Three men who leapt into crocodile-infested waters during a rescue attempt and a couple who swum into a rip in a bid to save three children being swept out to sea are among Australians honoured on Monday for their bravery.
Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove praised the 59 individuals honoured, as well as those cited as a group, for their compassion, professionalism and energetic ambition.
“On behalf of all Australians, I thank them for their bravery," he said.
"They are a source of courage, support and inspiration, and we are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them.”
The Australian Bravery Decorations recognise acts of bravery in non-warlike situations by people who put themselves in harm's way to protect others.
Tragic 'freak' weather event
Troy Glover (left) with his wife Tina, sons Troy and Codie, and future daughter-in-laws (SUPPLIED) Source: Supplied
"One of the boats was tipped over, upside down completely," he said.
"There were a number of people on that boat. My wife and Toni (Forder) were both trapped under it."
He said around seven crocodiles had been circling the vessels before the incident.
But with disregard for his personal safety, the builder jumped into the water to try and reach the women.
"I was just about to go underwater again when my wife popped up," he said.
"Within a minute or so we spotted Toni floating over in the distance, face down in the water.
His mates, Phil Abram and Michael Jerram, who had been out fishing, witnessed the houseboat capsize from their tinnie.
In the driving rain and strong wind, they raced to pull Toni Forder from the water.
"Phil to me he is the real brave one, he dived straight into the water and swam towards Toni and she had to have been 100 metres away already and the water was heavily infested with very large crocodiles," Mr Glover said.
"When I saw that Phil and Michael were having trouble getting Toni onto the boat I also dived in and swam over to the little boat to help pull Toni in."
Mr Jerram started resuscitation immediately and the decision was made to make a dash for shore at least 40-minutes away.
At the water's edge, paramedics took over CPR.
But the mother-of-two did not survive.
For their conduct that October day in 2013, Mr Abram and Mr Jerram have been awarded Bravery Medals, and Mr Glover a Commendation for Brave Conduct.
Mr Glover's thoughts are with Ms Forder's family and how future tragedies can be prevented.
"What we would have liked to have seen come out of it is the lack of safety issues on houseboats so that it is not possible for it to happen again."
Risking ocean danger
Helen Evans was nominated by her son Josh Woodward (SUPPLIED) Source: Supplied
The pair spotted the children in trouble at Surf Beach in 1991 and entered the water to try and rescue them.
"The boy I had was the 6-year-old and he had the strength of a man in the water," she said.
"He was panicking and so, of course, he was trying to climb on top of me all the time and he was pushing me under."
Ms Evans, who was in her 20s at the time, managed to haul the boy to a rocky outcrop.
But they were swiftly washed off by large waves, before eventually making it back to shore.
"Gerard was sort of not far behind me with the boy that he had," Ms Evans said.
"We said to the surfers there is another boy out there. But they would not go in because it was too rough."
A third boy drowned.
For nearly 30 years, Ms Evans has kept the thank you card given to her by the two boys she saved.
The thank you card Helen Evans received after the rescue. (SUPPLIED) Source: Supplied
She and Mr Woodward receive commendations for brave conduct.
House fire rescue
Italian born Domenica Chimirri used his language skills to reassure a fightened women trapped in a burning building so he could lead her safety. (SUPPLIED) Source: Supplied
The 65-year-old entered a burning house in Melbourne after hearing an elderly stranger's calls for help.
"I went through three rooms and then finally found her curled up in the corner," he said.
"She was a little bit hesitant to come with me, she was scared."
"She was an Italian lady, so I spoke to her in Italian and got her confidence. I just held her and walked her out past the flames. Took her outside."
But it did not stop there. He went back into the building to check if anyone else was trapped.
A fire-fighter with 30 years experience later told him he was amazed anyone had dared to enter such a smoke-filled house without breathing equipment.
"I did not fear for my life or anything like that," Mr Chimirri said.
"Once I heard her voice and that it was just automatic".
He has been commended for brave conduct.
Calm under pressure
CFA volunteer John McLeod is commended for brave conduct. (SUPPLIED) Source: Supplied
The male occupier and his unconscious wife were trapped on a flimsy fibreglass roof surrounded by thick black toxic smoke.
Before emergency responders arrived, Mr McLeod found a ladder to reach them with and managed to get a harness on the women so she could be lowered to the ground.
The teacher and sculptor has been commended for his bravery.
"I was able to think really quickly and I was really calm," he said.
"I am quite proud of (that)."
