Bunbury Regional Prison open the Ian Allan Staff Training Centre

Dozens of staff as well as family and friends of the senior prison officer attended the commemoration at the new training facility, which has been impressively renovated with new paint, cabinetry, carpets, beautiful flowers and landscaping.

Mr Allan joined the Department of Correct Services in September 2005 and worked there until his passing on January 14, 2017.

Throughout his 12 year career, he worked in a number of positions including senior prison officer, satellite trainer, fire officer and occupational health and safety officer, but always worked hard to ensure staff training at Bunbury Regional Prison was the best it could be.

Mr Allan increased the operational training facilitation and completion rates at the prison by more than 70 per cent which saw him awarded a Superintendent’s Commendation in 2014 and a Safety of Our People award for excellence in 2016.

A close friend and colleague of Mr Allan, Roz Marocchi, said it was an honour to name the new training facility after such a special man.

“What made Ian a stand out to his peers and recognised by the commissioner was his constant contribution to the department,” Ms Marocchi said, battling tears.

“Ian was the person I came to rely upon as my first-hand man for all things health and safety, my mentor and adviser on workplace injury management and the man who managed to achieve the impossible – getting the industrial VSO’s to love going to training every second Wednesday.

“With frequent visits to Ian’s office, numerous questions and his patience, guidance and assistance, Bunbury Prison went from being the worst performing prison in the state for workers compensation and employee welfare, to being recognised in June 2017 as the most improved and best managed prison in the state.”

Mr Allan passed away unexpectedly earlier this year after a battle with melanoma, leaving behind his wife Liz and two young sons Zach, 13, and Jacob, 7.

The Allan family were presented with a beautiful framed display of Mr Allan’s officer uniform from Bunbury Regional Prison Superintendent Kerry Bishop.

“Normally when someone leaves us, we have the opportunity to say goodbye and give them some sort of memento for their career with the department but we didn’t do that with Ian and I feel that was a bit of a loss for this jail because he was such a valued member,” Ms Bishop said.

“So today, this is Ian’s goodbye from us – this is us giving back to Ian and giving our farewell through this new training facility.

“I know it’s taken us six months but I’m very proud of what we’ve managed to achieve – it’s definitely the nicest looking place in the jail.”

The facility will be used to keep staff’s skills up to date, including paperwork, first aid, CPR and emergency response training and will serve as a constant reminder of a sorely missed colleague and friend.