February 2005
STAR OF COURAGE
Mr David Ashley BREEN
On the afternoon of 21 November 2003, Mr Breen rescued a man from a burning vehicle after an accident at Mount Inkerman, Queensland.
Mr Breen was driving north along the Bruce Highway when he noticed an approaching car drift onto the other side of the road, narrowly missing his own vehicle. The car careered across a concrete culvert toward a raised train carriageway before landing upside down on the tracks. Mr Breen saw the accident in his rear vision mirror and called 000 emergency. He then heard the female driver, who had escaped, scream that her husband was trapped in the overturned vehicle. Mr Breen rushed to help. As he approached the car, he noticed smoke coming from the engine bay and that the grass surrounding the car was alight. Mr Breen tried all the doors of the car but they were jammed shut. To free the man he climbed through the front passenger window and dragged him from the burning vehicle. Another person who had arrived on the scene helped Mr Breen move the man to safety. Within 30 seconds the car exploded. In quick succession it then exploded a second time.
By his actions, Mr Breen displayed conspicuous courage.
Mr John Roy WUST
On the afternoon of 3 August 2003, Mr Wust rescued a man and a woman from a burning vehicle after an accident on the Leichhardt Highway near Biloela, Queensland.
Mr Wust was travelling south with his wife on the Leichhardt Highway towards Biloela when he saw a station wagon on its roof with large amounts of smoke coming from the engine. Mr Wust stopped his car and asked his wife to turn on the hazard warning lights and to ring 000 emergency. He then ran to the overturned vehicle and saw a man and woman trapped inside in their seats. Both were unconscious. The driver's door was jammed and the car had burst into flames. Mr Wust realised the man and woman would burn to death if he did not act quickly. After considerable effort, he forced open the back door on the driver's side, freed the female driver from her seat belt and dragged her out of the car. The flames were now spreading, with the engine compartment well alight. Mr Wust could feel the heat from the front of the car. Although someone yelled at him not to go back into the vehicle because it was about to explode, Mr Wust returned to help the trapped male passenger. He climbed over the heavy set man and managed to free his broken foot and drag him through the back door of the car. Other people helped Mr Wust to move the man and the woman away from the car before it exploded.
By his actions, Mr Wust displayed conspicuous courage.
BRAVERY MEDAL
Ms Lisa STRATHERN
On the afternoon of 2 March 2003, Ms Strathern rescued tandem jump parachutists whose harness had become entangled as they jumped from a plane flying above Caboolture, Queensland.
Ms Strathern was the pilot of a Cessna aircraft carrying five parachutists, including a tandem jump pair. She piloted the aircraft to the drop zone. The first three jumpers exited the aircraft successfully. As the tandem divers jumped, part of their harness snagged around the starboard wheel strut leaving them hanging mid air attached to the undercarriage of the Cessna. As soon as she became aware of the emergency, Ms Strathern executed some turns of the aircraft to try to free the jumpers. The manoeuvres did not work, so Ms Strathern leant out of the aircraft keeping one hand on the controls while trying to pull the harness strap free from the strut. When this failed, one of the trapped jumpers called out to her to cut them free. Ms Strathern immediately loosened her seatbelt, crouched on the floor of the aircraft and once again leant out and this time cut the harness with a knife. Ms Strathern had no parachute and, because the plane had no autopilot, she had to control it with one hand while cutting free the pair. She was flying at 7,000 feet at the time.
By her actions, Ms Strathern displayed considerable bravery.
Mr Charles Henry TAYLOR
On the morning of 19 June 2000, Mr Taylor intervened in an armed robbery at the Westpac Bank in Bundall on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
Mr Taylor was at a Westpac branch when an armed offender, wearing a full-face balaclava and holding a .22 calibre rifle, ran up to a female teller, demanding money. Fearing for the woman's safety, Mr Taylor walked behind the armed man, grabbed hold of him from behind and twisted the man's left arm, forcing the gun to point away from the teller. The offender struck Mr Taylor on the head and body with the rifle several times while continually shouting threats at him. Mr Taylor wrestled the offender to the front door, but the armed man continued to hit and threaten him. Once outside the bank, the offender hit Mr Taylor with such force that the rifle smashed in two, slicing a deep gash across Mr Taylor's head, which later required 10 stitches. Mr Taylor threw a rubbish bin at the offender before withdrawing to seek help. The offender re-entered the bank and stole a large sum of money from the teller before escaping in a vehicle. Mr Taylor took down the vehicle's registration number and provided police with a description of the car. The offender was later apprehended.
By his actions, Mr Taylor displayed considerable bravery.
COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT
Mr Shayne Hamilton ABBOTT
On the afternoon of 7 April 2004, Mr Abbott rescued a man from the sea at Mermaid Beach, Queensland.
Mr Abbott was walking along the beach at Broadbeach Waters when he noticed a man caught in a rip. He swam out to the man, and supported him for approximately 15 minutes. Mr Abbott was having difficulty keeping the man afloat as he was twice his weight. Eventually they both became caught in the rip. An off-duty policeman swam about 500 metres to both of them. Mr Abbott was then able to swim to shore and help the policeman drag the man out of the water.
By his actions, Mr Abbott is commended for brave conduct.
Mr William Luke FLOOD
On the afternoon of 17 October 2002, Mr Flood assisted two elderly people during bushfires at Glen Aplin, Queensland.
Mr Flood was working on a property at Stanthorpe when bushfires raged through the area, destroying houses and machinery. As Mr Flood and his elderly companion ran towards a dam to shelter from the flames, the man had an angina attack. Mr Flood helped the man, who was struggling for breath, to enter the dam and poured water over him to keep him cool amid the scorching heat and surrounding flames. Visibility was almost zero, and the heat was intense. After the fire had passed, Mr Flood sat the man up against a nearby vehicle and then went in search of the man's wife in the main house. Mr Flood had to wait for a wind change to find the verandah and front door. He located the woman wrapped in a wet blanket inside the house. At this point, verandahs on both sides of the house were on fire and flames were burning through the floor. Mr Flood carried the woman out of the house to safety. He then drove the man and woman to hospital for treatment. Mr Flood was treated for smoke inhalation.
By his actions, Mr Flood is commended for brave conduct.
Master Wade Francis GANNON
On 18 May 2003, Wade Gannon, aged 10, rescued his young cousin who had fallen into Canungra Creek, Queensland.
During a family picnic, Wade was riding his bicycle with his cousins along a road next to his grandparents' property at Canungra. Near Canungra Creek bridge, Wade's 5-year-old cousin lost his balance and fell approximately two metres into the flooded heavily weeded creek, with his bicycle falling on top of him. Wade immediately jumped into the cold and murky water and pulled his cousin from under the water, carrying him under his armpits. Wade frog-kicked through the long reeds, which kept tangling around his legs, until he could drag his cousin to safety.
By his actions, Wade is commended for brave conduct.
Constable Matthew Anthony GROOM
On the afternoon of 7 April 2004, Constable Groom rescued a man from the sea at Mermaid Beach, Queensland.
Constable Groom, who was at the beach and off duty at the time, was alerted by a passer-by that two people were caught in a rip. Constable Groom swam 500 metres out to a man and a boy, both of whom were struggling to stay afloat in the choppy surf. Constable Groom grabbed the man, propping him on top of himself, and dragged and towed him to shore. The boy was able to swim ashore unassisted. Constable Groom and the boy then dragged the man out of the water.
By his actions, Constable Groom is commended for brave conduct.
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