Gelorup Bushfire Brigade wins top team award at WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards

The Gelorup Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade won the top gong at the WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards in recognition of its incredible contribution to emergency work.

The brigade was among the winners announced at the annual WAFES conference in Perth on September 9-10 at Crown Perth, the win holding even more significance for brigade captain Glenys Malatesta as the first female captain to have a team win this prize.

“It is a true honour to be recognised by our DFES peers in this way,” Ms Malatesta said.

“I’m very proud and honoured as a woman to be recognised as the first female captain to win this award.”

Thirteen awards were presented across the three categories of individual, team and youth awards to recognise excellence in firefighting, Marine Rescue, SES and DFES staff.

In the end it came down to the wire between the Gelorup brigade and the Broome and Wagin brigades.

“This is a massive win for the South West,” Gelorup fire control officer and brigade member Jeff McDougall said.

“We are truly honoured and humbled by the win.”

Other South West brigades also won awards. Capes district fire officer Peter Thomas was awarded the DFES Operational Staff Individual Achievement Award and Bridgetown Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade officer Edwin Bland won the Murray Lang Bush Fire Service Award.

Collie State Emergency Service officer Colin Nicholson was posthumously awarded the Peter Keillor Award for his service to the sector.

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson gave thanks not only to the award winners, but to all emergency services workers across WA.

“Over the past year, our emergency services staff and personnel have once again faced incredible challenges, working night and day to protect communities right across our State,” he said.

“These awards are a fitting opportunity to recognise those who have gone above and beyond, often putting their lives on the line to save others.”