Recognised for fire work

Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC PhD student Rachel Westcott has been recognised for her work after South Australia’s Sampson Flat bushfire as part of the Pride of Australia awards.

Rachel was third in the environmental category in the South Australian category of the awards, which are run by News Corp. Along with her team from South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management, Rachel helped save - and, sadly, euthanase - hundreds of suffering and burnt animals, including western grey kangaroos, koalas, possums, livestock and domestic pets after the fire in January this year. 

Rachel started South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management, a not-for-profit organisation, after Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, to help animals after natural disasters.