2025 Awards Investiture at Government House
NSW Fire and Rescue Officers who received awards
COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AWARD
This is a new award, conferred by the Royal Humane Society of NSW for collective bravery in the face of overwhelming odds in a natural disaster.
It is presented to the citizens of Eugowra for their outstanding courage, humanity, endurance and sacrifice in response to the disastrous flash flood on 14 November 2022. They turned out as one to rescue their fellow citizens, care for the sick, injured and homeless. and deal with the trauma of losing loved ones, houses, community infrastructure, businesses and animals. Despite these overwhelming trials and personal losses, they then stoically banded together to rebuild the town, their community, and their lives.
Even children played their part, not only displaying great courage during the flood but welcoming their mates to their classrooms when school facilities were wrecked, and recording the day in song and art.
Many individual stories of bravery are yet to be told, and the Society stands ready to confer further awards in due course.
The inaugural Community Resilience Award is an inscribed plaque:
GOLD MEDALS AND GALLEGHAN AWARD
Paramedic Nateisha Allison
Mr. James Arthur
GOLD MEDAL
Mr. Daniel Nia (unable to be present)
SILVER MEDAL
Paramedic Merinda Hill
BRONZE MEDALS
Mr. Tuli Lugai
Ms. Sarah Iby
Mr. Jake Burow
For the attempted rescue of an Ambulance Paramedic who was being stabbed to death by an assailant in the carpark of a fast food restaurant at Campbelltown in the early hours of 14 April 2023
The offender assaulted Ambulance Paramedic Steven Tougher, stabbing him repeatedly in a frenzied attack as he sat in the back of his ambulance on a work break. Paramedic Natiesha Allison kicked the offender, tried to trigger the vehicle’s duress alarm, ran to the restaurant to have someone call 000 and ran back outside to brief arriving emergency services personnel. James Arthur kicked the offender numerous times and Daniel Nia bearhugged him in an effort to make him stop. Paramedic Merinda Hill assumed clinical command, assisted by trainee Jake Burrow, and together they crawled on hands and knees to give first aid to the victim under the line of fire of armed Police who had their weapons trained on the offender. Tui Lugai, a bus driver, and Sarah Iby, a manager in the restaurant tried to negotiate with the offender to cease and desist. All the rescuers could have easily been injured or killed by the assailant and were in great peril of their lives. Sadly, Paramedic Steven Tougher did not survive the attack.
Cases 2025.09 and 9A
Tuli Lugai, Merinda Hill, James Arthur, Nateisha Alison, Sarah Iby and Jake Burow with Her Excellency the Governor.
GOLD MEDALS
NSW F&R Firefighters:
• Daniel Austin
• Roger Smith
• Geoffrey Kanagaratnam
SILVER MEDALS
Britt MacLean
Max McPherson (unable to be present)
BRONZE MEDALS
Storm Wheatley
Danial Lindsay
For rescuing the occupants of a 2-storey duplex that was totally involved in fire at Hinchinbrook on the morning of 24 July 2024
When fire crews arrived at the premises, the ground floor was totally involved in fire, the first floor was partially alight, 3 people were trapped inside, and escape by the internal stairway was impossible. Firefighters Lindsay and Wheatley entered a first-floor window via a ladder with a hose but were driven back by the collapsing roof, heat and flames. Firefighters McPherson and Smith unsuccessfully attempted to climb the internal stairs. Firefighter Kanagaratnam fell from a ladder and fractured his neck, but despite the pain continued to search the house with Smith until the Incident Controller withdrew all crews from the building. Meanwhile, Firefighters Austin and MacLean accessed another window and rescued the occupants even though Austin’s breathing apparatus had run out of air. This was a highly dangerous rescue, and all firefighters were in peril of their lives. Regrettably, the occupants they saved did not survive.
Case 2025.15
Geoffrey Kanagaratnam, Daniel Austin, Roger Smith, Britt McLean, Storm Wheatley and Danial Lindsay with Her Excellency the Governor.
SILVER MEDAL
Mr. Blake Steep
For the rescue of his father in heavy seas while spearfishing at Delicate Nobby, 15KM north of Port Macquarie, on the morning of 4 January 2025
The two men were spearfishing when Blake noticed his father had dropped his speargun and was floating face down. Blake swam him to a rock platform and, after many attempts, got him onto the rocks, suffering lacerations in the process. His father had difficulty breathing and speaking, and it was evident he had suffered a medical emergency. Blake then swam 400 metres to the beach to call 000 and then swam back to care for his father on the rock shelf. Blake’s father was conveyed to Prince of Wales Hospital, where he underwent successful open heart surgery.
Case 2025.03
SILVER MEDAL
Mr. Chris Smith
For rescuing residents and the attempted rescue of his mother in the Eugowra flash flood of 14 November 2022
When the flood arrived, Chris Smith moved his mother from her house by the creek to higher ground where some friends waited in apparent safety. Chris was later alerted by an urgent call to say that his mother was in a vehicle caught in flood waters. He tried in vain to reach the spot where he understood his mother was trapped, but was turned back again and again by the raging torrent. On the way to her aid, he encountered a number of other residents in need of urgent help and assisted in many dangerous rescues. On several occasions, he attempted to enter the water to continue the search for his mother, but was prevented by the presence of live powerlines in the flood. Sadly, his mother did not survive.
