
Sebastian Rausch, Marine Rescue Geraldton
SES Youth Achievement Award
Anjuli Till, Kalgoorlie-Boulder SES
Charles Hasson, Merredin SES
Oscar McDonald, Kalamunda SES
