Award honours Shirley’s work

It was 1989 when Baldivis grandmother Shirley Oliver first donned her uniform and joined a small cohort of volunteers determined to protect the bush suburb from the threat of fire.

Now, 25 years on, and the veteran response officer has been recognised for her dedication with the brigade’s highest award.

Baldivis Volunteer Bushfire Brigade senior firefighter Karl Gill said Mrs Oliver was an integral part of emergency operations and was a grandmother figure to everyone.

The brigade’s 35 active volunteers looked to her for guidance and support, he said.

“Basically the whole place would fall apart if it wasn’t for Shirley,” Mr Gill said.

“We’ve just had the busiest summer of any volunteer brigade in WA. Shirley is on the scene in our new communications bus whenever there is an incident.”

Mrs Oliver said she was surprised and humbled to win the Pauline Lockwood Award last month.

She said she had witnessed a lot of changes since starting service in the late 80s.

“I started off on mop-ups when we worked out of a small shed at the back of the old Baldivis School,” she said.

“Nowadays, I monitor the crew while they are out. If it’s late at night, I take a radio home and never get a moment’s rest until I know they are all home safely.

“It’s so rewarding — this is my life and they are my boys.”

Mr Gill said the brigade’s volunteers, who range in age from 17 to 80, took part in training during winter to prepare for bushfire season.

He said the volunteers were delighted to receive a new $500,000 communications bus in April.