27/10/04
Emergency Services Minister Michelle Roberts today commended the outstanding efforts of those who have boosted community safety across Western Australia in the past year.
Mrs Roberts announced winning recipients of the FESA Community Safety Awards 2004 as part of the State Government's inaugural Community Safety Month.
"These awards are an important way for FESA and the whole community to recognise and thank our 'community heroes' - those people and organisations that make a valuable contribution to our safety and well-being," she said.
"Projects which award-winners have worked on are wide-ranging in nature and scope, but the end result is the same: someone, somewhere in WA, is safer because of their initiative."
The Minister said she had been impressed with the creativity and commitment demonstrated by the record pool of nominees, and in particular the four award and 10 meritorious certificate winners.
"There is a great deal of diversity evident across the 40 nominations, and it is particularly pleasing to see indigenous communities from remote areas making a mark in the awards this year," she said.
"By planning and implementing risk minimisation projects, the work of all nominees has already begun to have a positive impact in the community."
FESA Community Safety Awards 2004 - Winners:
Department of Housing and Works: Mains-powered smoke alarms have been installed in 30,000 Homeswest properties around the State. The program also includes a commitment to replace alarms as they reach the end of their working life. The net effect has been a dramatic improvement in the community safety of many thousands of residents, now and into the future.
Landcare Solutions - Heavenly Hectares Property Planning Workshop Program:The result of a planning and delivery partnership between Landcare Solutions of Singleton, the Department of Agriculture WA and Swan River Trust, this program helps land owners to become more aware of the risks, responsibilities and land use potential of their properties. Personalised advice is provided to the inexperienced hobby farmer across four main areas of land management - bio-security; land management; diversification options and fire safety and preparedness (including individualised fire risk property plans).
Royal Automobile Club WA:RAC has made a significant contribution to funding the State's first dedicated emergency rescue helicopter service. The service's primary role is to fly a critical care paramedic to an incident and rapidly transport the injured directly to the hospital which will provide the best medical care. Its secondary function is to provide inter-hospital transfers for seriously ill patients who require specialist care in a Perth hospital. Support by RAC also involves the club assisting FESA in promoting the rescue helicopter service and associated safety messages to the wider community, including 600,000 RAC members and clients.
SGIO: SGIO has demonstrated a strong commitment to the safety of Western Australians through their Community Help Grants program. In the past year, seven grants were made in the emergency services category, resulting in WA volunteer firefighters and State Emergency Service volunteers receiving funds of up to $5,000 each for nominated projects. SGIO is also an important partner in FESA's annual Storm Safe
program, both as a financial contributor and undertaking activities designed to enhance the campaign.
FESA Community Safety Awards 2004 - Meritorious Certificate Winners:
City of Wanneroo - for demonstrating a proactive approach to community safety, particularly in the area of fire prevention and preparedness. The City has also developed and implemented specific community safety activities to help raise awareness - for example, staging a special Community Fire Safety and Education Day.
Department of Education and Training - for developing standard emergency risk management planning policies, procedures and practices for WA schools and providing training and education in the use of these resources.
Senior Sergeant Mark Valentine and Senior Constable Jennifer Milligan Western Australian Police Service - Crime Prevention Unit: working closely with FESA, Snr Sergeant Valentine and Snr Constable Milligan have helped develop vital public safety information in the form of a brochure entitled 'Make Your Home Fire Safe and Secure'. It offers a balanced approach to fire safety and security within the home and details techniques for allowing easy escape in the event of an emergency.
Gillette Australia Pty Ltd (Duracell): Duracell continued its long-standing partnership with FESA's Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery
campaign linking to a specific date - April 1 - on which the community is annually encouraged to replace the batteries in household smoke alarms. The company's involvement meant that FESA was able to undertake a comprehensive advertising campaign promoting the message that working smoke alarms are life-saving tools. Duracell also donated $5,000 worth of nine-volt batteries which were given away by FESA to those in need.
The Good Guys - O'Connor: store management supported FESA's annual Change Your Smoke Alarm Battery campaign in April 2004 by mounting an eye-catching in-store display and initiating related advertisements. Nine-volt batteries for smoke alarms were also given away and discounted to further reinforce the effectiveness of this important fire safety program.
Parnngurr (Cotton Creek) Aboriginal Community, Newman: the community's initiative and quick response during Cyclones Monty and Faye ensured that sufficient fuel was available to sustain power and stores throughout the critical period of these emergencies. An emergency management plan to self-supply in case of similar conditions re-occurring was prepared, with a view to reducing the need to call upon FESA for assistance to re-supply.
Yakanarra Aboriginal Corporation - Fitzroy Crossing: for excellent wet season preparation which included putting into place their own emergency management arrangements. This has ensured that the community is better prepared in the event of an emergency, and will minimise the impact of any future emergency on lives and property.
Yungngora Community - Fitzroy Crossing: for improving emergency management arrangements by actively encouraging young people in the community to join the FESA Fitzroy Crossing Unit as volunteers. Community members attend regular training sessions, and make themselves available for emergency operations in the Kimberley. This in turn has helped the entire community become more self-reliant in the event of an emergency.
Oombulgurri Association Inc - Wyndham: the community successfully prepared and implemented their own flood mitigation plans and emergency management arrangements during Tropical Cyclone Faye. By taking responsibility for their own safety and being better prepared in an emergency, they helped minimise the impact of the event on life and property.
Kundat Djaru Aboriginal Corporation (Ringer Scale Community) Halls Creek: for developing their own emergency management arrangements during the 2003-04 wet season. As a result, they achieved self-sufficiency when taking responsibility for co-ordinating and funding aerial re-supply operations during a seasonal emergency.
Minister's office: 9213 6600
