Marine Rescue Dampier receive Youth Achievement Award at 2023 Western Australia Fire and Emergency Awards

Marine Rescue Dampier was honoured with the Youth Achievement Award at the 2023 Western Australia Fire and Emergency Services Awards in recognition of their outstanding dedication to recruiting and training young cadets. The group was lauded for wholeheartedly embracing the Youth in Emergency Services program, which annually imparts essential skills to approximately 25 cadets. This program is tailored for youngsters aged 11 to 17, aiming to instil a sense of commitment to emergency services and foster their enthusiasm for volunteering. It helps them explore their interests within various brigades and units, paving the way for their future contributions as adults. Emmie Burton, an educator from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services who works closely with these young individuals to nurture their abilities, said the volunteers are equipped with a diverse skill set, enabling them to contribute to multiple volunteer rescue efforts across the Pilbara region, on land and at sea. “Volunteers rotate through various emergency services in Dampier and Karratha, including St. John’s Fire and Rescue and the Karratha SES Emergency Services,” Ms Burton said. “Each team imparts specialised skills, with us focusing on chartwork, extensive rope work, basic navigation, and engaging in rescue drills on boats to instil preparedness. “We equip each volunteer with fundamental road and marine safety skills that will serve them well in their future endeavors as volunteer rescuers.” Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM acknowledged the formidable task that Marine Rescue groups undertake, given the extensive coastline of more than 10,000km they must cover in Western Australia. He commended this year’s award recipients for demonstrating exceptional leadership, dedication and empathy in their service and noted the significant impact they’ve had throughout the State. Commissioner Klemm concluded by extending his congratulations to the award winners and expressing gratitude to all Marine Rescue volunteers for their invaluable contributions to emergency response efforts at sea.