White Pages Covers Program

Courageous Australians Joanne Lucas to feature on South Western's Yellow Pages® and White Pages®

May 5, 2010

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Each year, locals are featured on the covers of the Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directories in recognition of the contributions they make to their communities. Under the theme Courageous Australians, this year directories producer, Sensis, is recognising courageous people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to overcome adversity and help others in their time of need. 

After receiving nominations from community members for the annual honour, Albany resident, Joanne Lucas has been selected to appear on the cover of this year’s South Western directory which is distributed to Margret River, Albany, Mandurah, Pingelly, Hyden and Lake King. 

In May 2008, Joanne, a volunteer surf lifesaver put her life in grave danger when she rushed into the Middleton Beach waters  to rescue a fellow surf club member from a five-metre white pointer shark. 

Joanne had arrived early for surf boat rowing practice when she was alerted to the emergency by a woman who had witnessed the attack. This prompted Joanne to swim 80 metres offshore to retrieve the young man who had suffered severe lacerations to his leg, and was struggling to keep afloat. 

With him in her arms, and the shark still in close range, Joanne managed to swim both of them back to shore, where, with the assistance of bystanders, she was able to treat the victim until the ambulance arrived. As a result of Joanne’s remarkable efforts, she was able to save her fellow surf club member who recovered from his injuries. 

“I didn’t really have time to think when I was told of the attack, I just did what any surf lifesaver would instinctively do and went straight into the water. I’m thankful that someone saw the attack and was able to alert me before it was too late,” said Joanne. 

Joanne was awarded the Star of Courage, Australia’s second highest decoration for bravery and selflessness, and the Royal Humane Society’s Clarke Medal, for her rescue. 

Distribution of the South Western Yellow Pages® and White Pages® is planned to start on 8 May and will take approximately six weeks for the directories to be delivered to all households. 

Sensis encourages residents and businesses to recycle their old directories. In most areas, Yellow Pages® and White Pages® can be recycled as part of normal kerbside recycling services. Visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au to find out about recycling services in your area.

Did you know? The past three local people who appeared on the South Western Yellow Pages® and White Pages® cover were:

2009/10: Diana Oliver, Waikiki resident and coordinator of Stretch Festival Moving Arts Parade, graced the 2009/10 Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® cover under the theme ‘Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities’. For more than six years, Diana has assisted people with disabilities to become actively involved in the Stretch Festival by providing creative workshops, costume making, drama, banner making and percussion.  

2008/09: Michael and Mary Nenke, from Kukerin, appeared on the ‘Celebrating Australian Flavour’ theme directory cover in recognition of their business Cambinata Yabbies, which supports the local yabby farming industry.  

2007/08: Albany resident, Dorothy Morgan, was selected for the 2007/08 Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® ‘Champions of our Community’ cover for her help in establishing the Albany Summer School as well as the Amalgamation of Book Clubs in Western Australia.