Bravery Awards
March 2009
Awarded a Star of Courage
Mr Stephen William HYLAND
On the night of 7 March 2004, Mr Hyland assisted in the rescue of two women being attacked by a man at Birkdale, Queensland.
On the night in question, Mr Hyland was standing on the front landing of his house when he heard frantic screams from across the road. He saw two women run to a next door neighbour's house, thump desperately on the screen door and call out for the police to be called. Moments later the women were confronted by a young man. In a rage the man raised a sword and struck out at the women, severely injuring both of them. Mr Hyland raced to confront the attacker, picking up a second weapon dropped earlier by the offender. Mr Hyland repeatedly demanded the man back away, which resulted in the offender moving away a short distance from the victims. As he did so, Mr Hyland jumped in and stood between the offender and the women, mirroring the offender's movements as he tried again to get at his victims. As the women attempted to escape, the offender pursued them, quickly followed by Mr Hyland who challenged the offender again. One of the women ran up behind Mr Hyland for protection and as he shielded her she desperately screamed for help. Mr Hyland resolutely maintained his position in the standoff, calling out to others in the street to contact the police. The sound of police in the distance spooked the offender and he quickly fled the scene. Mr Hyland checked the condition of the two victims, reassuring them until police and ambulance arrived at the scene. The offender was later apprehended by police.
By his actions, Mr Hyland displayed conspicuous courage.
Awarded a Bravery Medal
Senior Sergeant Richard James DOWNIE
On the evening of 5 August 2003, Senior Sergeant Downie (then Sergeant) disarmed and apprehended a female armed with a gun at Birkdale, Queensland.
Senior Sergeant Downie was one of several police officers alerted by radio communications that a woman was armed with a gun and was threatening suicide. Senior Sergeant Downie and a colleague entered the apartment and were confronted by a woman armed with a heavy calibre automatic pistol. The offender was highly agitated and was inhaling paint fumes from a plastic bottle. She held the gun to her own temple, alternatively aiming at close range in the direction of the police officers. Senior Sergeant Downie negotiated with the offender for around forty-five minutes, appealing to her to remove her finger from the trigger, leave the pistol and walk away from the scene. He continued his negotiation while carefully observing her movements and assessing the best action to take in the light of her unpredictable behaviour. Responding to her demands for more inhalant, Senior Sergeant Downie took a can of paint and rolled it towards her. Senior Sergeant Downie then seized the momentary distraction to race forward and stand on her hand which held the gun. The offender reacted swiftly, getting her hand around the pistol grip and her index finger on the trigger. A rough struggle ensued until Senior Sergeant Downie and his colleague were able to disarm her.
By his actions, Senior Sergeant Downie displayed considerable bravery.
Mr Stephen Oswald FOSTER
On the night of 7 March 2004, Mr Foster assisted the rescue of two women being attacked by a man at Birkdale, Queensland.
Mr Foster was at home when he heard a car drive slowly by his house, recognising it as owned by a young man who had previously threatened his step daughter. Minutes later sounds could be heard at the front screen door as Mr Foster went to check the entry was secure. Looking through a window he saw the young man standing in his yard. As Mr Foster began to phone ‘000' he heard screams from both his partner and step daughter. The offender had gained entry to the house and confronted the women. The women raced to Mr Foster's side for protection as he came face to face with the young man brandishing two swords. As the offender attempted to strike out at the women, Mr Foster seized the opportunity to crash tackle him but was unable to hold the man as his own arm had been cut open in the struggle. Although in considerable pain, Mr Foster left the house to pursue the offender and to ensure the women were safe. Events now moved to the roadway where Mr Foster attempted to shield his daughter from harm but was again confronted by the offender. The armed attacker had struck out at the young woman wounding her again. Mr Foster hit the offender with a length of chain and he responded by pulling out another weapon. In a crazed state he made threatening actions but as Mr Foster rattled the chain to retaliate, the man fled the scene. The offender was later apprehended by police.
By his actions, Mr Foster displayed considerable bravery.
Senior Constable John Sione LIMA
On the evening of 5 August 2003, Senior Constable Lima (then Constable) disarmed and apprehended a female armed with a gun at Birkdale, Queensland.
Senior Constable Lima was one of several police officers alerted by radio communications that a woman was armed with a gun and was threatening suicide at home. Senior Constable Lima and a senior colleague entered the apartment and were confronted by a woman armed with a heavy calibre automatic pistol. Senor Constable Lima took cover behind a wall and attempted to placate the offender. However the offender maintained a steady grip on the pistol. Senior Constable Lima then examined a number of possibilities for a way out of the building to ensure that no one was injured. The offender was highly agitated, inhaling paint fumes and threatening to shoot, one moment waving the gun about at the officers, and the next, holding the gun firmly at her own temple. Both Senior Constable Lima and his colleague continued to talk to the offender, drawing her into conversation that would not aggravate her mood. Responding to her demands for more paint, Senor Constable Lima's colleague rolled a can of paint towards the offender. Senior Constable Lima and his colleague used the distraction to race forward and restrain the woman who had also reacted quickly, managing to get her hand around the grip and her index finger on the trigger of the gun. A rough struggle ensued however the officers were able to subdue the woman until other police arrived to apprehend her.
By his actions, Constable Lima displayed considerable bravery.
