Latest news with #WAFESAwards
West Australian
03-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Pemberton fire captain Jamie Copeland says his spot on Fire and Emergency Services finalist list a team effort
Pemberton's fire captain Jamie Copeland is in the running for a prestigious firefighting award. The patrician of the Pemberton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Copeland is a finalist for the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service individual achievement award for his leadership, mentorship and long-term service to the station and community. From establishing Pemberton Youth Emergency Service Cadets program to supporting his fellow firefighters on the field, Mr Copeland has been committed to protecting the region for the last 25 years. Mr Copeland said whilst it is lovely to be recognised, he feels it is unfair for the award to simply recognise individual achievement. 'As the captain of the fire brigade I provide leadership, but like every team, you can't do anything by yourself,' he said. 'I've got just over 25 years of experience as being a volunteer and if I can help guide some of the guys that are less experienced, and we can get the job done in the end, that's kind of what the community expects of us.' Mr Copeland said the role has its challenges, as he and fellow rescuers jump to act whenever needed, and he has seen several confronting things over his time at the station, but it is the support of those around him that allow him to push through. 'One of the big things that people don't really recognise too much as the administrators in the background,' he said. 'They do a heap of work in the background that I couldn't run the organisation without their support.' Also up for an award is the Northcliffe Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service and Northcliffe Bush Fire Brigade, jointly nominated for the firefighting team achievement award for their tireless efforts in battling the Chesapeake fire that burned for more than a month earlier this year. Shire president Donelle Buegge congratulated the nominees and expressed deep gratitude for their commitment. 'These nominations reflect the extraordinary dedication, skill and passion of our local emergency services personnel,' she said. 'On behalf of the Shire of Manjimup, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jamie and the Northcliffe teams. 'We thank all fire and emergency services volunteers and staff across the shire for the critical work they do to keep our communities safe.' Winners of the 2025 awards will be announced at the WAFES Awards gala dinner on August 29, 2025.
West Australian
01-06-2025
- General
- West Australian
Bremer Bay Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services First Lt Peter Buckenara up for WAFES individual award
The humble first lieutenant of the Bremer Bay Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service says his nomination for a prestigious award honouring exceptional volunteer fireys is one his 'whole crew deserves'. Veteran firefighter Peter Buckenara is one of three vollies up for the WA Fire and Emergency Services' Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services individual achievement award. The award is presented to a volunteer who has gone 'above and beyond what is expected of them and made an exceptional contribution over the past 12 months'. Mr Buckenara, who has been with the brigade for more than 25 years, was modest about his nomination. 'On my own, I can't do much at all, so in my mind it's as much an award for me as it is for the whole crew,' he said. 'It's something for all our guys, so even though it's my name, it's a team effort. 'I don't think I've done anything too special. I just try and keep everyone together.' In his eight years in the top job, the cattle and crop farmer said his crew had been involved with three major fires — mostly in coastal reserve land — that had run for 10 days or more. His proudest work, however, is the fires that didn't happen. 'Our biggest achievements have been the prescribed burning program,' he said. 'We've had it going for six, seven years in earnest, and it's been well supported by the Shire and the community. 'For us, rather than fires, its the work we do preventing them. 'It's not for everyone or everywhere, but for our community and our type of bush it works really well.' Bremer Bay, Mr Buckenara boasts, is a very volunteer-oriented town. 'It's not a tough decision to become a member of a brigade like ours,' he said. 'We have a really high volunteer rate in Bremer — just about everyone in town volunteers in some way. 'It's partly to do with our isolation, I think. We have to look after ourselves and each other.' The camaraderie between brigades in the volunteer network, the community, and the understanding of family is something else he says is deserving of recognition. 'It's crews coming from thousands of kilometres away to help out,' he said. 'It's the support you get from the local community, who we are super lucky to have because everyone chips in. 'It's our very understanding wives or husbands and families who keep our businesses and everything afloat while we're out. 'As I said, you can do nothing on your own.' Mr Buckenara is up against Carlos Veldscholte from Wyndham Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services and Jayson Lindsay from Cervantes Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services for the award. The winners will be revealed at the WAFES Awards gala dinner at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre on August 29.
