PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 7 December 2020
THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA ANNUAL BRAVERY AWARDS PRESENTATION
THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA
Ten people of Queensland will be presented with bravery awards of The Royal Humane Society of Australasia.
Awards recognize rescues from:
To Receive the Certificate of Merit:
1. KARL DUNBAR, of Alexandra Headland
in apprehending an armed assailant at Maroochydore on 30 June 2014.
A male customer approached one of the cash registers in IGA to pay for some shopping. When the service assistant opened the register, the man lent across and started to grab money out of the till whilst pointing some scissors at the service assistant.
Another service assistant and the manager of the store saw the incident and they grabbed hold of the man. They both fell to the floor with the man and were able to apprehend him.
Mr Dunbar who was a customer in the store also ran to help bring the assailant under control until the police arrived.
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
2. RICHARD LOUIS ADDERLEY
In going to the rescue of three people from an armed assailant at Gracemere on 22 December 2015.
At 9.00pm Consts Adderley and Cook were requested to attend a residence where a man was trying to force entry. They were informed that the man was armed with a firearm.
The man was screaming at his ex-partner to come out of the house and was trying to break the front door down and the police officers saw him standing between the garage and the house holding a rifle.
Both policemen immediately drew their firearms and approached the man utilising a wooden fence which provided some concealment. They yelled at the man to drop the gun. The man then started running towards the front door of the residence and the policemen heard banging and glass shattering. Both Const Adderley and Cook walked directly towards the front door.
The man came out from behind a pillar and advanced towards Const Cook with the rifle pointed at him in a firing position.
After an altercation the man fell back against the wall inside the front entry way of the residence and both Consts Adderley and Cook handcuffed him.
(Unfortunately Const Cook could not attend this ceremony)
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
3. ANN MARGARET GILLIES, of Caboolture
4. GARY GORDON GILLIES, of Baringa
5. JACK McINNES, of Craignish
6. STEPHEN KENNETH RAINBOW, of Takura
In going to the rescue of four people from a crashed and burning car at Tiaro on 17 April 2017.
At 3.15pm a driver crossed over onto the wrong side of the road and collided head on into another vehicle which caused it to catch fire within 20 seconds of the impact of the crash. This was caused due to damaged fuel lines pumping fuel onto the hot exhaust.
Mr and Ms Gillies, Mr McInnes and Mr Rainbow all witnessed the accident and stopped and ran to the scene to assist.
They saw a man had managed to get out of the rear passenger side of the car and had slumped to the ground. He was dragged away from the burning car by Mr and Ms Gillies and then subsequently even further away by Mr Rainbow and Mr McInnes.
Mr and Ms Gillies then attempted to help remove a man from the rear driver’s side of the car but he was unable to move his legs due to serious injuries. Mr Gillies managed to undo his seatbelt and with the help of Mr Rainbow dragged the man from the burning vehicle.
Mr Rainbow ran back to the burning car and opened the passenger side front door and tried to remove another man who was not moving. However, by this time the fire was intense and the tyres were starting to explode so Mr Rainbow was forced to move away.
Tragically the driver and front passenger of the car died at the scene.
Sadly both Ms Bartley and the motorcyclist were pronounced dead at the scene.
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
7. DAMOND WARWICK GRAY, of Eagleby
To Receive the Certificate of Merit:
8. GARY GEORGE BAIN, of Mount Warren Park
In going to the rescue of numerous residents of Mount Warren Park from an armed assailant on 23 July 2017.
At 3.40pm a man was walking along a street in possession of a firearm and a knife and appeared to be heavily under the influence of drugs and causing considerable fear to residents who heard a loud bang when the man discharged his firearm into the concrete pavement outside a resident’s home.
The man entered Mr Gray’s property via the front screen door. Mr Gray’s mother-in-law saw the man in the house before he ran out the back door into the yard. Mr Gary’s mother-in-law followed him and when they were 2m apart he turned and pointed the firearm at her before climbing the back fence.
