Page 362 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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I was also especially proud that Canberrans Jason and Jodie Roff and Navy commander Scott Palmer were being honoured as new members of the association. Last year the Roffs each received the commendation for brave conduct and Commander Palmer was a recipient in a group bravery citation.
In 2009 Jason and Jodie Roff stopped their car on seeing smoke coming from a house in Langdon Avenue, Wanniassa. They went into the burning house and were able to save two elderly occupants struggling to save possessions and their cat.
During the 2011 Queensland floods, Navy commander Scott Palmer was on the crew of a Navy Sea King helicopter undertaking evacuations in very dangerous conditions when they spotted a man being swept along Laidley Creek. The crew attempted a hazardous winch rescue, lowering a team member down within three feet of the man, but were unable to grab hold of him. The stricken man was finally able to climb into a tree, allowing the crew to winch down and rescue him.
On behalf of the ACT community, I thank these three Canberrans for their bravery and congratulate them on their official recognition and inclusion in the Australian Bravery Association.
The stated aim of the Australian Bravery Association is to maximise the support available to those members in our community who conduct themselves bravely to save life, property or the environment and thereby experience physical, emotional or personal hardship. The association recognises that in earning their awards members will have been subjected to enormous physical and/or emotional stresses and, as a result, they suffer in varying degrees from some form of psychological damage. It has an honorary chaplain who is trained in trauma counselling and another member, a qualified professional counsellor, is the association’s honorary post-traumatic stress disorder counsellor.
The Australian Bravery Association is a testament to human compassion and selflessness that are the best qualities we have to share with one another.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 6.26 pm until Tuesday, 18 March, at 10 am.
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