Shire of Morawa president Karen Chappel has been awarded the highest honour at the WA Local Government Association’s Local Government Awards, as reward for more than two decades of service.

The annual WALGA awards, hosted at WA Museum Boola Bardip in Perth on Friday, June 12, saw more than 40 current and former elected members from across WA recognised for their contributions, including three councillors from the Mid West-Gascoyne.

Cr Chappel, former WALGA president and Shire of Morawa president, was given the local government medal — the awards’ highest honour — recognising exceptional service, achievements and contributions to the local government sector.

Cr Beth Walton, president at the Shire of Sandstone, was awarded WALGA life membership for her outstanding service and contribution to the association.

Rhonda Mettam, a councillor from the Shire of Shark Bay, received a merit award.

Local governments were also acknowledged for their work in making WA roads safer through WALGA’s RoadWise Recognised Awards and in making local governments more accessible through the Most Accessible Communities WA Awards.

WALGA president Mark Irwin said: “Behind every great community are local government elected members and officers who put in extraordinary efforts to deliver better outcomes.”

“I particularly want to acknowledge former WALGA president and Shire of Morawa president Karen Chappel AM JP for being awarded the local government medal in recognition of her incredible contribution to the sector of more than 20 years’ of service.”