Esperance has been without a dedicated FESA area manager since this time last year when Stuart McIntyre vacated the position.

In the year since Mr McIntyre left the position, FESA Great Southern Region area manager Murray Hatton has been filling the void, travelling to Esperance from Albany fortnightly to keep an eye on the vacant Esperance office.

Mr Wornes has extensive experience in emergency services, particularly fire-fighting, having worked for the Department of Environment and Conservation in Esperance for 12 years, spending the last three as district fire manager.

Mr Wornes said part of the reason he chose to apply for the position was the opportunity to improve his own skills, as well as the skills of others.

“With the DEC there wasn’t much opportunity to really advance your skills, and you were mostly working with people who are getting paid,” Mr Wornes said.

“With FESA I will be working heavily with the Esperance Volunteer Fire and Rescue Serviceas well as the bush fire brigades, all of whom are volunteers that I have the utmost respect for.

“My role will be an education and training role, so in terms of that I’m actually getting my own skills up to scratch - I have quite a bit of training to complete myself before I can start teaching others, but I’m well on the way to getting that done.”