Published on Tuesday, 2 September 2025 at 4:08:53 PM
The Shire of Capel is proud to celebrate the achievements of local volunteer firefighter Jeff McDougall, who has been awarded the Murray Lang Bush Fire Service Award at the 2025 WA Fire and Emergency Service (WAFES) Awards.
The prestigious award, presented on Friday 29 August, is the highest individual honour within the WA Bush Fire Service. It recognises a volunteer who has gone above and beyond expectations to make an exceptional contribution over the past 12 months.
Jeff, a dedicated member of the Gelorup Bush Fire Brigade for 27 years, played a crucial role in managing the persistent Dalyellup peat fire earlier this year. For more than six months, he and the broader team worked tirelessly day and night to contain and manage the incident.
He also supported the community in the aftermath of the Bunbury Tornado in May 2024, assisting with asbestos clean-up, undertaking welfare checks, and providing advice to impacted residents. His efforts reflect not only his technical skills and courage, but also his compassion and care for the local community.
In addition to his frontline service, Jeff has been instrumental in promoting fire prevention programs, delivering training exercises such as "Burn-Over" sessions with State Emergency Service (SES) members, ensuring others are prepared for challenging conditions on the fireground.
Shire of Capel President Doug Kitchen praised Jeff’s outstanding contribution to our community.
“On behalf of Council and the community, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jeff on this remarkable achievement. This award is a reflection of his extraordinary commitment, not just during times of crisis, but in his ongoing dedication to prevention, preparedness and community support.”
The Shire of Capel acknowledges and thanks all local emergency service volunteers for their ongoing commitment to protecting lives and property across the region.
Doug Kitchen
Shire President
Back to All News