Awarded a Commendation for Brave Conduct
Mr Glendon Leigh AITCHISON
In the early hours of 13 May 2007, Mr Aitchison helped rescue a bus driver from an armed offender on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
Mr Aitchison boarded a suburban bus service on the Gold Coast to head home. At the early hour of the morning there were some twenty passengers on board. As the bus slowed for a designated stop, it suddenly veered to the left of the roadway and hit a signpost. The bus came to a stop and as Mr Aitchison looked up he could see a man at the front of the vehicle fighting the bus driver. The driver had received a laceration from a knife wielded by the offender and had been punched around the head several times as the attacker attempted to steal a cash box. Mr Aitchison jumped forward and moved to the front of the bus where he could see a knife on the floor. The offender continued to struggle with the driver. Mr Aitchison grabbed the man, and with the help of another passenger, wrestled him to the ground where he continued to struggle to free himself.
Mr Aitchison helped restrain the man until security and police arrived at the scene.
For his actions, Mr Aitchison is commended for brave conduct.
Sergeant Gary Charles BELING
In the early morning of 9 October 2004, Sergeant Beling rescued an injured driver from a burning vehicle at Strathgarve, Queensland.
Sergeant Beling was driving to work when he noticed a large cloud of black smoke nearby, and approaching the scene he saw the results of a serious traffic accident involving two vehicles. A utility was on fire and the roof had been forced down into the passenger compartment. The other vehicle, a van, was extensively damaged. Debris littered the road and a person was lying motionless on the ground. As he ran to check the van, Sergeant Beling saw the driver in the burning utility was still alive though the passenger appeared to be deceased. Sergeant Beling assisted the driver from the burning vehicle and carried her to safety. He returned to check again on the passenger and as he attempted to do so the vehicle exploded. Sergeant Beling quickly looked to the condition of the man lying on the road but he was deceased. He returned to the woman he had rescued, checking her vital signs and reassuring her before seeing to the driver of the van who had been flung from his vehicle. Satisfying himself about the condition of the woman trapped in the van Sergeant Beling called for emergency assistance and instructed other motorists to attend and reassure the injured.
For his actions, Sergeant Beling is commended for brave conduct.
Chief Petty Officer Gary Roderick DHU
On the night of 28 May 2006, Chief Petty Officer Dhu fought a fire onboard a fishing vessel and searched for a missing crew member.
Chief Petty Officer Dhu, a member of the Royal Australian Navy, was on post as a technical adviser to the Republic of Palau. As an engineering adviser he was embarked on a Palauan patrol boat which was ordered to escort an illegal foreign fishing vessel to port. Late at night Chief Petty Officer Dhu was alerted that the fishing vessel was on fire. As flames began to consume the main structure of the vessel, the fishermen had gathered at its bow screaming for help. Chief Petty Officer organised the patrol boat's fire-fighting team and directed the fire hoses to create a water barrier between the burning vessel and the crew to protect them as rescue operations began. Chief Petty Officer Dhu boarded the burning vessel, broke into the engine room ventilation and directed water into the area to contain the fire while he searched for a fisherman reported missing. However Chief Petty Officer Dhu was forced to retreat the scene because of intense heat and the highly toxic fumes. Returning to the patrol boat he directed the evacuation of the remaining fishermen. Some time later the illegal vessel was fully engulfed in fire and sank.
For his actions, Chief Petty Officer Dhu is commended for brave conduct.
Mr Samuel William EDWARDS
In the early hours of 9 September 2007, Mr Edwards attempted the rescue of two children from a house fire at Bellbowrie, Queensland.
Mr Edwards was awoken by the sound of a smoke alarm and immediately stirred a friend asleep in the same room. The two men raced downstairs and could see flames consuming the laundry area. Mr Edwards yelled to four children who had been sleeping in the rumpus room. Two of the children were able to react to the alert and ran past Mr Edwards and out of the house. Mr Edwards tried to reach the other two children but visibility was limited and he was forced back by thick toxic smoke. Concerned also for the two children who had escaped, he raced outside to check they were safe. Mr Edwards re-entered the house in a desperate attempt to find the two missing children. But again he was forced back by the sheer volume of smoke and the intense heat as the house became fully engulfed by fire. Mr Edwards retreated, and outside he tried smashing a downstairs window to reach the children. As he did so he was forced away by fierce flames pouring through the opening. Mr Edwards then ran to a neighbour's house to call emergency services.
For his actions, Mr Edwards is commended for brave conduct.
Ms Catherine Odette VINCENT
On the night of 31 July 2007, Ms Vincent rescued her two children from a house fire at Emerald, Queensland.
At around midnight, Ms Vincent was awoken by a fire which was spreading through her house. She raced downstairs and made her way to a bedroom where her two young daughters were sleeping. As she did so she sustained significant burns to her body. Despite the smoke and flames, Ms Vincent found her daughters, woke them and led them from the house to safety. Because of her quick thinking and action, neither child was injured as they retreated from the building guided by their mother. Although already seriously burnt, Ms Vincent raced to a flat at the rear of her home and woke the occupant, alerting him to the fire. Ms Vincent suffered significant burns to her body and was flown to intensive care in Brisbane.
For her actions, Ms Vincent is commended for brave conduct.