Service honoured

Dunsborough’s Rodney French has been recognised for his prompt and dependable service to the Naturaliste Marine Service.

Mr French, pictured, owns Bayside Plumbing and Gas, which received a gold award at the 2019 Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards.

The awards, in their 11th year, celebrate the invaluable contribution employers make by supporting emergency services volunteers to respond to incidents, day and night.

Mr French was commended for his role in “keeping the community safe by supporting the State's emergency services” for his on-call responses to marine incidents off Cape Naturaliste.

Mr French said he didn’t volunteer for awards but simply because he wanted to help.

“It’s the simple things, like having enough fuel, that people can do to ensure you don’t get stranded out there on the ocean,” he said.

This year, 79 employers and self-employed volunteers from across WA received awards that reflected their sacrifices and donations: 38 in the gold category, 29 in silver, and 12 in bronze.

Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan said the awards werean important way to acknowledge those who provided support to emergency services.

Mr Logan thanked Mr French for his commitment and sacrifice.