Two life-long members of the SES and Marine Rescue were recognised for their 50 years of service at the emergency services 60th anniversary celebration.
Rick Holman and John Coates officially began their careers on the same day in February 1974, though both said they actually joined a few years earlier.
Mr Holman said he stuck with the service because he enjoyed helping the community, but said the work has been tough at times.
He recounted a tragic event in his early days when two boys drowned after they were washed off the black rocks at Demster Head on the last day of school holidays.
“The time that really sticks in my mind is that one,” Mr Holman said.
“Whether they slipped because of the black slippery rocks or whether a wave came we’re not sure, but we got alerted, took the rescue boat out and managed to spot the first one – he was on the bottom of the ocean floor.
“It wasn’t until a week later that somebody found the second boy floating near the break water.”
John Coates reflected more on his land-based operations.
“We used to go up to Kalgoorlie and do regional exercises through the bush, we’d go to plane crashes, we’d scoop out dams,” Mr Coates said.
Like Mr Holman, Mr Coates has a passion for community. He has received several medals for his service, including the Emergency Services Medal in 2001, but he remains humble about his achievements.
“Fifty-one years of service is a long time I’ll admit,” Mr Coates said.
“I suppose [receiving the award] is a bonus in that respect but I never expected anything for what we’ve done because we’re doing it for the community.”
Mr Holman said to join the emergency services, you have got to give it “your whole heart”.
Both he and Mr Coates have been living by his advice since they joined.
“John and I would make sure we always stayed behind during the school holidays and Easter,” Mr Holman said.
“When you join State Emergency or Marine Rescue, you join. You know that you may have to give up your school holidays and your Easter so that you have personnel back here in Esperance at the busiest time.”
The pair still volunteer at the SES, though they said they are now involved in less physically demanding roles like radio operations and driving.
