- Two WA emergency services personnel named in King’s Birthday Honours List
- Prestigious awards among the highest honours for emergency services personnel
- Recipients chosen for their impact on innovation, leadership and incident response
Two of the State’s emergency services leaders have been nationally recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List for their exceptional contribution to the safety of Western Australians.
A Department of Fire and Emergency Services District Officer and a Bush Fire Brigade volunteer firefighter, with almost 90 years of combined service, have been awarded the most prestigious firefighting award in the country, the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).
The AFSM recipients are:
- Nigel Elliott, a volunteer turned career firefighter who progressed through the ranks to his current position as a District Officer in Kununurra. With almost 40 years’ experience in emergency services, Mr Elliott has attended over 3,000 incidents and led response teams across the State, including a complex trench rescue in Jandabup in 2017 and the 2023 Kimberley floods. In addition to his work on the frontline, he has played a significant role in the development of innovative tools that aid response and recovery. It includes the Rapid Damage Assessment tool that has enhanced fire impact evaluation and response, and the Computer Aided Dispatch project that has advanced collaboration with WA Police.
- Colin James is a Life Member of theDarlington Bush Fire Brigade, serving almost 50 years as a volunteer firefighter and in leadership roles of Lieutenant and Captain. His dedication to emergency services saw him deployed to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, providing logistical support to aerial firefighting operations. The 85-year-old continues to share his invaluable experience with fellow members and is actively involved in bushfire prevention and preparedness education. With a passion for building community resilience, Mr James was integral to the launch of the Darlington Bushfire Ready Group, which enhances response and readiness in local communities.
The Governor of Western Australia will present recipients with their medals at a ceremony in September.
The full list of recipients can be found at https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-honours-lists
Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia:
“On behalf of the Cook Labor Government and our communities, I would like to congratulate Nigel Elliott and Colin James and thank them for their extraordinary service over many decades to the people of Western Australia.
“They have each demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment over their incredible careers with key roles in major incidents and initiatives that have shaped our emergency services and protected the community they serve.
“Our bushfire-prone State relies on selfless and courageous personnel such as Mr Elliott and Mr James who have risked their own lives to keep others safe when disaster strikes.”
