The Murray Leisure Centre has been recognised for its contribution to the community during the Yarloop fires in January 2016, which burnt through more than 73,664 hectares over 17 days, destroyed 181 properties, and resulted in the loss of two lives.
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The leisure centre was awarded the 2016 Community Spirit Award by the Leisure Institute of Western Australia (LIWA) during the LIWA Aquatics State Conference Dinner in August.
Shire President Maree Reid praised the centre’s role in adapting the facilities to provide emergency relief.
“Murray Leisure Centre staff quickly and effectively mobilised resources and halted ordinary operations to transform the facility into an Emergency Evacuation Centre,” she said.
“Staff’s positive, can-do attitude and commitment to accommodating the evacuees of the devastating fire ensured the Centre was efficiently run and that it offered a welcoming environment for evacuees.
“It’s an honour to have been chosen as the recipients of the Communty Spirit Award, especially in the light of the circumstances around which the Centre’s efforts were recognised.”
The leisure centre’s Emergency Evacuation Centre accommodated more than 582 evacuees, with volunteers donating almost 750 hours of work to carry out their duties in a seven-day operation.
“The Evacuation Centre’s success attests to our communities selflessness as Councillors, Shire and Leisure Centre offices, community groups and associations, and local, regional and state businesses and organisations and individual community members so willingly came together to accommodate the victims through donations of time, accommodation and/or items,” Ms Reid said.
Marta Pascual Juanola
Photojournalist from Barcelona, currently based in WA. Five languages speaker: English - Català - Español - Norsk - العربية.
Photojournalist from Barcelona, currently based in WA. Five languages speaker: English - Català - Español - Norsk - العربية.
