A volunteer firefighter from Jurien Bay has been crowned the inaugural Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services (WAFES) Young Person of the Year at the 2026 awards gala dinner.
Danielle Ryder, 27, was recognised for helping shape emergency services to meet future challenges with her outstanding work designing, facilitating and co-ordinating training to help cadets advance to adult brigades.
She was selected from the winners of the four young person awards across volunteer firefighting, Marine Rescue, State Emergency Service (SES) and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) categories.
Thirteen winners were revealed at the awards night, acknowledging individuals, teams and young people who have made significant contributions to WA’s emergency services in the past 12 months.
Esperance volunteer Dave Macmahon earned the Marine Rescue Individual Achievement Award for an ocean rescue which involved paddling out in treacherous conditions to rescue a man swept off Salmon Rocks.
Bush Fire Brigades (BFB) in the Shire of Ravensthorpe jointly received the Volunteer Firefighting Team Achievement Award for their teamwork and bravery responding to several big bushfires sparked by dry lightning.
Exmouth SES and Karratha SES were recognised for their teamwork to stabilise the town of Exmouth in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, receiving the State Emergency Service Team Achievement Award.
“The Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services Awards is a fantastic opportunity to recognise our incredibly skilled emergency services family and highlight some of their remarkable achievements over the past year,” said Emergency Services Minister, Reece Whitby.
“From bushfires, responses to severe weather and rescues to searches on land and sea, WA emergency services personnel are renowned for their expertise and willingness to keep Western Australians safe.
“On behalf of the Cook Labor Government, I congratulate all the winners and sincerely thank all the volunteers and emergency services staff who selflessly answer the call to protect communities all over our vast State 365 days of the year.”
YOUNG PERSON AWARDS
WAFES Young Person of the Year Award
Danielle Ryder, Jurien Bay Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS)
DFES Young Person of the Year Award
Shelby Robinson, DFES District Emergency Management adviser, Goldfields Midlands
Volunteer Firefighting Young Person of the Year Award
Danielle Ryder, Jurien Bay VFRS
Marine Rescue Young Person of the Year Award
Sophie Robins, Marine Rescue Whitfords
State Emergency Service Young Person of the Year Award
Zac Hill, Karratha SES
INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS
Career Fire and Rescue Service Individual Achievement Award
Peter McConkey, Senior Firefighter, Wangara Fire Station
DFES Corporate Staff Individual Achievement Award
Em Burton, Marine Rescue Training Development Coordinator
DFES Operational Staff Individual Achievement Award
Andrew Strunk, Rescue Officer
Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services (VFES) Individual Achievement Award
Adam Conwell, Onslow Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) Individual Achievement Award
Paul Beazley, Denmark VFRS
Murray Lang Bush Fire Service Award
Chris Hynes, Waterloo BFB
Marine Rescue Individual Achievement Award
David Macmahon, Marine Rescue Esperance
Peter Keillor Award
Ben Whittle, Albany SES
TEAM AWARD WINNERS
DFES Staff Team Achievement Award
Perth District Officers
Volunteer Firefighting Team Achievement Award
Shire of Ravensthorpe Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades, including West River BFB, North Ravensthorpe BFB, Mount Short BFB, East Ravensthorpe BFB, Jerdacuttup BFB, Cocanarup BFB, Hopetoun Rural BFB and Munglinup BFB
Marine Rescue Team Achievement Award
Marine Rescue Dampier
State Emergency Service Team Achievement Award
Exmouth SES and Karratha SES.
