Volunteer Paul Stacey wins Firefighter of the Year Award

8/11/98

The firefighter who led the team in dousing the blaze which claimed the lives of two people in a Mandurah caravan park in August this year, has been named the RAC Insurance/Rotary Club of Whitfords Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer Firefighter of the Year for 1998.

Emergency Services Minister Kevin Prince last night presented the prestigious award to volunteer firefighter Paul Stacey, of the Mandurah Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer Brigade.

Mr Stacey, who had the difficult job of supervising and supporting the firefighting crew during and after the horrific blaze, is one of three to receive an awards in the inaugural RAC Insurance/Rotary Club of Whitfords Firefighter of the Year Awards for 1998.

The other winners included Russell Perring, a career firefighter with the Fire and Rescue Service, and Waroona Bush Fire Service volunteer John Twaddle.

Mr Prince said the three men had an outstanding record of dedication and commitment to the fire services, community education and fire prevention programs.

As volunteers Mr Stacey and Mr Twaddle spent many hundreds of hours each year of their own time - or time off from their 'day jobs' - to perform firefighting and fire prevention duties in their communities.

Mr Perring, while a full-time firefighter training officer at the Fire and Emergency Services Training Academy at Forrestfield, also contributed much of his time outside work to voluntary counselling of juveniles who light fires, and in fundraising for special facilities child burns victims.

He had also spent many hours in voluntary work for Radio Lollipop at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Mr Prince said many people in the community did not realise the enormous contribution made by volunteers to fire and emergency services in Western Australia.

Mr Stacey had performed about 500 voluntary hours' work attending fire and rescue incidents, in community awareness, fire prevention programs and in training.

He had also attended 235 fire call-outs out of a possible 350 in the Mandurah area in the past year.

"We rely on the dedication of more than 20,000 volunteers like Mr Stacey in WA to provide the fire and emergency services outside our major centres and their services are greatly appreciated both by Government and the community," Mr Prince said.

Mr Twaddle spent more than a week away from his home and his job in September this year as part of a strike team helping to fight a 500,000ha bushfire in the Kimberley.

"Countless hours are contributed by the Fire and Rescue Service, the Bush Fire Service and the WA State Emergency Service volunteers for the protection of the community," the Minister said.

"They undertake the thankless task of trying to educate the community about the importance of fire prevention.

"They can be called out at any time of the day or night to sometimes appalling incidents. They approach each situation with professionalism and great courage. They deserve the highest accolades."

The three winners were selected from six State finalists in the awards, which drew more than 40 nominations from around WA.

The nominees came from a wide variety of career and volunteer Fire and Rescue Service and Bush Fire Brigades.

Their nominations were considered in light of their:

·         devotion to duty beyond normal expectations;

·         outstanding community or fire service involvement in fire prevention, community education or community-based fire service programs;

·         ingenuity or innovation which contributed to the efficiency, effectiveness and development of the fire service; or -

·         outstanding acts of kindness, understanding, compassion, or courage, in the line of duty.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 9220 5000