September 2006
BRAVERY MEDAL
Mr Timothy John FARMER
On the morning of 2 August 2005, Mr Farmer rescued a young girl from a fire in a car at a service station in Jabiru, Northern Territory.
Mr Farmer, a tourist, was refuelling his car with petrol when he was alerted to a fire in the back of a station wagon parked in front of his vehicle. Observing flames in the rear window of the station wagon, he ran over and saw a small child in the back seat. Without hesitation, he opened the driver's side rear door to rescue the child and was momentarily forced to step back as smoke billowed from the car. He then reached inside and removed a young girl whose clothing was on fire. In doing so he received burns to his hands.
By his actions, Mr Farmer displayed considerable bravery.
Mr Lyall Mervyn FISHER
On the afternoon of 10 October 2004, Mr Fisher attempted to rescue his nephew from a house fire in Roma, Queensland.
At about 5.25 pm, Mr Fisher went to check on the whereabouts of his son and young nephew who had been playing in the rumpus garage area of the house. As he entered the kitchen which adjoined the area, he saw it was filled with smoke. After alerting the other occupants of the house to the fire, he went outside and, believing the two young boys were still in the building, opened one of the garage doors. The garage was filled with smoke. He entered, calling for the boys, but was unable to find them and exited through a rear sliding door. He returned to the front of the house and, still believing the boys to be inside, re-entered the garage. He felt around for the boys but could not locate them. Unable to stay in the garage due to the intense heat and smoke, he was forced to exit the building. His clothes were on fire and he had to be hosed down. Although suffering from burns, he then attempted to fight the fire using a garden hose but was forced to withdraw when material stored in the garage started to explode. Mr Fisher later discovered that his son was not in the garage and was unharmed. Sadly, however, his nephew died in the blaze. Mr Fisher was himself badly burned and required hospitalisation.
By his action, Mr Fisher displayed considerable bravery.
Senior Constable David William RAYMOND
On the afternoon of 6 February 2004, Senior Constable Raymond rescued a youth from floodwaters in the Mulgrave River at Goldsborough Valley, Queensland.
Senior Constable Raymond had just arrived home from work when a neighbour told him that a boy had fallen from Peets Bridge into the flooded Mulgrave River. Senior Constable Raymond advised the police communications centre of the incident as he drove to the scene in his police vehicle. When he arrived, he saw a 14-year-old boy holding onto a tree in the middle of the river about 50 metres from the bridge. Senior Constable Raymond reassured the boy, then collected ropes from his vehicle and, holding one end of the rope while people on the bridge held the other end, attempted to reach the boy by walking into the water. However, he was dragged under by the force of the flood and, unable to reach the boy, was pulled back and assisted onto the bridge. Senior Constable Raymond then returned to his home and collected his kayak, a life jacket and more rope. With the assistance of people on the bridge, he tied rope to the kayak and then paddled out to the boy. The kayak was swamped by water and capsized, but Senior Constable Raymond managed to grab hold of a tree close to the boy. He then instructed the people on the bridge to throw the life jacket attached to a rope to him. He reached across and put the life jacket on the boy who was pulled to safety. The life jacket was then thrown back to Senior Constable Raymond and he too was pulled to safety.
By his actions, Senior Constable Raymond displayed considerable bravery.
COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT
Mr Maurice William BREWER
On the afternoon of 23 October 2003, Mr Brewer went to the assistance of an off-duty police officer who was being assaulted by two men at Auchenflower Railway Station, Queensland.
A police officer, who was on his way to work, had asked two men to stop using obscene language towards elderly people waiting on the platform. Because he was in civilian clothes, he identified himself as a police officer and asked the two men for identification. The two men then verbally and physically assaulted the police officer, punching him about the head and body. Mr Brewer, then 69 years old, saw this happening and immediately came to the officer's assistance. He grabbed hold of one of the men and dragged him away from the police officer. Although Mr Brewer was being continually punched he was able to restrain the offender until other police officers attended the scene and arrested the two men.
For his actions, Mr Brewer is commended for brave conduct.
Sergeant Jan Pieter GARRELS
On the afternoon of 10 October 2004, Sergeant Garrels attempted to rescue a young boy from a house fire in Roma, Queensland.
Sergeant Garrels was on duty at Roma Police Station when he was informed of a house fire. On arriving at the scene he saw flames coming through the roof of the garage area of the home and was informed that a child might still be inside. Sergeant Garrels twice entered the house and, in thick smoke, searched for the missing child. He was unable to access the garage area because of the exteme heat. Sergeant Garrels informed fire officers, who had just arrived, of the situation and helped them to set up hoses. He then arranged a search of surrounding paddocks for the child and worked to control the crowd of onlookers. Sadly, the child was in the garage of the home and died in the fire.
By his actions, Sergeant Garrels is commended for brave conduct.
Mrs Rebecca Deanne SELDON
On the afternoon of 28 February 2005, Mrs Seldon rescued a boy who had been carried out to sea by a rip at Moreton Island, Queensland.
Mrs Seldon, a teacher, was one of several adults supervising a group of Year 6 students who were swimming in the surf at Moreton Island. Four of the students were caught in a rip and swept out to sea. Another teacher was able to assist all but one of them to shore. The remaining student was carried further out to sea. A teacher contacted emergency services but was told that help would have to come from the mainland and would take some time. Mrs Seldon then volunteered to swim out to rescue the boy. She then entered the water and swam out some 300 metres to him. The boy was distressed and fatigued. Mrs Seldon supported him and swam for around 200 metres before a boat picked them up and returned them to shore.
For her actions, Mrs Seldon is commended for brave conduct.
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