Dedicated radio buff honoured for commitment

For 31 years, Rae Thorp, with support from her husband Richard, has managed the Australian Coast Radio Monitors from her home base in Capel.

The service provides dedicated radio coverage for all sea rescue groups and the boating community from Augusta to Dawesville, with Ms Thorp manning the radios from 7am to 10pm every day of the year, while remaining on call 24/7.

On January 23, Ms Thorp was recognised for her decades of service when she was awarded Citizen of the Year at the Shire of Capel’s 2018 Community Awards and Citizenship Ceremony.

Ms Thorp said she was “stunned” when her name was announced.

“It was great – if I hadn’t have had one of the little guys standing beside me I think I would have fallen over,” she said.

She said the radios were part of her life, and “if I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t continue to do it”.

Victoria Richardson was awarded Young Citizen of the Year and the Community Supporting Group of the Year was the Capel CWA.