PRESENTATION OF THE HIGHEST AWARD OF
THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY OF AUSTRALASIA
The Clarke Medal, awarded annually to recognize the most outstanding act of bravery for 2007 has been awarded to:
Miss Melissa Maree Quilliam
The award recognizes Miss Quilliam’s actions in going to the rescue of her younger brother from their burning home at Smithton, Tas on 16 June 2003.
Ms Quilliam is also to receive the 2007 Rupert Wilks Trophy for the most outstanding act of bravery by a child 12 years or younger at the time of the rescue.
The 2007 Clarke Silver Medal and 2007 Rupert Wilks Trophy will be presented to Miss Quilliam
The 2006 Clarke Silver Medal will be presented to Mrs Barnett:
by
His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
at
2.00pm
on
Thursday 5 June 2008
Government House, Hobart
Contact: Mr Colin Bannister (03) 9650 3233
E-Mail: bravery@rhsa.org.au
MELISSA MAREE QUILLIAM, student, aged 11 years, of Smithton, Tas, in going to the rescue of her younger brother from their burning home on 16 June 2003 at Smithton
At 7.30am Mrs Quilliam and her four children were woken by the sound of the fire detector. Mrs Quilliam tried to put out a fire in the lounge room but, unable to do so, evacuated the house with her children.
Two men working nearby saw smoke coming from the house, ran to the house to see if there were any occupants but were driven back by the thick smoke and heat from the flames inside the house. At this point Mrs Quilliam emerged with her children then realized that one of her children, a 2 years old boy, was still inside. One of the men tried to enter the house but was driven back by heat and smoke.
At this point Melissa said she was going back in, ran up, ducked past the legs of one of the men who tried to stop her and continued running into the burning house where the fire was in the front rooms and the missing child was in the back. In about a minute she emerged from the house carrying her little brother.
Both she and her brother were evacuated to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. Witnesses confirm that prior to Melissa coming out of the house with her little brother, the windows of the house had exploded.
In the opinion of witnesses and attending fire officers, Melissa’s determination and selflessness saved the life of her brother who would otherwise have certainly perished.
Melissa has been awarded the 2007 Clarke Silver Medal for the most outstanding rescue considered by this Society during the year and the 2007 Rupert Wilks Trophy for the most outstanding rescue by a child 12 years of age or under as well as a Certificate of High Commendation from the Commissioner of Tasmania Police.