Call for nominations for unsung heroes in local brigades

Nominations are open for a competition that acknowledges the outstanding achievements of DFES volunteer and career members and last year’s South West winner is encouraging local brigades to put forward their unsung heroes.

The 2022 WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards will once again recognise the people who put themselves on the line to keep their community safe and support their peers.

Andrew Thompson, last year’s award winner for the Geographe area, took top honours in the outstanding individual achievement category for his dedication to mentoring at-risk youth and supporting volunteers through mental health initiatives.

“Working with our volunteers — they are just a fantastic group of people who are always out there trying to help the community, I just feel like I need to support them because of everything they do,” Mr Thompson said.

Mr Thompson also runs a mentorship program aimed at educating young people in understanding the full impact of a fire, and why lighting fires is so dangerous.

He said this early-intervention program has a 95 per cent success rate in stopping at-risk youths before they go off the tracks.

After more than 30 years working for different bushfire brigades Mr Thompson said the work itself was incredibly rewarding, but hopes other can have some recognition for their hard work.

“We don’t do it for the awards, we do it because we enjoy it, we like working with the volunteers and with the community,” he said.

“If you recognise someone in your brigade or unit who has done something outstanding, or does a bit above and beyond what the normal group does, please put them forward.”