South West Bravery Award recipients with Troy Bennell, City of Bunbury Deputy Mayor Tresslyn Smith, and Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch

South West heroes promote the importance of first aid skills

Brave individuals who performed selfless acts of rescue and resuscitation were recognised for their efforts on Friday 18 October at the South West Bravery Awards event.

Held at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, the event was opened by City of Bunbury Deputy Mayor Tresslyn Smith, with a Welcome to Country performed by Noongar artist and performer Troy Bennell.

Royal Life Saving WA Chief Marketing Officer Allan Godfrey led the award proceedings, commending the courage, quick thinking and selflessness of the awardees.

“Each story we share represents a beacon of hope, showcasing the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity,” he said. “The actions of those honoured highlight the incredible impact of applying lifesaving knowledge in moments of crisis.”

The first accolade was a Gold Star Bravery Award presented to Senior Constable Michael Smith, who responded to a woman in a severe mental health crisis, lost in bushland near Balingup one night. The police helicopter had located her in a paddock, and Senior Constable Smith navigated difficult terrain in an effort to reach her, including jumping over an electric fence. Despite losing his glasses he continued on, swimming out into a dam to follow the woman and ensure her safety. His dedication led to the successful apprehension of the woman who was then safely transported to hospital.

The next award was presented to Robert Johnson, a truck driver who stopped to help at the site of a serious crash on Forrest Highway, Brunswick in December 2022. A vehicle had spun off the road and burst into flames, killing the driver and seriously injuring two passengers. With one of the passengers trapped inside the burning car, Robert grabbed a fire extinguisher from his truck and risked his own safety to combat the flames. His quick thinking and fearless intervention undoubtedly saved the lives of the surviving passengers, and he was awarded a Gold Medallion for his bravery and selflessness in the face of danger.

Next to receive an award was Alistair Spong, who exhibited great vigilance and bravery at Gracetown earlier this year. Alistair had been delivering a VacSwim class when he spotted a shark nearby, not an uncommon sighting at that location. Everyone exited the water except for one swimmer, Terry, who remained unaware of the danger despite multiple attempts to call and whistle to her. Undeterred, Alistair paddled out to her, coming within just two metres of where the shark had been sighted. He alerted Terry to the threat and guided her safely back to shore, averting a potentially life-threatening situation. Alistair received a Gold Medallion Bravery Award for his dedication to ensuring the safety of others*.

The final awards were presented to Peter Tredgett, Noel Cowan and Gary Giblett, who rushed to the aid of Merv Himing who collapsed during a game of pool at his retirement village last December. Peter and Noel sprang into action with the help of two other friends, Ross and Brian. With guidance from the 000 operator they began lifesaving CPR. When Gary became aware of the incident, he raced to the location and joined in the rescue effort, the group continuing CPR for over 10 minutes and using a defibrillator to shock Merv’s failing heart until paramedics arrived.

Merv was transported to Bunbury Hospital and later to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth. Peter, Noel and Gary are all in their late 70s and prove that age is no barrier to heroism. They were each presented with a Gold Medallion Bravery Award for their swift and skilled response which saved Merv’s life.

“At 77 years of age, I am pleased that I can still help and save someone’s life and show other people that it’s important to have a go when someone is in trouble,” said Peter. “Always have a go with any first aid or medical situation because whatever you do is better than doing nothing.”

Royal Life Saving WA CEO Peter Leaversuch is urging everyone to ensure they have first aid and CPR skills.

“The more people trained in CPR and first aid, the safer our communities become,” he said. “Everyone – from parents and teachers to sports coaches and workplace teams – can benefit from understanding how to respond to an emergency. Don’t wait for an emergency to strike – learn these lifesaving skills today and make a difference when it matters most.”

You can gain or update your first aid and CPR skills by finding a course at the link below.