Mr Gray and his mother-in-law got into Mr Gray’s car and drove around the area looking for the offender. They finally located the man who raised his firearm toward the windscreen of their car before running away.
Mr Gray got out of his car and ran after the man. The man attempted to enter another dwelling before Mr Gray pushed him away. Finally Mr Gray was able to get in front of the man and they stood face-to-face within 1m of each other.
The man raised his firearm and pointed it at Mr Gray’s stomach. Mr Gray pointed behind the man to distract him and as the man turned around Mr Gray grabbed hold of the firearm with one hand, twisted it and caused the butt to break. With his free hand Mr Gray pulled the man to the ground and took the firearm from the man’s grip and threw it a short distance away.
Mr Gray told his mother-in-law to run to a nearby house of a friend, Mr Bain.
Mr Bain came to Mr Gray’s assistance and both men restrained the assailant until the police arrived.
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
9. DAMIEN TRAVIS KELLETT
10. KELLY SHEMER
In going to the apprehension of a man who was threatening violence to the occupants of a residence at Woodridge on 10 September 2017.
Sgt Kellett and Snr Const Schemer responded to a call at a residence where an elderly man was threatening the occupants and passers-by.
The police officers ran towards the man to apprehend him. As Sgt Kellett attempted to grab the man’s arms the man produced two knives. A struggle then occurred where the offender attempted to stab and cut Snr Const Schemer and they fell to the ground wrestling with the knife.
The man was then apprehended by Sgt Kellett and Snr Const Schemer.
THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA
ANNUAL BRAVERY AWARDS PRESENTATION
Ten people of Queensland will be presented with bravery awards of The Royal Humane Society of Australasia.
on Tuesday 8 December 2020
at 1.00pm
Brisbane Room
Level 1
Brisbane City Hall
The Society awards – 8 Bronze Medals and 2 Certificates of Merit and the 2020 will be presented by The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, Councillor Adrian Schrinnerat 1.00pm
Brisbane Room
Level 1
Brisbane City Hall
Awards recognize rescues from:
- Armed assailants
- A car accident
Contact: |
Sue Cutler (Secretary & Office Manager) | 03 9125 4408 |
Members of the media wishing to attend are requested to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled commencement of the ceremony. |
||
To Receive the Certificate of Merit:
1. KARL DUNBAR, of Alexandra Headland
in apprehending an armed assailant at Maroochydore on 30 June 2014.
A male customer approached one of the cash registers in IGA to pay for some shopping. When the service assistant opened the register, the man lent across and started to grab money out of the till whilst pointing some scissors at the service assistant.
Another service assistant and the manager of the store saw the incident and they grabbed hold of the man. They both fell to the floor with the man and were able to apprehend him.
Mr Dunbar who was a customer in the store also ran to help bring the assailant under control until the police arrived.
| KARL DUNBAR | Certificate of Merit |
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
2. RICHARD LOUIS ADDERLEY
In going to the rescue of three people from an armed assailant at Gracemere on 22 December 2015.
At 9.00pm Consts Adderley and Cook were requested to attend a residence where a man was trying to force entry. They were informed that the man was armed with a firearm.
The man was screaming at his ex-partner to come out of the house and was trying to break the front door down and the police officers saw him standing between the garage and the house holding a rifle.
Both policemen immediately drew their firearms and approached the man utilising a wooden fence which provided some concealment. They yelled at the man to drop the gun. The man then started running towards the front door of the residence and the policemen heard banging and glass shattering. Both Const Adderley and Cook walked directly towards the front door.
The man came out from behind a pillar and advanced towards Const Cook with the rifle pointed at him in a firing position.
After an altercation the man fell back against the wall inside the front entry way of the residence and both Consts Adderley and Cook handcuffed him.
(Unfortunately Const Cook could not attend this ceremony)
| RICHARD LOUIS ADDERLEY | Bronze Medal |
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
3. ANN MARGARET GILLIES, of Caboolture
4. GARY GORDON GILLIES, of Baringa
5. JACK McINNES, of Craignish
6. STEPHEN KENNETH RAINBOW, of Takura
In going to the rescue of four people from a crashed and burning car at Tiaro on 17 April 2017.
