WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards 2021
State Emergency Service category winners
These awards recognise the outstanding efforts of volunteers who have excelled in their service and demonstrated a high level of commitment to the SES.
Congratulations to the 2021 winners:
State Emergency Service Youth Achievement Award
- James Cotter, Carnarvon State Emergency Service
At only 24-years of age, James Cotter is one of the most active members of Carnarvon SES. He was motivated to volunteer with all three emergency services units in Carnarvon to help the best he can. He leads training and operations and promotes the benefits of
the SES, which has strengthened the team culture and morale and retained and attracted new members.
State Emergency Service Team Achievement Award
- Communications Support Unit
Keeping crews safe is what motivates the busiest SES Unit in Western Australia. In the past 12 months, the team has clocked more than 3300 hours on active operations. The group built the Hilltop Kit, the key piece of equipment that provided DFES
incident management teams with essential communications at the Red Gully and Wooroloo Bushfires.
Peter Keillor Award
- Connie Eikelboom ESM, Armadale State Emergency Service
As a local manager and peer supporter, Connie Eikelboom shows up for people when they need her most. She spent four weeks in Kalbarri and Northampton to support crews through the devastation of Cyclone Seroja. At home in Armadale, Connie makes herself available for a cup of tea and a chat to support her community when people need someone to listen.
Previous Award Recipients
Youth Achievement Award
Jeremiah Peters, Mt Barker SES (2020)
Alex Corinaldesi, Cockburn SES (2019)
Sarah Hamilton – Belmont Victoria Park SES (2018)
Brayden Dilley, Kalamunda SES (2017)
Mary-Therese Shanks, Mandurah SES (2016)
Kirsten Beidatsch, Mt Barker SES (2015)
Peter Keillor Award
Tania Millar, Mandurah SES (2020)
Simon Davidson, Tom Price SES (2019)
Stephen Faulkner, Wanneroo Joondalup SES (2018)
Robert Palmer, Mundaring SES (2017)
Keith Squibb, Hedland SES (2016)
Jane Campbell, Bayswater SES (2015)
Team Achievement Award
Newman SES (2020)
Peel/Harvey Recruitment Team (2019)
National Disaster Rescue Challenge WA SES Team (2018)
Esperance SES Unit (2017)
Bunbury SES Unit (2016)
Manjimup SES Unit (2015)
2021 State Emergency Service Awards nominations open
The State Emergency Service (SES) relies on volunteers who are dedicated and committed to helping keep the community safe. These awards recognise the outstanding efforts of volunteers who have excelled in their service and demonstrated a high level of commitment.
Volunteers, employees and members of the public can submit an online nomination here. Nominations close 8.00am Monday 3 May 2021.
Award Categories
Awards are open for nomination in the following three categories:
Peter Keillor Award
Awarded to a dedicated SES member who has made an exemplary contribution to the service and community during their time as a volunteer and specifically in the past twelve months.
Team Achievement Award
Awarded to a SES team or group who have made an exceptional united contribution to the service and community in the past twelve months.
Youth Achievement Award
Awarded to a SES volunteer under the age of 25 who has accomplished significant goals and made a positive impact in the SES.
Award Criteria
The nominee/s must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Dedication to duty beyond normal expectations
- Involvement in the development or implementation of a SES awareness or prevention program
- Contribution to the efficiency, effectiveness and development of the SES through ingenuity and innovation
- Demonstrated excellence in preparedness, response and safety at an incident.
Award Eligibility
All current, active State Emergency Service volunteers are eligible.
Award Nomination
Tell the judging panel about the outstanding contribution the nominee/s has made over the past twelve months based on the selection criteria. The judging panel can only make their decision based on the information in the nomination. As a guide the submission should be between 500-1000 words in length. When submitting your nomination, you will be asked to answer four questions:
- Why are you nominating this volunteer, team, taskforce or brigade?
- Why are their actions considered outstanding?
- How have their actions affected or benefited others including the community?
- Any other information?
As part of the nomination you must include a referee(s) who can support the nomination claims.
You may also include supporting documentation, including photos or videos with the nomination.
Nominations can only be submitted through the nomination website. The website will allow you to edit and refine your award nomination after submitting it right up until the closing date.
Award Judging
Award Judging
A judging panel will assess all eligible nominations by rating them on a scale of 1-10 based on how the nominee meets the criteria. The highest rated nominee will be deemed the category recipient.
The judging panel is made up of:
- DFES Representative
- District Officer Natural Hazards
- State Emergency Service Volunteer Association Awards Coordinator
- State Emergency Service Volunteer Association Representative
- Independent Community Member
Nomination Closing Date
8.00am Monday 3 May 2021
Nomination Assistance
If you have enquiries or require assistance with preparing or submitting a nomination, please contact the Events Team on (08) 9395 9732 or email awards@dfes.wa.gov.au
Awards Gala Dinner
The awards will be presented at a gala dinner held later in 2021. Ceremony details will be released once finalised.
Previous Award Recipients
Youth Achievement Award
Jeremiah Peters, Mt Barker SES (2020)
Alex Corinaldesi, Cockburn SES (2019)
Sarah Hamilton – Belmont Victoria Park SES (2018)
Brayden Dilley, Kalamunda SES (2017)
Mary-Therese Shanks, Mandurah SES (2016)
Kirsten Beidatsch, Mt Barker SES (2015)
Peter Keillor Award
Tania Millar, Mandurah SES (2020)
Simon Davidson, Tom Price SES (2019)
Stephen Faulkner, Wanneroo Joondalup SES (2018)
Robert Palmer, Mundaring SES (2017)
Keith Squibb, Hedland SES (2016)
Jane Campbell, Bayswater SES (2015)
Team Achievement Award
Newman SES (2020)
Peel/Harvey Recruitment Team (2019)
National Disaster Rescue Challenge WA SES Team (2018)
Esperance SES Unit (2017)
Bunbury SES Unit (2016)
Manjimup SES Unit (2015)