Bravery Awards
March 2011
AWARDED A BRAVERY MEDAL
Mr Murray John HAYTON
Details not released at the request of Mr Hayton.
Mr Charles Temanihi TETAAHI
On the evening of 28 May 2010, Mr Tetaahi rescued a boy from drowning in the Nerang River, Surfers Paradise, Queensland.
A three-year old boy was walking across the Chevron Island Bridge with his mother and uncle when he slipped into a gap between the bridge and a safety fence. The child fell into the Nerang River and was quickly swept away in the fast running current. Hearing the child's mother scream, Mr Tetaahi peered into the river where he saw the boy calling for help. Without thought for his own safety, Mr Tetaahi jumped from the guard rail into the chilly water. He located the boy and was able to grab hold of him as they were both swept some 50 metres downstream. Mr Tetaahi was fully clothed and struggled against the tide whilst holding the child's head above water. Another person jumped into the river and swam out to help him drag the child to safety. As a result of Mr Tetaahi's quick thinking and action, the young boy was unharmed and survived the incident.
By his actions, Mr Tetaahi displayed considerable bravery.
AWARDED A COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT
Mr Lachlan Michael ALBRECHT
On the afternoon of 29 March 2010, Mr Albrecht helped rescue a man from a rip at Peregian Beach, Queensland.
Mr Albrecht and a friend were surfing in rough conditions at Peregian Beach when they heard a man yelling for help. A strong rip had developed, extending some 150 metres from the shore. Unable to spot the man because of the choppy conditions, Mr Albrecht and his friend monitored his voice and used it as their guide. In his distress the victim had inhaled a considerable amount of water and was struggling to remain above the surface. Mr Albrecht positioned his surfboard near the man and instructed him how to get aboard and stay afloat. Despite the dangerous conditions which had arisen, Mr Albrecht and his friend maintained their calm and, together, paddled out of the rip and brought the man back to the safety of the beach.
For his actions, Mr Albrecht is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Micheal Raymond APPLEBEE
In the very early hours of the morning of 23 March 2010, Mr Applebee helped rescue a man from drowning at Broadwater Causeway, Main Beach, Queensland.
Mr Applebee, a supervisor at a coastal resort, received word that a guest was in the Broadwater and in difficulty. Joined by a colleague from security, Mr Applebee spotted a man about 40 metres from shore who was struggling to remain above the surface. While Mr Applebee called for ambulance assistance, the security officer paddled out on a canoe to assist the victim. On arrival, he was unable to get the aggressive, intoxicated man onto his canoe. Mr Applebee paddled out and joined his colleague in the rescue. Despite the victim's continued resistance,
Mr Applebee and his colleague persisted, and cradling the man between the two canoes, paddled him back to shore to medical assistance.
For his actions, Mr Applebee is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Craig Graeme BOWEN
On the night of 27 December 2008, Mr Bowen helped rescue 18 people after the vessel, Nautilus, was washed onto rocks in the Flinders Reef off the north end of Moreton Island, Queensland.
Mr Bowen and another Coast Guard volunteer launched a three-metre rubber inflatable to assist passengers stranded onboard a dive boat. The craft had floundered after its propeller was fouled by a rope. In difficult night-time sea conditions, Mr Bowen and his colleague, we able to manoeuvre the dinghy through a small gap in rocks, coming alongside the vessel. Although continually being tossed about in a 2.5 metre swell, they took onboard three passengers, transferring them to nearby larger rescue vessels. In all, Mr Bowen and his companion made six return trips until all eighteen passengers were rescued.
For his actions, Mr Bowen is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Stephen James CREEVEY
On the night of 27 December 2008, Mr Creevey helped rescue 18 people after the vessel, Nautilus, was washed onto rocks in the Flinders Reef off the north end of Moreton Island, Queensland.
Mr Creevey and another Coast Guard volunteer launched a three-metre rubber inflatable to assist passengers stranded onboard a dive boat. The craft had floundered after its propeller was fouled by a rope. In difficult night-time sea conditions, Mr Creevey and his colleague, we able to manoeuvre the dinghy through a small gap in rocks, coming alongside the vessel. Although continually being tossed about in a 2.5 metre swell, they took onboard three passengers, transferring them to nearby larger rescue vessels. In all, Mr Creevey and his companion made six return trips until all eighteen passengers were rescued.
For his actions, Mr Creevey is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Zachary Howard ELVY
On the evening of 2 February 2010, Mr Elvy rescued a woman from a dog attack at Aitkenvale, Queensland.
