Members awarded at 2020 Annual General Meeting

Each year the Royal Life Saving Society WA and Royal Life Saving Australia bestow honours awards to actively recognise volunteers, members and staff who have made an important contribution to the work of Royal Life Saving. This year a number of our members were successfully nominated for an honours awards with several of them recognised at our Annual General Meeting this week.
The awards were presented by Royal Life Saving WA President Colin Hassell, Royal Life Saving National President Cameron Eglington and Member for Churchlands and Royal Life Saving Ambassador Sean L’Estrange MLA.

The awardees are listed below.

Lisa Lilleyman

Lisa was a long-time staff member at Royal Life Saving and despite making the move down the road to work at the Australian Olympic Committee several years ago, she has continued to contribute to our organisation. Lisa has been a volunteer member of the WA Honours and Awards Committee since 2015. As a member of the Committee, Lisa contributes to the assessment of nominations for WA Bravery and Honours Awards along with applications for Community Help Grants for families affected by child drowning. Lisa is a valued committee member and brings a wealth of knowledge to these meetings. For her continued service she received the Australian Associate Award.

Peta Burdan

Peta is a willing volunteer for Royal Life Saving. She has been a member of the WA Honours and Awards Committee since 2015, assessing nominations for Bravery and Honours Awards and applications for Community Help Grants. Peta is a diligent and proactive member of the Committee, always on the lookout for possible Bravery Awards nominations, and puts much preparation into the meetings. She is also a long-time volunteer in the area of lifesaving sport, dedicating much of her time to events including the Pool Lifeguard Challenge, Australian Pool Lifesaving Championships and state competitions. She has had a long association with the Central Aquatic Swimming and Lifesaving Club and actively promotes RLSSWA programs and events in this role. For her service she received the Australian Associate Award.

Christina Davini

Christina first attained her Aquatic Trainer qualification in 2012 and went on to become a First Aid Trainer in 2015. Since this time, she has delivered Bronze Medallion and First Aid courses to staff and students at Holy Cross College. Christina was recognised for her great effort and commitment in teaching lifesaving skills to her school community by receiving the Western Australian Service Order.

Helen Paton

Helen attained her First Aid Trainer qualification in 2013 and since then has delivered many Provide First Aid courses to staff and students at South Metropolitan TAFE. She has equipped students in various apprenticeship and hospitality programs with vital first aid skills and has also delivered to students learning English as a Second Language. For her efforts she received the Western Australian Service Order.

Michelle Porteous

Michelle first became in Aquatic Trainer in 2003 and went on to deliver Bronze Medallion courses through the VacSwim program, along with Heart Beat Club and other resuscitation courses. She has provided many young people, parents and community members with valuable CPR skills. In more recent years she has primarily delivered Bronze Medallion courses through VacSwim, teaching students these important lifesaving skills. Michelle was awarded the Western Australian Meritorious Service Order for her great work delivering courses for the last 17 years on behalf of Royal Life Saving.

Brenda Lee

Brenda has a long history in the swimming and lifesaving industry. She first gained her resuscitation trainer qualification in 1986 and was part of the Royal Life Saving ‘Southwest Zone’ team. She qualified as an aquatic trainer in 2003 and has delivered resuscitation and Bronze Medallion courses across the Southwest region. She was also a VacSwim instructor and has worked as a regional advisor for VacSwim, travelling across the south of the state to ensure good quality teaching is provided to regional students. In recognition of her service to Royal Life Saving and the broader aquatic industry, Brenda received the Western Australian Meritorious Service Order.

Marlene Stevens

Marlene has a long history in swimming and lifesaving. Since the 1980s she has delivered a variety of courses across the Midwest and Gascoyne region, covering as far north as Exmouth and east to Wiluna! She qualified as an aquatic trainer in 2003 and has delivered Bronze, resuscitation and other aquatic rescue awards to communities in her region. This included conducting the training for pools in many small towns, providing staff with the training and skills to continue operating these important community facilities. Now based in the metro area, Marlene is working primarily as an AUSTSWIM presenter, delivering the Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety course to train new swim instructors. In recognition of her long commitment to Royal Life Saving Marlene received the Western Australian Meritorious Service Order.

Shirley MacLeod

Shirley has had a true lifelong involvement with Royal Life Saving WA, dating back to attaining her very first Bronze Medallion in Albany in the 1970s. She has a history as a VacSwim instructor, Bronze Medallion examiner and aquatic trainer. She attained a Teacher of Life Saving Award (TOLSA) in 1989 and progressed onto becoming an aquatic trainer in 2002. In addition to her day job as a school principal, Shirley has delivered and assessed many Bronze Medallions across the Midwest region to both students and teachers and has worked as a VacSwim regional advisor. Shirley is a passionate advocate for the work of Royal Life Saving and received the Western Australian Meritorious Service Order.