Waroona Shire volunteers recognised for efforts with recognition and thank you dinner

Volunteers in the Waroona Shire have been honoured for their service with a special show of gratitude.

Members of the community who have given back were celebrated on Thursday night at the Waroona Bowling Club with a recognition and thank you dinner.

About 100 volunteers enjoyed a three course meal as part of the event, which was attended by Canning MHR Andrew Hastie and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke.

Mr Hastie said the volunteers were the backbone of the community.

“When disaster strikes, as it did during the Waroona-Yarloop fires, you were the people who raced against time and risked your own lives to assist those in need,” he said.

Ms Clarke noted the scale of volunteering within the community.

“In my electorate, Waroona are a smaller shire, but at your awards night, you have the largest emergency services contingent turn up,” she said.

“It’s commendable not only to the Shire but to the community.”

Speaking before the event, Shire president Mike Walmsley described it as a small way to show the community’s gratitude to those who serve it.

“We are incredibly grateful to our volunteer fire and emergency services brigade, our volunteer bush fire brigades and our volunteer ambulance officers who are supported tremendously by our local police force,” he said.

“These volunteers selflessly dedicate their time to keep our community safe.”

The dinner coincided with National Volunteer Week and was made possible by Volunteering WA and funded by Lotterywest.