The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC has awarded Busselton’s Brayden Mitchell with a commendation for brave conduct.
On July 17, 2016 Mr Mitchell rescued a woman who was being swept out to sea at Geographe Bay.
Mr Mitchell was at the Vasse River diversion drain near the bay when he noticed a woman being swept out to sea by the strong currents as she was trying to rescue her dog.
He immediately jumped into the cold water and made his way out to the woman who was about 50 metres out and calling for help.
Mr Mitchell swam to the woman, reaching her as she was going in and out of consciousness.
He grabbed her by the hand, reassured her and despite being swamped by the waves, they helped her closer to shore.
The woman became unconscious as they neared the shoreline where other onlookers came to their assistance and helped them out of the water.
Sir Cosgrove said he offered his warmest congratulations and expressed his sincere gratitude for Mr Mitchell’s contribution to our nation.
He said we were fortunate as a community to have outstanding people willing to put themselves in harms way to assist others in need, and it was only fitting that they are recognised through the Australian Honours system.
“These awards have drawn national attention to the personal efforts of individuals, made willingly, without thought of personal risk,” he said.
“Today’s recipients now join the company of more than 50,000 recipients of Australian honours whose actions have enriched our community and whose values we hold dear – professionalism, compassion, dedication, generosity, tolerance, and energetic ambition.
“These awards have helped to define, encourage and reinforce our national aspirations and ideals by identifying role models.
“Today, we add a new group of people to those whose lead all Australians should follow.
“On behalf of all Australians, I thank them for their bravery. 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 date from the establishment of the Australian honours system, and recognise acts of bravery in other than warlike situations, by people who put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.
There are four levels of bravery awards to recognise the actions of individuals, as well as an award (established in 1990) to recognise acts of bravery by a group of people involved in a single incident. These awards are the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the Group Bravery Citation, respectively.
Since 1975 and including the awards announced today, there have been five awards of the Cross of Valour, 170 awards of the Star of Courage, 1359 awards of the Bravery Medal, 2086 Commendations for Brave Conduct and 182 awards of the Group Bravery Citation.
