Community Trainers thanked for creating everyday lifesavers
Royal Life Saving Society WA's community trainers create lifesavers in communities across WA each and every day, making and impact and ensuring people have the skills needed to respond to emergencies anytime, anywhere.
Ten of these community trainers have today been honoured with awards to thank them for the amazing work they have done, some working with the society for up to 16 years.
Those awarded today include;
- Chris Davies works at Hamilton Senior High School and today received a Certificate of Thanks for working as a trainer with Royal Life Saving Society WA since 2000. Chris has been a long-time supporter and advocate for the organisation and has previously received a WA Outstanding Service order for his services.
- Marlene Dry who has been delivering courses for Royal Life Saving Society WA since 2004. This year she has delivered Bronze Medallion courses - training the community to be safe around water. Marlene has previously received a service award and was today presented with a Certificate of Thanks for her ongoing support to the organisation.
- Matt Westcott who first achieved his Bronze Medallion in 2009 and shortly afterwards obtained his Aquatic Trainer qualification to become a trainer for Royal Life Saving Society WA. Matt works at the South Metropolitan Tafe, delivering the Bronze strand courses on our behalf. He isalso a volunteer on the Volunteer Community Trainer Committee and has today received a WA Associate Award.
- Julie Walker who has been a trainer with Royal Life Saving Society WA since 2009, delivering training to the community in Resuscitation, Heart Beat Club and First Aid Courses. Her ongoing course delivery has meant that people have learnt lifesaving skills to put into action should the event arise. For her work she today received a WA Service Order.
- Jane Dowling works at the Abbortsford Private Hospital and has been a Community Trainer since 2009. She has contributed significantly to delivering courses to a wide range of people in the community, including women in refuges, the socially disadvantaged and sports groups. She today received the Western Australian Service Order in recognition of the outstanding support given to Royal Life Saving Society WA for over 5 years.
- Kerry Donaldson works at Kolby Catholic College and has been delivering courses on behalf of Royal Life Saving Society WA since 2005. She delivers Bronze Medallion, resuscitation and first aid to the WA community and in August delivered two senior first aid courses. Today she received the Western Australia Fellow Award for over 10 years’ service to the society.
- Donald Smailes who has been a Community Trainer since 2002 and has contributed significantly to the delivering courses to a wide range of people in the community. He delivers training at Kelmscott Senior High School, delivering Bronze strand courses for Royal Life Saving Society WA. Today he was awarded the Western Australian Long Service Order in recognition of the outstanding support he's given to the society for over 14 years.
- Debra Langlois who began working with Royal Life Saving Society WA in 2003, delivering First Aid, Resuscitation, Apply Advanced First Aid and Apply Advanced Resuscitation Techniques courses for the society. She received the Western Australian Long Service Order in recognition of the outstanding support given to the society for over 12 years.
- Rodena Lightbody who has been involved with Royal Life Saving Society WA since 2000 when she first obtained her Bronze Medallion qualification, followed by her Swimming Instructor qualification. Rodena works at Bruce Rock, a Royal Life Saving Society Endorsed Swim School, and delivers course for the organisation all year round. She has received the Western Australian Long Service Order for over 10 years of service.
- Jane Renshaw who received a Western Australian Meritorious Service Order for 14 years of Service to Royal Life Saving Society WA. Jane obtained her first qualification with us in 1999, her resuscitation certificate, and has since gone on to become qualified as a Swimming Teacher and to deliver Aquatic Courses.
We wish to thank all of these Community Trainers for their amazing contribution to Royal Life Saving Society WA, and we look forward to bringing you stories that highlight the specific contributions they've made to the Western Australian community over the coming weeks.