Governor-General presents 2011 Clarke Gold Medals

The Governor-General, as Senior Patron of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia, invested two Queensland Fire and Rescue Service personnel with 2011 Clarke Gold Medals during a ceremony at Government House, Canberra.

Mr Russell Von Nida, of Buccan in Queensland, and Mr Bradley Damian Hindmarsh, of Bundall in Queensland, were presented medals for rescuing numerous people during the January 2011 floods that hit the Grantham township in Queensland.

Citations

RUSSELL VON NIDA, Station Officer QFRS, aged 40 years, of Buccan, Queensland, in going to the rescue of numerous people at Grantham, Qld on 11 January 2011.

Mr Von Nida and three other officers (including co-nominee Mr Hindmarsh), boarded an ADF helicopter to search for people. Mr Von Nida had never been in a helicopter before in his life and due to the horrendous weather conditions, the ADF crewman advised that he needed his other crewman to stay in the helicopter as an extra observer. Although he had never done this type of work Mr Von Nida was winched down and winched out 10 civilians in horrendous flying conditions and displayed outstanding innovation by making harnesses for the children rescued. Both he and Mr Hindmarsh were exposed to risk due to the conditions and their unfamiliarity with the role and equipment.

BRADLEY DAMIAN HINDMARSH, Firefighter QFRS, aged 38 years, of Bundall, Queensland, in going to the rescue of numerous people from the floodwaters at Grantham, Qld on 11 January 2011.

Mr Hindmarsh was one of four officers who boarded an ADF Blackhawk to search for civilians. Without training or familiarity with the equipment Mr Hindmarsh (along with co-nominee Mr Von Nida) was winched down and up five times to rescue 5 civilians including displaying outstanding innovation by making a harness for a 7 month old baby rescued.