WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards 2021
Marine Rescue category winners
These awards celebrate the outstanding efforts of volunteers who have shown a high level of dedication to Marine Rescue and the Western Australian community.
Congratulations to the 2021 winners:
Marine Rescue Award for Youth Achievement or Contribution to Youth Development
- Zac Berglund, Marine Rescue Dampier
Marine Rescue Dampier’s youngest member Zac Berglund has quickly grown into one of the most invested members. As a vital part of the Youth in Emergency Services program, Zac facilitates groups of cadets to not only build skills but discover their
talents through challenging and motivating tasks. For Zac, volunteering is a gift of kindness to one’s self and the community.
Marine Rescue Award for Outstanding Group Operations
Marine Rescue Albany faced a challenging response to two rescue calls on 2021 Labour Day weekend, but that didn’t limit their resourcefulness. When given the wrong GPS coordinates, the crew used their local knowledge to locate and save a man’s life, while navigating rough seas, strong winds and large swell.
Marine Rescue Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution
- Alex Williams ESM, Marine Rescue Walpole
From the coast to the track, Alex Williams has dedicated his life to ensuring community recreational areas are safe and secure. Forty years ago he started volunteering with Marine Rescue Walpole and today continues to deliver training as part of the original award winning Volunteer Marine Rescue Pathway Training Pilot Program. When not at sea, he’s busy maintaining the Bibbulmun Track throughout the South West.
Marine Rescue Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution
The Commander’s Award recognises the unsung hero within the service that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. This discretionary award is selected and presented by the Commander of Volunteer Marine Rescue Western Australia.
- Marine Rescue East Kimberley
Since undergoing a period of transition, including the appointment of a new Commander, Marine Rescue East Kimberley has experienced a resurgence in membership and morale. Members have embraced the changes occurring around them by formalising and enhancing their training programs, boosting recruitment and generally displaying great enthusiasm and commitment to their volunteering.
Department of Transport Award for Excellence in Marine Safety
Selected and presented by the Department of Transport, this award recognises a group who has made a superior effort in raising of the profile of marine safety in Western Australia.
In the past 12 months Marine Rescue Jurien Bay has located 20 overdue boaties and been deployed to 25 incidents, most recently being alerted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority of an activated Personal Locator Beacon resulting in the successful rescue of five people after their yacht capsized in bad weather.
Marine Rescue Jurien Bay champions marine safety by running life jacket clinics, providing and promoting marine radio courses and acting as a collection point for expired flares and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons.
Previous Award Recipients
DFES Award for Youth Achievement or Contribution to Youth Development (cadets and volunteers 13-25 years)
Thomas Knight, Marine Rescue Port Walcott (2020)
Nikki Russell, Cockburn VMRS (2019)
No recipient in 2018
Jamie Jones, Geraldton Volunteer Search and Rescue (2017)
Ryan Godfrey, Busselton Volunteer Marine Rescue Group (2016)
Adam Farmer, Cadet Mandurah Water Rescue Group (2015)
DFES Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution
Graham Martin, Marine Rescue Rockingham (2020)
Zac Slaughter, Port Hedland Volunteer Marine Rescue (2019)
Jeff Howe ESM, Volunteer Marine Rescue WA (2018)
Christine Heu, Jurien Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue (2017)
Barb Walton, Mandurah Volunteer Marine Rescue (2016) Alex Williams, Walpole Volunteer Marine Rescue Group (2015)
VMRWA Award for Outstanding Group Operations
Marine Rescue Coral Bay and Marine Rescue Exmouth (2020)
Shark Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue (2019)
Fremantle Volunteer Sea Rescue Group (2018)
Coral Bay Volunteer Sea Search and Rescue (2017)
Port Walcott Sea Search and Rescue (2016)
Albany Sea Rescue Squad (2015)
VMRWA Commander’s Award
Vaughn Ralph and the crew of Nebraska II (2020)
Esperance Volunteer Marine Rescue (2019)
Volunteer Marine Rescue Training Group (2018)
Ian Stiles, Jurien Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue (2017)
Lancelin Volunteer Marine Rescue (2016)
Department of Transport Award for Excellence in Marine Safety
Marine Rescue Naturalist (2020)
Geraldton Volunteer Marine Rescue (2019)
Port Hedland Volunteer Sea Search and Rescue Group (2018)
Cockburn Volunteer Sea Search and Rescue Group (2017)
Walpole Volunteer Marine Rescue Group (2016)