City of Armadale - History House > Records

PURPLE SUPPORT SERVICES VEST

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2011

Overview

Purple sleeveless vest with grey reflective edging and white lettering front and back. Velcro strips are fitted to the front panels to secure the item in place.
Lettering on the front is small and is positioned on the upper left while on the back is larger and centrally located.
There is one tag attached to the collar, white with black lettering.

Historical information

These vests were worn by support services personnel at the Armadale Arena where they provided financial support, counselling and general services for those affected by the fire. The people wearing them were known as the 'Purple Angels' by residents using the Arena. The support services officers were from the Department of Child Protection and were part of an emergency response team. The vests were worn by Liz O'Neill, Gerry Evans and Vera Vincent from the Department of Child Protection.
On the morning of 6th of February 2011 a bushfire was accidentally started by an individual using an angle grinder outside, during a total fire ban. Sparks from the angle grinder set nearby dry grass on fire. High easterly winds caused this scrub fire to quickly turn into a bushfire. Over the course of the rest of the day the fire spread westerly out of Roleystone and, down the hill and into Kelmscott. 150 fire-fighters were on the ground during the peak of the bushfire. Residents in the path of the fire were ordered to evacuate immediately. Over 4,000 people were evacuated during the bushfire. Many families lost their homes. 69 homes were destroyed with another 71 badly damaged. Residents were evacuated to the Armadale Arena on Townley Street which was turned in to the emergency evacuation centre. Most residents spent the night there and it was a few days before they were allowed back into the area to see if their homes had survived.
The Armadale Arena remained a one stop resource centre for victims of the bushfire for 2 weeks after the event.
This bushfire is now regarded as one of the worst in WA history due to the loss of homes. No one was killed during the bushfire.
For further information see the Birtwistle Local Studies library

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2011.67A

Item type

Costumes

Material

Polyester

Width

590 mm

Height or length

655 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Text front[SUPPORT / SERVICES] BACK [SUPPORT / SERVICES] Large tag [Australian / Professional / Advertisers / map of Australia / Phone: 08 93071222 / Manufacturing Agents for / Promotional Products And Clothing] Small tag [WASHING / INSTRUCTIONS / HAND WASH / DRIP DRY / WARM IRON / POLYESTER / XXXL / MADE IN / AUSTRALIA]

Keywords

Department of Child Protection

Armadale Arena TOWNLEY Street Armadale

Bushfire Roleystone Kelmscott 2011

Year

2011

Statement of significance

On the 6th of February 2011, the Roleystone Kelmscott Bushfire destroyed over 70 homes in the east Kelmscott and south west Roleystone area. Residents were evacuated to the Armadale Arena, which became the centre for helping those effected by the fire. This sign was put on a notice board for people at the centre.
This was one of the worst bushfire for loss of homes in WA history. Many people lost everything in this event due to the speed of the fire.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

City of Armadale - History House

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