Certificate of appreciation welcomed by local SES volunteers

The WA police service has recognised the efforts of State Emergency Service volunteers who took part in last month’s extensive Bluff Knoll search for Lorjie Bautista.

Assistant police commissioner Joanne McCabe awarded the Department of Fire and Emergency Services a certificate of appreciation last week for the efforts of the SES search crews.

The desperate six-day search for Mandurah mother Lorjie Bautista came to a tragic end when her body was found in dense bush, a week after she set out on a hike.

The search involved dozens of SES volunteers, police officers and other resources.

Great Southern district police Sergeant Cameron Clifford said the community would be lost without its volunteers.

“In the middle of the night when you have storm damage, these people get out of bed in the dark and in the rain to come and assist you,” Sgt Clifford said.

“They left their families on Mother’s Day to be out there looking for someone else’s mother.

“They are invaluable to our community.”

SES Great Southern district officer Gary Logan said the certificate was seen as a welcome gesture of appreciation.

“It can be a very thankless job and sometimes you feel under-appreciated but an award like this does show that people appreciate you and you are valued in the community,” Mr Logan said.