August 2007
BRAVERY MEDAL
Mr Timothy Gordon BAIGRIE
On the morning of 1 June 2006, Mr Baigrie rescued his partner and two children from a house fire at Woodridge, Queensland.
Mr Baigrie awakened to find a bar heater in his bedroom had caught fire. Despite his best attempts he was unable to switch off the heater and instinctively, he raced outside to shut down the electricity supply. Running back into the house he dragged his partner and his one year old son to safety on the foothpath, and then returned inside to save his three year old child. The property was now engulfed in flames, the situation becoming more desperate in the minutes before emergency services could arrive. Although restricted by a pre-existing medical condition and limited vision in one eye, Mr Baigrie began crawling on his hands and knees through the house, aided only by a wet towel for protection. He continued to scour the house, and although unable to see because of the thick smoke, used his hands to feel in front of him, managing to find his terrified son wedged against a toy box in the bedroom. Mr Baigrie grabbed hold of his son, pushing him across the floor and through the house to safety. Mr Baigrie was treated for critical smoke inhalation and suffered burns to the upper part of his body.
By his actions, Mr Baigrie displayed considerable bravery.
Miss Laura Megan DALEY
On 29 January 2004, Miss Daley prevented a sexual assault on an intellectually and physically impaired young woman at Wynnum, Queensland.
Miss Daley, a disability support worker, was accompanying a profoundly intellectually and physically impaired young woman on a regular outing. She had chosen a walking path along a well known suburban mangrove boardwalk. During their walk, Miss Daley noticed a man following them. There were no other people in the vicinity, and Miss Daley, feeling anxious, drew the young woman closer to her. The offender approached the women and, barring their way, threatened actions against the disabled woman if Miss Daley did not do as he ordered. Fearing there was no escape and that the offender was determined to follow through with his threats, Miss Daley protected her companion by submitting herself to repeated assaults. Throughout the ordeal, Miss Daley courageously held on to the woman to protect her from harm or injury. When the offender finally retreated from the scene, Miss Daley had the presence of mind, despite her own emotional and physical distress, to guide the young woman back to the safety of her vehicle where they awaited the arrival of police and family members.
By her actions, Miss Daley displayed considerable bravery.
Constable Adam Colin HARTLEY
In the early hours of the morning of 23 January 2007, Constable Hartley rescued a woman from floodwaters in the Bohle River, near Townsville, Queensland.
Constable Hartley responded to a report that a car had been washed off a flooded causeway across the Bohle River. On arrival, he discovered that a woman was missing in the swollen river. Distressed calls for help could be heard, and in the dark, Constable Hartley managed to see the woman holding onto a tree some 30 metres from shore and 100 metres downstream from the crossing, struggling to keep her head above water. Constable Hartley entered the water and swam out through the strong current to the woman. Although the victim was struggling to stay afloat, Constable Hartley managed to manoeuvre the woman and himself to a tree to help support their weight against the fast flowing water. The victim was beginning to lose consciousness, making it difficult for Constable Hartley to hold her against the force of the water. Despite the pitch black conditions and hazardous debris, Constable Hartley supported and rallied the woman for 30 minutes until both were able to be winched to safety by members of the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
By his actions, Constable Hartley displayed considerable bravery.
Group Bravery Citation
Mr Peter John GRAHAM
Mr Leslie George MOHOUPT
Mr Steven George REHN
On 22 April 2006, the crew of the Volunteer Marine Rescue vessel, Rescue One, rescued sailors from an overturned fishing vessel at Thud Point, Queensland.
During the height of Tropical Cyclone Monica in the Gulf of Carpentaria, huge wind gusts and large waves overturned a small boat, throwing the two occupants into the water. The crew of Rescue One was alerted to the incident and headed out to attempt a rescue. The weather had deteriorated considerably, with winds increasing to in excess of thirty knots. Rain squalls made visibility nil and the prevailing swell was four to five metres with heavy rolling surf. Despite this, the crew attempted to approach the reef where the two men were clinging to the side of their upturned boat. The rescue vessel was hit by a seven metre wave over the bow, crashing on the top hatches and pouring into the cabin. All navigation and communications systems were destroyed or rendered inoperable. Although the conditions were treacherous and there was grave risk to their own lives, the crew attempted to navigate a way through the reef to the stranded pair but were unable to find a safe passage. The rescue crew was forced to return to nearby safer waters for the next few hours. With the onset of daylight, and although still being pounded by heavy seas, high winds and driving rain, the crew spent an hour manoeuvring their vessel through the reef until they were able to locate the two victims and bring them safely on board.
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