Emergency services superintendent says goodbye after nearly 30 years of South West service
After nearly three decades serving the South West community during some of the most devastating emergencies, superintendent Andy Wright is saying goodbye to the region.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services Services South West boss will be stepping away from his post to take up a new role in Perth as the Chief Superintendent for Country North.
Supt Wright told the Times it had been an honour to care for the South West for nearly 30 years — a career path which originally started with him joining the Police Force as a cadet in 1991.
After working in Warwick as a police cadet, he moved to Bunbury for the job between 1995 and 1998, before moving to Dusborough.
It was then he met South West Police Supt Geoff Stewart — the initial mentor who led Supt Wright towards DFES.
“He was actually my sergeant when I was a police officer down there, so I worked very closely with him,” Supt Wright said.
“A fire brigade boss, a district officer by the name of Eric Graham, came into the police station one day, asked if anyone was interested in being a volunteer firefighter.
“I was a junior, and Geoff being the sergeant said would I go down and represent the police station at these initial meetings. One thing led to another and I started training with the volunteer fire rescue.”
“I was still a station officer transitioning to area officer during the Margaret River fires, then of course there was the Waroona fire of 2016, and other I guess large-scale incidents that come in between,” he said.
“2016 for Waroona was obviously quite a memorable event — it probably changed a lot of the ways we structure and approach our relationship with local governments and Parks and Wildlife (Service). It really set the standard.”
Supt Wright has led the Bunbury and South West crews from 2020.
He said the quality and commitment of DFES staff and volunteers was behind the high quality of responses to emergencies.
“We have such a heavy reliance on volunteers and no words can really say how much we value their service, they really are the bread and butter that keep community sticking in the regional areas,” Supt Wright said.
“If it wasn’t for the amazing support and the relationships that we’ve built and maintained in Bunbury — for example the Bunbury tornado and storm earlier this year — would not have gone as smoothly as it did.
“The response we got and the way we were actually able to get all the agencies in the same room and working within a couple of hours is absolutely a credit to the South West.”
The superintendent has one last message for locals — volunteer.
“For anyone who’s ever interested in the fire brigade, volunteering is a really good stepping stone into getting an appreciation of the organisation,” he said.
On his move to the city, Supt Wright said it was “a bit daunting” but told the Times he was excited for the new post.
“I’m looking forward to the challenges, but it’s a little bit bittersweet,” he said.
“I’ve been living here around Bunbury and in Dunsborough since 1995 so it’s a big change for my now family, having moved here as a single man and now married with three kids.”
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