2021 Marine Rescue Awards nominations open
Honour the outstanding achievements of Marine Rescue volunteers by nominating them for a 2021 Marine Rescue Award. DFES volunteers, employees and members of the public can submit an online nomination here. Nominations close 5.00pm Monday 17 May 2021.
Award Categories and Criteria
Awards are open for nomination in the following three categories:
DFES Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution
Awarded to a volunteer who has made an outstanding individual contribution to Marine Rescue Western Australia in the past twelve months.
Award criteria:
- Exceptional dedication to duty or demonstrated outstanding effort during an incident
- Achievement in community education or awareness programs
- Demonstrated leadership, reliability, dependability and teamwork
Marine Rescue Award for Outstanding Group Operations
Awarded to a group who have made an outstanding group contribution to Marine Rescue Western Australia in the past twelve months.
Award criteria:
- Outstanding rescue or activity
- Demonstrated excellence in preparedness, response and safety at an incident
- Exceptional dedication to duty to affect an operation
DFES Award for Youth Achievement or Contribution to Youth Development
Awarded to:
- A volunteer or cadet under the age of 25 who has demonstrated exceptional qualities and has made a remarkable contribution in the past twelve months; or a
- Marine Rescue group who has contributed significantly to the development of youth volunteers.
Award criteria:
- Exceptional dedication to duty or demonstrated outstanding effort during an incident
- Achievement in community education or awareness programs
- Demonstrated leadership, reliability, dependability and teamwork
Award Eligibility
All current, active Marine Rescue WA volunteers are eligible for an award nomination.
Award Nomination
Nominations are submitted online using the nomination website. The website will allow you to edit and refine your award nomination after submitting it right up until the closing date.
Your nomination needs to:
- address all three criteria in the award category
- be between 500-1000 words in total
- include a referee(s) who supports the nomination
Tips for writing a quality award nomination:
- Clearly explain how the nominee meets the award criteria
- Provide examples of what the nominee has achieved
- Provide evidence of the positive impact they have made
- Consider what challenges they have overcome
- Include testimonials from people who have benefitted from the nominee’s actions or achievements.
You may also include supporting documentation, including photos or videos with the nomination. Read the 2021 Marine Rescue Awards Nomination Guidelines.
Nomination Closing Date
5.00pm Monday 17 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
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.
- DFES Assistant Commissioner
- Two Marine Rescue Western Australia Representatives
- Manager Marine Services
- Independent Member
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
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)