An elderly woman was taking her small dog for an evening walk when she was confronted by a large cross-breed dog that had escaped from a nearby yard. Unprovoked, the animal attacked the small dog as the woman dropped to the footpath to shield her pet. Throwing her arms around it she desperately tried to fend off the attack and was repeatedly bitten around the arm. Mr Elvy ran across the road and, without thought for his own safety, grabbed the savage dog by the collar and restrained it until help arrived. As a result of Mr Elvy's actions, the victim was spared further injury.
For his actions, Mr Elvy is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Mark John HADLEY
In the very early hours of the morning of 23 March 2010, Mr Hadley helped rescue a man from drowning at Broadwater Causeway, Main Beach, Queensland.
Mr Hadley, working as a security office at a coastal resort, was alerted by a colleague that a guest was in difficulty in the Broadwater, calling for help. Assessing the situation from shore, Mr Hadley grabbed a canoe and paddled out in the darkness to the victim who was struggling to keep his head above water. The man appeared to be intoxicated and was aggressive; resisting Mr Hadley's continued rescue attempts by pulling him into the water. Mr Hadley responded by dragging the victim onto the hull of his upturned canoe. Minutes later, Mr Hadley's colleague paddled out to assist. Despite the victim's continued resistance, Mr Hadley and his friend cradled the man between their canoes, and paddled him back to shore to medical assistance.
For his actions, Mr Hadley is commended for brave conduct.
Senior Constable Christopher David HEBBLETHWAITE
Details not released at the request of Senior Constable Hebblethwaite.
Mr Nathan Blair HOGG
On the afternoon of 26 January 2009, Mr Hogg removed a man to safety from an unstable vehicle and treated him following an accident at Lower Beechmont, Queensland.
Mr Hogg, a paramedic, and a colleague attended the scene of an incident where the driver of a vehicle had suffered an epileptic seizure while at the wheel. The car had left the road and slid down an embankment. While his colleague treated patients on the road, Mr Hogg scrambled down the bank to assess the condition of the driver. As he moved towards the car in the slippery and unstable conditions, the vehicle continued to slide down the embankment. The driver was experiencing further seizures. Despite the considerable risk to his own safety in the unpredictable environment, Mr Hogg quickly removed the man and carried him to safety. He treated his patient at the scene before he was transported to hospital.
For his actions, Mr Hogg is commended for brave conduct.
Ms Jacqueline KENNEDY
Details not released at the request of Ms Kennedy.
Mr Gregory Francis LOVE
On the morning of 30 July 2009, Mr Love assisted at the scene of a serious single vehicle accident at Edmonton, Queensland.
Mr Love was travelling on the Bruce Highway and noticed through his rear vision mirror a stir up of dust and a ball of fire rise into the air. He quickly turned around and headed in the direction of the accident, stopping to assist at the site of the wreckage where an overturned vehicle was on fire. As the passenger side door was missing, Mr Love climbed into the vehicle to check the driver's condition. The young man was barely conscious, and his pulse was weak. Fire extinguishers were used to contain flames at the rear of the vehicle as Mr Love raced to the driver's side door and, with the help of another person, attempted to break it open with a mattock to better assist the driver. Emergency services arrived to manage the accident scene, but sadly, the driver succumbed to his serious injuries and later died in hospital.
For his actions, Mr Love is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Andrew Douglas McKILLOP
On the night of 16 February 2008 Mr McKillop helped rescue a woman from a burning vehicle at Logan, Queensland.
Mr McKillop, a paramedic, and colleagues attended the scene of a single vehicle accident. A car had struck a power pole and was on fire, the cabin engulfed by thick, black smoke. The driver was lying unconscious in the front seat as Mr McKillop attempted to open the vehicle. However, the doors were jammed from the impact. As the fire began to spread, Mr McKillop tried pulling the woman through a window but she was trapped. Shielding her with a fire blanket, he kept watch while a colleague crawled into the confined space and freed the woman. With assistance, Mr McKillop quickly carried the victim to safety just as the wreckage became entirely engulfed in flames and was destroyed.
For his actions, Mr McKillop is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Wade Michael MALLET
On the evening of 30 April 2010, Mr Mallet rescued a man from a rip at Coolum Beach, Queensland.
A man entered the water at Coolum Beach intent on a brief waist-deep paddle, when suddenly he was caught in a rip and dragged out to sea. Thrashed by waves, the man could only tread water for a short while before being overcome by fatigue. Mr Mallet was standing on a sandbar and saw the victim wave for help. He plunged into the water and swam some twenty metres through the rip to rescue the victim. As large waves continued to swamp them both, Mr Mallet rolled the man over onto this back, grabbed him by the waist and paddled him to a sandbar. Exhausted, he signalled a nearby group of surfers who placed the victim on a board and helped him float the man back to the safety of the beach.
