BRAVE AUSSIES RECEIVE TOP HONOURS FOR THAI CAVE RESCUE
DR RICHARD HARRIS AND DR CRAIG CHALLEN
* The Adelaide anaesthetist and retired Perth vet are receiving a rare double honour - the Star of Courage and the Medal of the Order of Australia.
* The Star of Courage, the second highest Australian Bravery Decoration, recognises their courage in helping free the 12 boys and their soccer coach.
* They join an elite group of 162 Australians who have received the honour.
* They also receive the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for the specialist roles they played in the rescue mission.
* OAMs are usually only awarded on Australia Day and the Queen's Birthday.
BRAVERY MEDAL AND OAM RECIPIENTS
* Royal Australian Navy clearance diving team specialist liaison officer Chief Petty Officer Troy Eather and six Australian Federal Police officers are also being awarded double honours for their work in the hazardous rescue mission.
* The AFP officers are: Senior Constable Justin John Bateman, Leading Senior Constable Kelly Craig Boers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Benjamin Walter Cox, First Constable Matthew Peter Fitzgerald, Acting Station Sergeant Robert Michael James, and Detective Leading Senior Constable Christopher John Markcrow.
* The AFP special response group officers arrived at the cave on June 30, three days after the Thai government sought help to free the soccer team.
* They and Chief Petty Officer Troy Eather were positioned throughout the cave to help move the boys through its chambers, while facing the threat of flooding, falling debris, poor air quality and other hazards.
