AUSTRALIAN BRAVERY AWARDS

17 March 2008

His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, has approved the award of the following Australian Bravery Decorations:

    Star of Courage                                  3
    Bravery Medal                                  23
    Commendation for Brave Conduct   44
    Group Bravery Citation                      1 person to be added to Group Bravery Citation awarded and gazetted on 29 August 2005

“This year marks the thirty-third anniversary of the Australian honours system, which since its establishment has grown in prestige to represent the highest level of recognition that can be accorded for attainment of outstanding achievement and service in national life,” General Jeffery said.

“Today’s announcement of national bravery awards recognises the heroic actions of those amongst us who have placed the safety and lives of others before their own. We are privileged to have such role models in our society, and it is an honour to be able to recognise their acts of selfless bravery and thank them publicly for their brave actions, undertaken both in Australia and overseas,” General Jeffery said.

Professor Valerie Pratt AM is the Chair of the Australian Bravery Decorations Council which is an independent Council that considers bravery nominations and makes recommendations to the Governor-General. She said “Since its inception, the Australian Bravery Decorations have recognised Australian citizens and others for acts of bravery in other than warlike situations. They are a crucial part of the Australian honours system.”

There are four levels of bravery awards to recognise the actions of individuals and a separate group award (established in 1990) to recognise acts of bravery by a number of persons working in concert. These awards are the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the Group Bravery Citation which recognises collective acts of bravery.

Since 1975, including the awards announced today, there have been 5 awards of the Cross of Valour; 135 awards of the Star of Courage; 907 awards of the Bravery Medal; 1,376 Commendations for Brave Conduct and 60 awards of the Group Bravery Citation.

Anyone may nominate any other person for the award of the Australian Bravery Decoration. Nominations are considered by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council.

Media contact: Ms Sharon Prendergast (02) 6283 3604
For more information about Australian Bravery Awards see www.gg.gov.au or www.itsanhonour.gov.au.