For his actions, Mr Mallet is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Levi Mark PANRUCKER
On the afternoon of 29 March 2010, Mr Panrucker helped rescue a man from a rip at Peregian Beach, Queensland.
Mr Panrucker and a friend were surfing in rough conditions at Peregian Beach when they heard a man in the distance calling for help. He was caught in a strong rip some 150 metres from shore, unable to cope. The young men used the sound of the man's voice to guide them to his exact location. Distressed, the victim had inhaled a considerable amount of water and was struggling to remain above the surface. One of the surfboards was positioned near the man and he was instructed how to get aboard and stay afloat. Despite the dangerous conditions, Mr Panrucker and his friend remained calm. Staying together they paddled out of the rip and swam the man back to the safety of the beach.
For his actions, Mr Albrecht is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Victor Collin RONQUE
On the night of 16 February 2008, Mr Ronque helped rescue a woman from a burning vehicle at Logan, Queensland.
Mr Ronque, a paramedic, joined other colleagues attending the scene of a single vehicle accident. A car had struck a power pole and was on fire, its cabin engulfed by thick, black smoke and all doors jammed by the impact. The driver was unconscious in the front seat as flames advanced on the confined space. While another paramedic was shielding the victim from fire, Mr Ronque broke the passenger side window and forced his way into the vehicle. The driver was regaining consciousness as Mr Ronque began pulling her out of the burning cabin through a window. With the help of another paramedic, Mr Ronque carried the woman to safety just as the wreckage became entirely engulfed in flames and was destroyed.
For his actions, Mr Ronque is commended for brave conduct.
Sergeant Raymond John SORRELL
Details not released at the request of Sergeant Sorrell.
Mr Thomas Samuel George WEBB
On the late morning of 20 May 2009, Mr Webb helped rescue an elderly woman from a submerged vehicle at Pullen Pullen Creek, Pullenvale, Queensland.
A four-wheel drive vehicle carrying three people was crossing a waterway when it lost traction and floated into the adjacent creek. Part of the vehicle snagged a tree branch bringing it to a stop. As water rose inside the four wheel drive, the driver and his wife escaped into the tree however the vehicle floated on again for some metres carrying the driver's elderly mother-in-law. The driver was able to release his mother-in-law from the vehicle, struggling to hold her as he clung to a tree. Hearing pleas for help, Mr Webb plunged into the fast-flowing creek and swam through potentially hazardous debris for fifteen metres. He helped manoeuvre the group away from the direct force of the current and offered reassurance until emergency services arrived.
For his actions, Mr Webb is commended for brave conduct.
AWARDED A GROUP BRAVERY CITATION
Mr Glen Edwin LAKE
Mr Brendan George WEISE
On the morning of 20 May 2009, two people were rescued from being trapped in floodwaters at Kobble Creek, Queensland.
A man and a woman were travelling across a bridge covered by water when their four-wheel drive vehicle stalled. Moments later a wall of water pushed the vehicle from the bridge into a fast flowing creek where it became jammed against a tree. The woman assisted her friend from the car and they scrambled onto a tree and waited for help. Some ninety minutes later, the couple were spotted as floodwaters surged around the tree. A local resident arrived with an excavator and positioned it close to the water's edge and another man climbed into the machine's up-turned bucket. Another passerby gave directions where best to position the articulated arm and bucket from the creek bank. Two nylon lift belts were then thrown over to the tree. One was attached to the stranded driver enabling him to be hauled across the water and lowered safely onto the creek bank. Shortly afterwards a similar manoeuvre was used to rescue the woman.
For their actions, the recipients are recognised by the award of the Group Bravery Citation.
Mr Joshua Michael ALLAN
Mr Lee CARSON
Mr Jacob Christy COLE
Mr Scott Mitchell SMITH
Mr Torren John WOOD
On the afternoon of 19 December 2008, five school companions assisted another of their friends who was bitten by a snake at Mundubbera, Queensland.
Six teenage friends were having a summer's afternoon swim in the Burnett River. One of the boys was lowering himself underneath a bridge into long grass about to jump into the water when he was bitten twice on the foot by a taipan snake. Immediately he fell into the water and began to have seizures. His friends jumped into the river and pulled their companion back to the bank to safety, aware that the snake could still be nearby. Applying recent training, the boys administered first aid while one of them called for the ambulance. As the victim continued to convulse and bleed from the mouth, the boys acted together to keep their friend's airways clear and used a t-shirt as an improvised pressure bandage around the bites. They reassured and comforted their friend until SES workers arrived with a four-wheel drive to carry the boy up the steep embankment to a waiting ambulance. The victim was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to Brisbane for further treatment. Some days later his condition improved and he went on to make a full recovery.
For their actions, the recipients are recognised by the award of the Group Citation for Bravery.