August 2003
BRAVERY MEDAL
Senior Constable Jason Anthony Brosnan
On 21 February 1999, Senior Constable Brosnan attempted to apprehend an armed offender during a police operation at Johnstone, Queensland. Senior Constable Brosnan, in the company of four other police officers, was conducting a search of a property when they found a man and a woman sleeping in a van. The man and the woman were asked to leave the van to enable it to be searched and while the search was underway the man ran off into bushland. Senior Constable Brosnan immediately ran after the man and after some time caught up to him and tackled him. The pair struggled and the man pressed a pistol into Senior Constable Brosnan's back. Senior Constable Brosnan managed to take hold of the pistol and continued to try to disarm the man. During the struggle, the pistol discharged and Senior Constable Brosnan was wounded in the leg. Senior Constable Brosnan continued in his efforts to disarm the man and in doing so sustained a number of injuries. Although he was finally able to disarm the man, because of his injuries and weakened state, Senior Constable Brosnan was not able to pursue the man when he again ran off. By his actions, Senior Constable Brosnan displayed considerable bravery.
Mr Phillip John Farmer
On the afternoon of 17 July 2002, Mr Farmer assisted in the rescue of a woman trapped in a burning vehicle on the Bruce Highway near Glasshouse Mountain, Queensland. At approximately 4:00pm, Mr Farmer was driving on the Bruce Highway when he witnessed an accident that resulted in a vehicle losing control, crashing into a pylon and catching fire. Mr Farmer and another witness to the accident ran to the burning vehicle where Mr Farmer forced the driver's side door open and attempted to undo the driver's seat belt. Despite the smoke and flames, Mr Farmer continued his efforts to free the severely injured driver whose legs were trapped in the wreckage. Mr Farmer was finally able to release the seat belt and with the assistance of the other person pulled the driver to safety. By his actions, Mr Farmer displayed considerable bravery.
Mr Turanga Gisborne Mako
On the afternoon of 17 July 2002, Mr Mako assisted in the rescue of a woman trapped in a burning vehicle on the Bruce Highway near Glasshouse Mountain, Queensland. At approximately 4:00pm, Mr Mako was driving on the Bruce Highway when he witnessed an accident that resulted in a vehicle losing control, crashing into a pylon and catching fire. Mr Mako and another witness to the accident ran to the burning vehicle. Mr Mako attempted to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher while the second witness attempted to free the driver. Despite the intensity of the fire and small explosions occurring, Mr Mako crawled under the car to extinguish the flames and went under the bonnet to douse fuel. He then assisted the other person to pull the driver to safety. By his actions, Mr Mako displayed considerable bravery.
Mrs Karen Leanne Nixon
On the afternoon of 1 January 2002, Mrs Nixon rescued a man who had been caught in a rip at Kelly's Beach, Bargara, Queensland. At approximately 4:30pm, Mrs Nixon was swimming with her brother-in-law when they heard cries for help from an elderly man who had gone to the aid of his three children who had all been caught in a rip. Although the father was able to reach his children and hold on to them, he also became caught in the rip and the group was in danger of being swept onto nearby rocks. Mrs Nixon, a stronger swimmer, was aware of the danger to the group. She began swimming toward the group followed by her brother-in-law. The father's adult son also swam to the group. The two men each took one of the children and swam to safety. The father continued supporting the third child until, becoming exhausted, he pushed the child to safety. Mrs Nixon supported the man in the rough seas for some time seeking to comfort him throughout. Realising that they would be injured if they remained in the vicinity of the rocks, she advised him that it would be necessary to swim further out to sea and around the rip back toward the shore. The man was of a heavy build and was, by this stage, almost incapable of supporting himself. Despite his size, Mrs Nixon, with some difficulty, supported him and swam through the rip. As they neared the shore the man's adult son and Mrs Nixon's brother-in-law pushed out a boogey board to them. Mrs Nixon helped the man to climb onto the board and brought him safely to shore. By her actions, Mrs Nixon displayed considerable bravery.
Miss Danielle-Ann Roberts
On the afternoon of 12 June 2002, Miss Roberts went to the aid of a young girl after the girl had been attacked by a dog in Stephens, Queensland. At approximately 5:00pm, Miss Roberts, aged 13 years, heard a person screaming and a dog growling and went to investigate. Miss Roberts found a young girl suffering the effects of a dog attack. A man who had apparently stopped to give assistance asked her to take the girl home. Miss Roberts began carrying the girl when the dog attacked them both. Miss Roberts was able to hold on to the girl and fight off the dog before reaching the safety of her home. By her actions, Miss Roberts displayed considerable bravery.
COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT
Mr Andrew Clark
On the afternoon of 25 June 2002, Mr Clark assisted in the rescue of several people from a burning vehicle after an accident on the Sunshine Motorway near Glenfields, Queensland. At approximately 12:25pm, Mr Clark was driving on the motorway when he came across an accident involving two vehicles. There were two men trapped in one vehicle, which was burning, and a woman lying on the road nearby. A second woman was trapped in the other vehicle. Mr Clark stopped his vehicle and, together with other drivers who had also stopped, ran to the accident. Mr Clark and another man attempted to undo the seatbelt of the man in the front seat of the burning vehicle but they were unable to do so. The second man ran to get scissors or a knife to cut the seatbelt but on his return they were still unable to effectively do so. As the fire became more intense they were eventually able to manoeuvre the man from the seatbelt and remove him from the car to a safe place. Both men then went to the aid of the woman lying on the road and also moved her to a safe place as by this time the vehicle was totally engulfed in flames. A third man was able to remove the other person trapped in the burning vehicle and then went to the assistance of the woman trapped in the second vehicle. By his actions, Mr Clark is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Darren James Elliott
On the afternoon of 3 February 2001, Mr Elliott rescued a man from a vehicle submerged in Lake Alford at Gympie, Queensland. At approximately 5:00pm, Mr Elliott was driving on the Bruce Highway near Lake Alford when he witnessed an accident that resulted in a vehicle losing control and crashing into the nearby lake. The vehicle came to rest about 20 metres from the shore. Mr Elliott stopped his vehicle and ran to the water's edge where he shouted instructions to the driver to assist him in freeing himself. The driver attempted to do so but began to panic as the vehicle began to sink. Realising that the driver was beginning to panic, Mr Elliott dived into the lake and swam to the vehicle which was now fully submerged and about two metres below the surface. He dived under the water and was able to reach into the vehicle and release the driver's seatbelt. Mr Elliott then took hold of the man, who was quite heavy being weighed down by his wet clothing, and dragged him from the vehicle to safety. By his actions, Mr Elliott is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Trevor John Johnson
On the afternoon of 1 January 2002, Mr Johnson helped to rescue several people who had been caught in a rip at Kelly's Beach, Bargara, Queensland. At approximately 3:00pm Mr Johnson was swimming with his sister-in-law when they heard cries for help from an elderly man who had gone to the aid of his three children who had all been caught in a rip. Although the father was able to reach the children and hold on to them, he also became caught in the rip and the group was in danger of being swept onto nearby rocks. Mr Johnson followed his sister-in-law and swam to the man. Mr Johnson took one of the children and, with some difficulty because the tide was so strong, swam around the rocks taking the child to safety on shore. The father's adult son, who had also swum to the group, took a second child to safety. Mr Johnson assisted the third child from the water and then helped to push a boogey board out toward his sister-in-law and the exhausted father. By his actions, Mr Johnson is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Edward Joseph Parker
On the afternoon of 25 June 2002, Mr Parker assisted in the rescue of several people after an accident on the Sunshine Motorway near Glenfields, Queensland.
At approximately 12:25pm, Mr Parker was driving on the motorway when he came across an accident involving two vehicles. There were two men trapped in one vehicle, which was burning, and a woman lying on the road nearby. A second woman was trapped in the other vehicle. Mr Parker stopped his vehicle and put his hazard lights on, creating a safety zone. Together with other drivers who had also stopped he ran to the accident. Mr Parker dragged the man in the rear seat of the burning vehicle to safety while two other men attempted to manoeuvre the man in the front seat from the seatbelt and remove him from the car. Mr Parker then went over to the second vehicle and tried to free the woman inside. He realised that he would be unable to do so because her legs were trapped under the dashboard. Mr Parker made the woman as comfortable as he could but he became concerned that she was in danger because of the fuel spillage on the road and the flames from the burning vehicle. He returned to his vehicle, a truck, and drove it closer to the vehicle in which the woman was trapped. With the assistance of another man who attached a snatch strap to the truck and the car, he was able to tow the woman's car to a safe distance away from the burning vehicle. By his actions, Mr Parker is commended for brave conduct.