2008-2009 Recipients & Citations

NEWCASTLE INVESTITURE

For the past 132 years the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales has held a single annual investiture in Sydney to honour and acknowledge brave deeds by the citizens of New South Wales. However, the result of the June 2007 storms in Newcastle and the Hunter involving a large number (61) of heroic actions in saving lives, caused an exceptional change in procedure.
The need to recognize all of these brave deeds, arising from the extra-ordinary event of the June 2007 floods, greatly increased the number of awards scheduled for 2009. It provided the special need for the Society to hold more than the usual annual investiture ceremony.

For the first time in over 100 years the Council of the Society agreed to hold a separate “one off” investiture away from Sydney in Newcastle in 2009. Following gracious permission from the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, the investiture took place on Wednesday 24 June 2009 at the Newcastle City Hall utilising three separate venues within the City Hall, the Lord Mayor’s Rooms, the Concert Hall and the Cummings Room.

Prior to the ceremony there was a civic reception hosted by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Dr. Graham Boyd for invited guests. These guests include state and local dignitaries and Councillors of the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales. Immediately prior to the commencement of the Investiture the Deputy Lord Mayor and the Investing Officer, The Honourable Sir Laurence Street AC KCMG QC, President of the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales and principal guests entered the Concert Hall in procession to take their seats.

The Investiture Ceremony took place in the Concert Hall where some 220 invited guests attended. Prior to the Investiture the recipients and their guests were entertained by music performed by the Ambulance Service Band. The band also played at the conclusion of the Investiture when the guests retired to the Cummings Room for refreshments.

The Society gratefully thanks the event MC, Mr Brian Boughton; the marshal’s Lt.-Col. L. Kelly AM RFD and Lt.-Col. T. O’Brien RFD; the Police protocol officer, Sergeant Paul Sullivan; the Ambulance Service Protocol Team led by Mr John Playford, the Ambulance Service Band directed by Mr Colin Dunn and Ms Tina Johnson from the NSW Premiers Department. The Society also acknowledges the considerable assistance provided by the Newcastle City Council, particularly the provision of services without cost, and work undertaken by the NCC Event Co-ordinator, Mr Craig Foot.

Click on the recipient to view the citation.

N1. SILVER MEDAL

Ms Naomi ROSKELL

for the rescue of 7 persons trapped in floodwaters at New Lambton, NSW 2305 on 8 June 2007

N2. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

Mr Jason HIGGINS

for the rescue of a woman from floodwaters at Weston, NSW 2326 on 8 June 2007

N3. BRONZE MEDAL

Ms Melanie JOHNSON

for the rescue of her 6 year old brother from floodwaters at Singleton, NSW 2330 on 8 June 2007

N4. SILVER MEDALS

Capt. Jack DE GILIO
Capt. Aaron HENSHAW

BRONZE MEDALS

Mr Stephen BAKER
Mr Paul DEVEREUX
Mr Murray GREEN
Mr Les HANDICOTT
Mr Ashley HARDY
Mr Robert HARRIS
Mr Gerard INKSTON
Mr Michael MINERS
Mr Steven PARKER
Mr Jon PARTRIDGE
Mr Stephen TAYLOR
Mr Ian TURTON
Mr George SEWELL
Mr Peter WEARY
Mr Tom WILEY

for actions responding to vessels in distress at sea off Newcastle Harbour, NSW 2300 on 8 June 2007

(Newcastle Tug boat Crews Watagan and Wickham)

N5. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

Probationary Constable Brendan John PETERSEN

for the rescue of a woman motorist from floodwaters at Kotara, NSW 2289 on 8 June 2007

N6. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Sergeant Alfred Alexander COX
Sergeant William Patrick THOMAS
Senior Constable Jason Thomas WILLIAMS

 for actions in the search for a missing person washed from roadway by floodwaters at New Lambton, NSW 2305 on 8 June 2007

N7. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Leading Senior Constable Lance Raymond GORDON
Senior Constable Mark Joshua O’DONNELL
Senior Constable David WILKINSON
Constable Jonathon Michael McEWEN

for the rescue of several persons from floodwaters at Edgeworth, NSW 2285 on 8 June 2007

N8. SILVER MEDALS

Mr. Gary PEARCE
Mr. Matthew HOBSON

SILVER MEDALS

Constable Ray Peter NOFFKE
Mr Steven BENNETT
Mr Marc TUCKER

SILVER MEDALS

Leading Senior Constable Stephen William YOUNG
Senior Constable Georg BAUER
Senior Constable Bruce George THORNTON
Probationary Constable Benjamin Geoffrey RADCLIFFE

for the rescue of a 12 year old boy from floodwaters at Maryland, NSW 2287 on 8 June 2007

N9. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Sergeant John Anthony KING
Senior Constable David Brian DEE

for the rescue of a man from floodwaters at Redhead, NSW 2290 on 8 June 2007

N10. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Sergeant John Anthony KING
Senior Constable Tracey Lee ANDREWS

for the rescue of a family trapped by floodwaters at Teralba, NSW 2284 on 8 June 2007

N11. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Mr Andrew STEELE
Mr Brendan HOOTON
Mr Clay WATTS
Mr Nigel RINDAL
Mr Paul SEMMENS

for attempted rescue of the Bragg/Holt family from a flooding creek at Somersby, NSW 2250 on 9 June 2007

N12. BRONZE MEDALS

Senior Pilot Ian OSBOURNE
Senior Pilot Ian McFADDEN
Air Crewman Peter PRAINESS
Air Crewman Graham NICKISSON
Rescue Crewman Nathan LANGHAM
Rescue Crewman Glen RAMPLIN

for the airborne rescue of the crew of the bulk carrier Pasha Bulker off Nobbys Beach, NSW 2300 on 8 June 2007

N13. BRONZE MEDALS

Chief Inspector David Kenneth ROBINSON
Constable Daniel James McARTHUR

for the rescue of two persons trapped by floodwaters in a vehicle at Narara, NSW 2250 on 8 June 2007

N14. BRONZE MEDAL

Senior Constable Paul James DOHERTY

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

Probationary Constable Benjamin Geoffrey RADCLIFFE

for the rescue of a man from a burning building at Mayfield, NSW 2304 on 9 June 2007

N15. CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

Sergeant Kym Francis SHARP

for the rescue of a man trying to commit suicide at Brisbane Water, NSW 2250 on 9 June 2007

N16. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Sergeant Anthony George IRONS
Sergeant Kym Francis SHARP
Ambulance Officer Stuart BILLINS
Ambulance Rescue Officer Gary SMITH
Ambulance Rescue Officer Brad GEE

for the rescue of a bus driver trapped by floodwaters at Gosford, NSW 2250 on 9 June 2007

N17. CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Senior Constable Andrew John BURNELL
Probationary Constable Craig James SMITH

for the rescue of a number of residents trapped in homes and vehicles at New Lambton, NSW 2305 on 8 June 2007