Harvey Volunteers

Medallists

Fighting fire from all sides

When a bushfire ravaged 69,000 hectares south of Perth, the region’s fire fighters were in desperate need of backup.

That’s when 200 volunteers from the eight bushfire brigades of the Shire of Harvey came to their aid, beginning a marathon effort to protect the communities threatened.

The local crews worked in 15 to 20 hour shifts for three days straight before extra crews from across the state and border arrived to relieve them.

The fire burned for 17 days and 181 buildings, including 162 homes, were lost in the flames.

Many who volunteered their time lost their own homes and livestock but still continued their heroic effort to help the rest of the community.

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Dr Andrew Davies

Medallist

Providing health for those in need

In 2008 Dr Andrew Davies left his job in a general practice to start charity Homeless Healthcare.

Along with several clinics, Dr Davies and his team take healthcare to the people — visiting drop in centres for the homeless, youth centres, women’s shelters and rehabilitation centres.

They also run a street health program, with nurses visiting places homeless tend to congregate.

In addition, Dr Davies installed a program at Royal Perth Hospital to help doctors and nurses review inpatients who are homeless or significantly at risk of homelessness to provide better medical care and support as well as assisting them post discharge.

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Daniel Smith

Medallist

Tireless community volunteer

He’s a fulltime worker and university student but Daniel Smith still manages to give his time generously — he has contributed over 600 unpaid hours in service to the community in one year.

Smith primarily volunteers his time with St John Ambulance but also assists the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation at fundraising events and is involved in community arts and cultural events.

Smith, who emigrated from the UK in 2007, also mentors indigenous students and recently graduated from the John Curtin Leadership Academy, having worked on a community project to raise vital funds for the Organ Donation and Transplant Foundation of WA.

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Aaron Derby

Medallist

Giving veterans a lifeline

At 2am every morning you’ll find Aaron Derby at the Northbridge Soup Kitchen.

It’s there the former Royal Australian Navy medic — who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder — helps veterans lodge claims for illnesses received from service.

And he does all this unpaid work in his own time.

A former Navy and air force officer who has suffered from PTSD for 25 years said Derby was the reason his claim was accepted through the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act — the first claim to be accepted under this new system.

“Without Aaron I’d be dead,” he insists. “I’d have suicided over the past 12 months.”

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James Green

Medallist

Lifesaving sports star

If it wasn’t for James Green, father-of-three Shaye Spackman wouldn’t still be with us today.

Having turned up for his very first game of cricket with Green’s team, Spackman told his mates he felt dizzy and collapsed on the side of the pitch.

Spackman’s heart stopped beating, and as they waited for an ambulance to arrive — which had gotten lost on route — Green took charge, clearing the cricketer’s airways and performing lifesaving CPR.

Medical experts told Spackman that if it wasn’t for Green, a volunteer paramedic, he would have died.

“He’s doing really well,” says Green of his soon to-be clubmate. “And he’ll be playing cricket later this year.”

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Rob Geersen

Medallist

Kicking goals for kids

Spearheaded by Rob Geersen, the Coolbinia Football Club started Star Kick, a team for children with special needs.

Geersen sourced special equipment and volunteers to make it possible for the children, who have a different range of abilities, to get involved.

From balls with bells on for the sight impaired and a special suit that helps children with movement difficulties run and play, Geersen has changed the lives of the now more than 40 special needs kids at the club.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has pledged a study of the Star Kick model will be undertaken as part of a wider review to look at opportunities for inclusion in the Auskick program.

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Patricia Cunningham

Medallist

A stranger’s saviour

Patricia Cunningham wasn’t even meant to be working at the Sorrento Bowling Club when she saw a stranger collapse outside.

But Cunningham’s last minute decision to return after hours to prep for an upcoming function ended up saving a stranger’s life.

As Cunningham arrived at the empty club, she was the only person on hand to see Terry Harvey fall flat on his face and lose consciousness outside.

She raced to him, screamed for help and began CPR when she was unable to find a pulse.

After spending three weeks in intensive care Harvey is on the road to recovery which doctors put down to quick-thinking Cunningham.

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Samuel Parry

Medallist

Changing lives through music

Samuel Parry founded the WA Charity Orchestra after leaving high school eight years ago, inspiring talented young musicians to donate their time and energy to the orchestra.

Parry’s annual concert series at Churchlands have gone on to raise tens of thousands of dollars for youth charities in that time.

Tragically, Parry lost his 21-month-old son in a backyard pool drowning over Christmas in 2015. But despite his loss, his dedication to the orchestra hasn’t wavered.

In 2017 he plans to launch a year-long program with five different ensembles — orchestra, wind symphony, youth wind band, chorale and choir — to continue the charitable artistic effort.

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