Case 2025.08
SILVER MEDALS
Chief Superintendent Steven Hayes, NSW Fire & Rescue
Superintendent Trent Brown, NSW Fire & Rescue
For disconnecting and relocating 6 hydrogen tanker trailers next to a cooling tower in danger of collapse at Botany on the morning of 28 February 2023
An industrial cooling tower was in imminent danger of collapse due to a burst water pipe. Had it fallen on any of the liquid hydrogen tankers parked alongside, the potential explosion would have severely impacted property and life within a 1,6 kilometre radius. Hayes and Brown donned PPE and, over a 2.5-hour period, carefully disconnected the trailers and relocated them to safety. In the highest traditions of Fire and Rescue NSW, they did not delegate this dangerous task to their subordinates but, as the senior officers present, undertook it themselves.
Case 2024.45
Steven Hayes and Trent Brown with Her Excellency the Governor
SILVER MEDAL
Mr. Jayden Langham
BRONZE MEDAL
Mr. Darcy Langham
For the attempted rescue of a drowning spearfisherman in the Swansea Channel on the afternoon of 27 February 2023
A scuba diver suffered a medical emergency and sank to the bottom in 5 metres of water. Jayden and Darcy Langham, who were spearfishing nearby, went to his aid. The victim and his gear weighed over 100 kg, and after a long struggle, the two men managed to bring him to the surface and swim him to a rescue vessel, despite running out of breath several times and battling a strong current. Unfortunately, the victim could not be revived.
Case 2024.47
Jayden and Darcy Langham with Her Excellency the Governor
SILVER MEDALS
Critical Care Helicopter Paramedic Winchmen:
• Alexander Peters
• Sean Cooke
• Cameron Marks
BRONZE MEDALS
Bankstown helicopter crew:
• Pilot Murray Gladwin
• Aircrew Officer Jerrod McCaughey
Wollongong helicopter crew:
• Pilot Scott Gutterson
• Aircrew Officer Nathan Haythorpe
Orange helicopter crew:
• Pilot Simon McGovern
• Aircrew Officer Anthony Young
For hazardous aerial rescues of residents stranded on rooftops and tankstands, and trapped inside attics in the Eugowra flash flood of 14 November 2022
Alexander Peters and Sean Cooke worked for over an hour to cut away the roof of a verandah with power tools to rescue a man in neck-deep water suffering from hypothermia and in danger of drowning. When the man could not be lifted through the opening, they moved him to the rear yard and winched him to safety.
Cameron Marks also cut an opening in the roof of a house to rescue a mother and newborn baby. He provided medical care before winching them to the safety of his helicopter.
The helicopter crews from Bankstown, Wollongong and Orange worked tirelessly, carrying out many dangerous, highly technical rescues and airlifting many flood victims to the SES emergency centre at Eugowra Showground. They later transported injured and sick victims to hospitals in nearby towns.
Case 2025.16
Sean Cooke, Alexander Peters, Cameron Marks, Simon McGovern, Nathan Haythorpe, Scott Gutterson, Jerrod McCaughey, Anthony Young and Murray Gladwin with Her Excellency the Governor
SILVER MEDAL
Mr. Jacob Townsend
BRONZE MEDAL
Ms. Rosemary Townsend
For rescuing many citizens in the Eugowra flash flood of 14 November 2022
Jacob Townsend was a member of the civilian team in Phillip Wykamp’s tipper truck that carried out over 30 hazardous rescues. When the tipper truck gave out, they joined an RFS truck and rescued even more victims. Their rescues included an elderly man who was pinned to the side of their truck by a floating ute and in danger of being crushed, an English couple who were terrified of snakes in the water, a wheelchair bound woman, her carer and numerous pets, and an older man who had suffered a heart attack.
After Rosemary saved her dogs from the floodwaters, and despite being washed across 3 paddocks by the force of the water and losing her trousers on a barbed wire fence, she got to the showground and, with a new pair of trousers joined a fire truck crew and carried out numerous in-water rescues, on some occasions kicking in doors to access victims in their houses.
Case 2025.04
BRONZE MEDALS
Mr. Mateo Smith
Mr. Thomas Smith
Mr. Gus Klugsberger
For the rescue of a surfer at Manly Beach on the evening of 22 December 2024
An overseas tourist, who was not a strong swimmer, got into difficulties in rough surf at Manly Beach in the late afternoon when it was unpatrolled. Mateo Smith, Thomas Smith and Gus Klugsberger were playing volleyball on the beach when, heard the victim’s faint call for help and, without hesitation, swam out to his rescue. The three men brought him to the beach and placed him in the recovery position, where he was successfully revived by paramedics.
