Pirtek nets volunteer support award

One of Port Hedland’s leading hydraulic equipment suppliers has received a Volunteer Employer Recognition Award for it support of volunteers among its employees.

The organisation was presented with the award earlier this month by the Department of Emergency Services in recognition of its support for volunteer firefighters.

For the past year, Pirtek has had a no-questions-asked, carry-on approach for volunteer firefighters, allowing employees to leave work in order to help protect the community from bushfires.

Centre manager Ian Gear said Pirtek aimed to support all volunteers within their ranks in any field they could.

“I guess it’s a community responsibility and we take that as being important to our company philosophy to support the community and be a part of it,” he said. “It’s about giving people freedom to have choice to pursue that balance of workplace and after-hours passions and help them pursue personal goals when they need to.”

Over the course of 2017, Pirtek was home to two volunteer firefighters, with team member Joost De Caluwe volunteering in various positions in town for nearly nine years.

Mr De Caluwe said volunteering was something close to his heart and he appreciated Pirtek for allowing him to continue his volunteer work.

“It makes you appreciate what you do for the community and knowing that you can go away and there’s no questions asked,” he said.

“Also, the guys in the workforce they know that I’m with the fireys and they are very supportive and tell me to take care when I leave for a job.”