By Kirsty Ross
A WILLIAMSTOWN Hospital nurse recently became the western suburbs’ Emergency Services Person of the Year.
Awarded for his role as a CFA firefighter, Mark Dean, said his colleagues were equally worthy.
His award was announced before more than 500 emergency services personnel whose job is to protect and rescue in the western suburbs. They gathered for their annual fundraising get together in Altona North on July 15.
“It’s a chance for emergency service workers to get to know one another in a social environment, so you can work better as a team out at a road trauma or another incident,” Sergeant Ron Fenton of Werribee police said.
Organisers’, who included Mr Dean, said this year’s event at Grand Star Receptions in Altona North was the most successful night yet.
Sgt Fenton, who won the award last year, and Mr Dean have been behind the event since its inception seven years ago at the first annual Police and Community Consultative Committee’s Western Emergency Services Team dinner dance.
Members of the Police, State Emergency Services (SES), Country Fire Authority (CFA), Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, Metropolitan Ambulance Service (MAS), and St John’s Ambulance volunteers raised $10,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Sgt Fenton said that by 11pm the crew had raised $8400 through the $55 tickets for a five-course meal, with further cash donations slipped down a wishing well at the centre.
Then, before Sgt Fenton knew it, an anonymous person strode out to the their car and wrote a cheque for the difference, while patrons raised a further $500 by passing around an ice bucket.
“What we know is that we are going to save some kids lives,” Sgt Fenton said.
Children all over Australia will benefit from the donation of a life saving piece of equipment they desperately need.
Winning the Emergency Services Person of the Year Award is a great honour, said Mr Dean, who was nominated for his high level of commitment to the CFA’s activities, team building and training by industry colleagues.
“Once the shock worked off, it took four hours for it to sink in,” said the father-of-two young daughters.
The 45-year-old joined the CFA as a junior volunteer 28 years ago. He is a registered nurse at Williamstown Hospital’s aged care unit.
Mr Dean beat three other nominees, Gerald Greenwood from the SES, Michelle Voss from St Johns Ambulance and Barry Robert Wells from the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board.
“As far as I was concerned, they were just as worthy, if not more worthy than me,” Mr Dean said.