At 3.15pm a driver crossed over onto the wrong side of the road and collided head on into another vehicle which caused it to catch fire within 20 seconds of the impact of the crash. This was caused due to damaged fuel lines pumping fuel onto the hot exhaust.
Mr and Ms Gillies, Mr McInnes and Mr Rainbow all witnessed the accident and stopped and ran to the scene to assist.
They saw a man had managed to get out of the rear passenger side of the car and had slumped to the ground. He was dragged away from the burning car by Mr and Ms Gillies and then subsequently even further away by Mr Rainbow and Mr McInnes.
Mr and Ms Gillies then attempted to help remove a man from the rear driver’s side of the car but he was unable to move his legs due to serious injuries. Mr Gillies managed to undo his seatbelt and with the help of Mr Rainbow dragged the man from the burning vehicle.
Mr Rainbow ran back to the burning car and opened the passenger side front door and tried to remove another man who was not moving. However, by this time the fire was intense and the tyres were starting to explode so Mr Rainbow was forced to move away.
Tragically the driver and front passenger of the car died at the scene.
Sadly both Ms Bartley and the motorcyclist were pronounced dead at the scene.
| ANN MARGARET GILLIES | Bronze Medal |
| GARY GORDON GILLIES | Bronze Medal |
| JACK McINNES | Bronze Medal |
| STEPHEN KENNETH RAINBOW | Bronze Medal |
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
7. DAMOND WARWICK GRAY, of Eagleby
To Receive the Certificate of Merit:
8. GARY GEORGE BAIN, of Mount Warren Park
In going to the rescue of numerous residents of Mount Warren Park from an armed assailant on 23 July 2017.
At 3.40pm a man was walking along a street in possession of a firearm and a knife and appeared to be heavily under the influence of drugs and causing considerable fear to residents who heard a loud bang when the man discharged his firearm into the concrete pavement outside a resident’s home.
The man entered Mr Gray’s property via the front screen door. Mr Gray’s mother-in-law saw the man in the house before he ran out the back door into the yard. Mr Gary’s mother-in-law followed him and when they were 2m apart he turned and pointed the firearm at her before climbing the back fence.
Mr Gray and his mother-in-law got into Mr Gray’s car and drove around the area looking for the offender. They finally located the man who raised his firearm toward the windscreen of their car before running away.
Mr Gray got out of his car and ran after the man. The man attempted to enter another dwelling before Mr Gray pushed him away. Finally Mr Gray was able to get in front of the man and they stood face-to-face within 1m of each other.
The man raised his firearm and pointed it at Mr Gray’s stomach. Mr Gray pointed behind the man to distract him and as the man turned around Mr Gray grabbed hold of the firearm with one hand, twisted it and caused the butt to break. With his free hand Mr Gray pulled the man to the ground and took the firearm from the man’s grip and threw it a short distance away.
Mr Gray told his mother-in-law to run to a nearby house of a friend, Mr Bain.
Mr Bain came to Mr Gray’s assistance and both men restrained the assailant until the police arrived.
| DAMOND WARWICK GRAY | Bronze Medal |
| GARY GEORGE BAIN | Certificate of Merit |
To Receive the Bronze Medal:
9. DAMIEN TRAVIS KELLETT
10. KELLY SHEMER
In going to the apprehension of a man who was threatening violence to the occupants of a residence at Woodridge on 10 September 2017.
Sgt Kellett and Snr Const Schemer responded to a call at a residence where an elderly man was threatening the occupants and passers-by.
The police officers ran towards the man to apprehend him. As Sgt Kellett attempted to grab the man’s arms the man produced two knives. A struggle then occurred where the offender attempted to stab and cut Snr Const Schemer and they fell to the ground wrestling with the knife.
The man was then apprehended by Sgt Kellett and Snr Const Schemer.
| DAMIEN TRAVIS KELLETT | Bronze Medal |
| KELLY SCHEMER | Bronze Medal |