Case 2025.05
Tomas Smith, Mateo Smith and Gus Klugsberger with Her Excellency the Governor
BRONZE MEDAL
Off-duty Firefighter Wade Riley
For responding to a fire in his neighbour’s house at Lord St, Shelley Beach on the evening of 31 July 2024
Seeing his neighbour’s house well involved in fire, Firefighter Riley donned his work PPE and entered the building on hands and knees to search for an elderly woman reportedly trapped inside, but was driven back by heat and flames. Fortunately, the woman had evacuated to the rear yard, but to reunite her with her anxious family, Riley had to shield her from the flames as they walked back past the burning building to reach the street. He then assisted firefighters, switching off power to the house, attacking the fire, physically preventing family members from trying to reenter the burning building, and reestablishing a water supply when nearby street hydrants failed.
Case 2025.13
BRONZE MEDAL
Mt Druitt Fire Station Officer Phillip Holdsworth
For shielding his crew from a knife-wielding resident whose home unit was on fire at Beames Avenue, Mount Druitt on the morning of 22 July 2024
The Mt. Druitt crew made entry into a unit that was filled with smoke from a cooking fire on the stove. When they woke the occupant, he became angry and threatened them with a large hunting knife. S.O. Holdsworth confronted the offender and instructed his crew to leave while keeping his body between them and the knife. He then backed out of the unit, closed the door and prevented the offender from exiting until other residents had been evacuated. Police later arrested and charged the offender.
Case 2025.14
BRONZE MEDALS
Campsie Fire Station Officer Adam Long
Firefighter Bryce Manns
Firefighter Nadine Hyslop
Firefighter Guy Kelly (unable to be present)
For responding to a shooting in a basement carpark in Canterbury Road Campsie on the evening of 12 September 2023
The Campsie crew attended a callout to a motor vehicle accident, but on arrival, were told that a person had recently been shot 3 times in a basement car park and needed urgent assistance. The whereabouts of the armed assailant was unknown, and the crew could have been ambushed at any moment. Despite the apprehended danger, and without concern for their personal safety, S.O. Long and Firefighters Manns and Kelly followed a blood trail to the victim, who had serious gunshot wounds to the head and chest, and applied first aid. Firefighter Hyslop remained with the fire appliance to coordinate other emergency services, again at risk of a further attack.
Case 2025.12
Bryce Manns, Nadine Hyslop and Adam Long with Her Excellency the Governor
BRONZE MEDAL
Jacob McGillan
CERTIFICATES OF MERIT
Mr. Alexander Duffy
Mr. Brett Leaver
Mr. Esteban Venegas Barrera
For the attempted rescue of a boy in the Georges River, Chipping Norton, on 18 December 2021
A boy, Jacob McGillan, and 3 friends went to the Georges River to swim. One boy, who couldn’t swim, entered the water, slipped and grabbed hold of another. They drifted into deeper water, and the first boy struggled to stay afloat, endangering the other. Jacob McGillan swam to their aid, but the first boy’s struggles placed his life in danger as well, and he swam ashore, followed by the other boy. The first boy then disappeared. The boy’s screams for help were answered by Duffy, Leaver and Venegas, who rushed into the water and searched frantically for the drowning boy for 20 minutes without success.
Case 2024.46
Jacob Magillan, Esteban Venegas Barrera, Brett Leaver and Alexander Duffy with Her Excellency the Governor
BRONZE MEDAL
Mr. Issac Hammond
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
Mr. Misha Hammond
For the rescue of their fishing guide from a crocodile at Dhipirri Barra Sports Fishing Lodge in Arnhem Land on 1 October 2024
Father Misha and son Issac (aged 14 at the time) were fishing when a 2.5 metre crocodile leapt up and pulled their fishing guide out of the boat into the water. The crocodile momentarily released its grip and, without any thought for their own safety, Issac, assisted by his father Misha, grabbed the victim’s arms and hauled him back into the boat. The crocodile aggressively followed the boat back to shore and could have easily attacked again.
Case 2025.07
Isaac Hammond and Misha Hammond with her Excellency the Governor
BRONZE MEDALS
Senior Correctional Officer Leah Thompson
Senior Correctional Officer Ben Mulley (unable to attend)
CERTIFICATE OF MERIT
First Class Correctional Officer Adam Tobin (unable to attend)
For rescuing an inmate from an affray at the Tamworth Correctional Centre on the afternoon of 1 May 2023
A serious fight broke out suddenly in the prison yard. Officers Thompson, Mulley and Tobin ordered the inmates to stop and had to physically intervene when they did not. S.C.O. Thompson pushed the attackers away from the victim, tripped and fell, and suffered bruising to her arm. S.C.O. Mulley shielded the victim with his body and was physically assaulted. F.C.O. Tobin then de-escalated the situation by physically removing the assailants away from the victim.
Case 2025.19
BRONZE MEDAL
Mr. Michael Cordell
For the attempted rescue of a drowning swimmer at the Nethercote Waterfall on the afternoon of 4 January 2024
A man entered the water at this popular swimming spot, was driven down by the force of the waterfall, and was unable to escape the vortex. His wife alerted Mr Cordell, a nearby resident who tied a lifeline around his waist and dived in, but the force of the waterfall was too great, and he was unable to effect a rescue.
Case 2024.40
All photos by Salty Dingo Photography.
