Community Trainers Lesley Santer, Wendy Quint, Karen Blackmore, Cathie Calleja and Marion Price

45 years of service honoured

On Friday 26 August our Community Education team hosted a recognition event in Mandurah to celebrate some of the amazing community trainers from across the Peel Region who help to deliver lifesaving skills for all. 

35 trainers from the region were in attendance at the event, enjoying the chance to catch up with one another before several honours awards were presented to some of these valued members of the Royal Life Saving team. 

Among the award recipients was Marion Price, who received the WA Outstanding Service Order Award for more than 45 years of helping the aquatic industry to flourish. 

Beginning her lifesaving journey in 1975 after recognising a passion for supporting children and adults to learn essential water skills, Marion successfully attained her Teacher of Life Saving Award. 

Marion has been a leader for promoting water safety education amongst the community, delivering First Aid and Bronze Medallion training to the community early into her aquatic career before moving into her next aquatic adventure. 

The Award was just one of the many qualifications she received under her umbrella of aquatic industry accreditations over the years, completing her Certificate II in Pool Operations in 2003 before moving into a Pool Manager role.

Her extraordinary efforts to teach children, adults and people with disabilities swimming skills saw her earn the West Australian AustSwim Teacher of Adults award in 2016. 

However, after many years of honourable service and a long list of achievements, Marion has decided now is the time to hang up her fins and retire from the industry she has significantly impacted.

“I wish to acknowledge and say a big thank you to Royal Life Saving for doing the amazing job you all do. It’s the fabulous courses, the fabulous candidates, and the fabulous people you meet along the way that makes it so rewarding and worthwhile,” said Marion.

Honour award recipients for the night were:

• Lesley Santer – WA Long Service Award
• Karen Blackmore – WA Long Service Award
• Wendy Quint – WA Meritorious Service Award
• Cathie Calleja – WA Service Order Award
• Marion Price – WA Outstanding Service Order Award

Royal Life Saving is pleased to have honoured these incredible women who advocate for safer communities through facilitating our impact of swimming and lifesaving skills for all. 

A special thank you goes to Marion for her incredible service over the years, we wish her all the best as she embarks on her next journey.