Royal Life Saving WA Training and Education staff with Sharon Francis receiving her award
Dedicated trainer awarded for her work on Christmas Island
Each year Royal Life Saving WA actively recognises the incredible work of our volunteers, members and staff through our honours awards system. Many of those awarded are community trainers who make a vital contribution to our work as they share lifesaving skills with course participants right across our state.
We have a dedicated team of more than 400 community trainers across WA without whom we couldn’t achieve our aim of ensuing all Western Australians have an opportunity to learn swimming and lifesaving skills. Many of these trainers work in regional and remote parts of our state, and without their dedication large parts of our community would be at risk of having no-one trained to assist in life and death situations!
Recently we were pleased to receive a visit at our Mount Claremont office from community trainer Sharon Francis, who travelled down to Perth from Christmas Island. While she was here we took the opportunity to recognise her for the role she plays in promoting the Royal Life Saving message.
Sharon has been a swim teacher for more than 30 years and gained further skills in the aquatic industry by attaining her Pool Lifeguard qualification in 2000 and becoming a Bronze Examiner in 2002. In addition to her main role as a teacher at Christmas Island District High School, Sharon plays an essential role in providing swimming and water safety skills to school students and the wider community.
She plans and coordinates swimming programs for the school and local recreation centre, teaches VacSwim, and delivers Bronze Medallion and Resuscitation awards for school and community members on the island, which is an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean 2600km north-west of Perth!
Sharon has not only been instrumental in delivering Royal Life Saving programs but also encourages and mentors local students to become swim teachers. She is currently in the process of becoming a Swim Teacher Trainer for Royal Life Saving.
Sharon has been tremendously committed to equipping her community with the swimming and lifesaving skills they need to enjoy their beautiful tropical surrounds safely. In recognition of her long contribution, Royal Life Saving WA bestowed Sharon with the WA Meritorious Service Order. We thank her for her incredible contribution and look forward to seeing the results of her amazing work over the years to come.