ANNUAL BRAVERY AWARDS PRESENTATION
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Seven residents of Queensland will be presented with bravery awards of The Royal Humane Society of Australia: on Tuesday 18th March 2008 at Government House, Queensland at 11.00am |
The awards, two Silver Medals, three Bronze Medals and two Certificates of Merit will be presented by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor of Queensland.
The awards recognize:
Contact: Colin Bannister (Secretary) (03) 9650 3233
Note: The Royal Humane Society of Australasia, formed in 1874, is concerned with giving public recognition to acts of bravery by making awards to those who risk their own lives to save the lives of others.
Over 7,720 awards have been made in the Society’s 133 years’ history.
ADAM LEYSON, aged 29 years, of Helensvale, Qld, in going to the rescue of a boy from drowning in the surf at Southport Seaway, Qld on 10 April 2005.
At about 2.30pm Mr Leyshon was fishing with his family at the Southport Seaway when he heard cries for help and saw two boys in the surf, one of whom was in difficulties and was being swept out to sea in the main current.
Mr Leyshon jumped from the rocks into the sea and swam out to the panicking boy. The boy struggled and pulled Mr Leyshon underwater, yelling that they were going to die, all the while being taken by the current where large waves were crashing into the rock sea wall. Mr Leyshon tried to bring the boy up onto the rocks but the large crashing waves were too dangerous so he tried to lift the screaming youngster after ducking each set of waves, all the while losing his strength.
Eventually the Water Police rescue jet ski arrived and brought the boy and Mr Leyshon to safety.
MARK WAYNE IRELAND, police officer, aged 47 years, of Stanthorpe, Qld in going to the rescue of a man from drowning in the Ski Gardens, Fitzroy River, Rockhampton, Qld on 19 February 2006.
At about midday, S Sgt Ireland, off-duty, was boating on the Fitzroy River and as he was returning to moor his boat, noticed a man treading water some 10m from the bank.
As he jumped onto the bank, S Sgt Ireland heard a low moaning sound from the man then saw him sink below the surface. He entered the water, swam to where he last saw the man, felt under the water and found him floating about 1m below the surface. He pulled him to the surface, swam the unconscious man to the bank where the rescued man regained consciousness. After evacuation to hospital the man made a full recovery.
At this time the water in the Fitzroy River is muddy and murky with nil visibility. The area is also known to be inhabited by estuarine crocodiles.
ANDREW JOHN BARTLEY, farmer, aged 28 years, of Dalby, Qld, in going to the rescue of the driver of a crashed burning vehicle near Dalby on 24 June 2006.
At about 9pm there was a head-on collision involving two 4WD vehicles on the Warrego Highway. Both vehicles suffered extensive front end damage, spinning off the roadway into table drains on each side of the roadway, igniting into flames and causing major grass fires in the vicinity. The driver of one vehicle was trapped and investigations revealed that she suffered fatal injuries as a result of the collision.
The male passenger of the other vehicle was able to escape from the car but the female driver was trapped inside. Mr Bartley was first on the scene and went to the passenger who was trying to pull the driver clear from the burning car and who told Mr Bartley that the vehicle was fitted with gas.
Concerned at the likelihood that the vehicle might explode, Mr Bartley reached in, grabbed the driver around the waist and pulled her forcibly out of the driver’s seat, across the passenger seat to the roadway.
Mr Bartley then went to the other involved vehicle where the driver was still trapped but due to the ferocity of the flames was unable to get close to the occupant.
JEFFREY BROWNING, senior firefighter, aged 39 year, of Kalbar, Qld, and;
NOEL STUHMCKE, senior firefighter, aged 54 years, of Ipswich, Qld, in going to the rescue of an elderly couple from their burning house in Dinmore, Qld, on 30 July 2006.
At about 5.30am a fire crew of which Messrs Browning and Stuhmcke were members responded to a report of a two-storey house on fire. On arrival at the scene the crew learned from neighbours that an elderly invalid couple lived in the house.
The house was well involved in fire and entry to the top floor was hindered by extensive smoke and flame. At ground level the smoke layer was below waist height and flames were coming out the door as Messrs Browning and Stuhmcke, with breathing apparatus on, entered the burning house, found the husband and carried him outside. They then re-entered to search for the wife when a flashover occurred and flames were advancing on their position, forcing them to withdraw.
The wife perished in the fire while the husband, after evacuation to hospital, died the next day.
AARON BAXTER, police constable, Jimboomba Division, Qld and;
STEPHEN BOSWELL, police constable, Logan District Police Station, in going to the rescue of the driver of a crashed burning car at Jimboomba on 15 August 2006.
At about 9.30am Consts Baxter and Boswell were in pursuit of a vehicle and followed at moderate speed, until they came upon the vehicle rolling towards the middle of the road after hitting a power pole. There was extensive damaged to the front of the vehicle with flames coming from the bonnet area. The driver was sitting, dazed in the car.
The two officers ran to the burning car, pulled the driver out to safety and he was taken to hospital.
The fire grew in intensity despite fire extinguishers and buckets of water being applied.