Seventy nine employers throughout the State have been recognised today for keeping their local communities safe. FESA Chief Executive Officer Jo Harrison-Ward, who presented the FESA Volunteer Recognition Program Awards, said it was more important than ever to recognise the employers who stand behind FESA’s emergency services volunteers. “In the past twelve months Western Australia has been shaken, battered and burnt by some of the worst natural disasters in recent history,” Ms Harrison-Ward said.
“These include the Broome bushfires and Category 5 Cyclone Laurence in the North West, destructive regional bushfires in Badgingarra and Toodyay, the devastating March hailstorm that hit Perth and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder earthquake, which damaged a number of historical buildings. “During these times of extraordinary circumstances, hundreds of employers allow our emergency services volunteers to take time off work to help their local communities.” Ms Harrison-Ward said the role of employers is just as important as those who volunteer. “Employers give volunteers the ability to leave paid work and respond instantly when the community needs them,” she said. “Many employers take it one step further by providing resources, equipment and financial support, as well as promote volunteering. “This is in spite of the disruption to workplaces and customers.”
Ms Harrison-Ward also paid special tribute to self-employed volunteers. “Not only do these volunteers put their lives on the line during emergencies but close their doors and lose income. “It is an incredible sacrifice to make and they are to be commended for their commitment and dedication.” Ms Harrison-Ward said the awards were presented to a broad range of businesses and organisations including retail, mining and resources, agriculture, government and building industries.
“I’m proud that these awards are the first of their kind in Australia to receive formal accreditation,” Ms Harrison-Ward said. “It is a small way FESA and the community can say thank you for your ongoing support.”
SESVA President David Price said this a great occasion to thank employers for their support of Volunteers in WA. Without this support volunteers would find it difficult assist the community particularly in long duration emergencies.
FESA Volunteer Employer Recognition Program Award Recipients
Goldfields-Midlands
Gold:
- BHP Billiton – Nickel West
- Public Transport Authority – Transwa Division
- Safety, Human Resource, Environment, Quality Systems (SHREQ)
Silver:
- Gold Fields Australia – St Ives Gold Mine
- McBride Contracting
- Skilled Automotives
Great Southern
Gold:
- Hully’s Spraying Service
- Shire of Plantagenet
Silver:
- Arvidale Garden Centre
- Beris’s Lifestyle & Gallery
- Bird’s Silos & Shelters
- Chris Buckley Conveyancing
- Esperance Regional Forum Inc.
- Graeme Stevens Shearing Contractor
- H. Rushton & Co
- Pingelly Plumbing Contractors
- Shire of Broomhill – Tambellup
- Shire of Pingelly
- Tambellup G & T Motors
- Water Corporation – Pingelly Depot
Bronze:
- Maxivan
- The Albany Golf Club
Kimberley
Silver:
- Wyndham District High School
Bronze:
Centre for Appropriate Technology, Desert People Centre
Metropolitan
Gold:
- Fortescue Metals Group Ltd
- Gingin Meatworks
- LJH Mini Excavators
- OH & JM Edwards
Silver:
- Jeyco Mooring and Rigging
- Central Park Management
- City of Armadale – Ranger Services
- City of Joondalup – Ranger Services
- Club Sierra
- Cockburn Cement Ltd
- Community and Public Sector Union
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government – Office of Transport Security
- ENGCOMM Services Pty Ltd
- Mossy’s Mini Excavators
- N.K.Contractors (1997) Pty Ltd
- Shire of Mundaring
- Swan District Hospital
- WA Police – Communications
- WA Police – Emergency Operations Unit
- Water Corporation – Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Westrac Pty Ltd
Bronze:
- CE Body Builders
- Harvest FreshCuts Pty Ltd
- Metzke Engineering
- Redink Homes
- Ultra Tune Auto Service Centre – Osborne Park
- Worldwide Online Printing
Midwest-Gascoyne
Gold:
Gary’s Refrigeration Services
Silver:
- Benedictine Community of New Norcia
- Bunnings Warehouse – Geraldton
- Crudeli’s Auto Repairs
Pilbara
Gold:
- Monadelphous Maintenance & Industrial Services
- Shire of Roebourne
- Woodside Energy Ltd – Karratha Gas Plant – Maintenance Integration
- Woodside Energy Ltd – Pluto LNG Project
Silver:
- Coates Hire
- Gregory Plumbing
- Oceanic Offshore Pty Ltd
- Rio Tinto Iron Ore – Karratha
- Rio Tinto Iron Ore – Pilbara Iron Dampier
- Rio Tinto Iron Ore – RSM/7 Mile Dampier
- Rio Tinto Iron Ore – Asset Management IM Dampier
- WA Police – Dampier District Police Station
Bronze:
- Aurora Biofuels
- Hair On The Avenue
South-West
Gold:
- Alcoa of Australia – Waroona
- KS Scattini Electrics
- Negus Enterprises Pty Ltd
- Newvek Technologies
- PRT Chartered Accountants
Silver:
- Australia Post – Walpole
- Bunnings Warehouse – Busselton
- Houseboat Holidays
- Karri Valley Resort
- Margaret River Agricultural Services
