SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2007–08

Andrew Johnson (Tathra SLSC, NSW)
Awarded the SLSA Meritorious Award
—Bronze Medallion
Anthony Brunton (Non member, NSW)
Awarded the SLSA Meritorious Award
—Certifi cate of Merit
On 16 April 2006, Andrew Johnson was returning home
from surfi ng the Bunga Reef when he observed a fi shing
boat capsize in Kianinny Bay. A family of three—mother,
father and child—were thrown into the tumultuous
whitewash and left to struggle unaided in the treacherous
surf with waves up to three metres high.
Paddling out of the bay on his surfboard with two
lifejackets, Andrew was sucked out through the heads by
the strong current, where he managed to reach the mother
and son, still precariously hanging onto the capsized hull.
With the father quickly approaching exhaustion, still 50
metres further out and fl oating seawards, time was critical.
Andrew showed great fi tness, skill and courage in retrieving
the father with his surfboard, and then reuniting the family.
Fearing that the pounding waves would wash the boat
onto the rocks, Andrew attempted to swim the family
further out, though with much diffi culty and little success.
Anthony Brunton, a local surfer and ex-member of Tathra
SLSC, managed to reach the group and assisted the boy
to calm waters. After swimming back to the group, a large
set of waves nearly pushed everyone onto the rocks,
until Andrew managed to grab a rope line from an IRB
and successfully dragged all four into calmer waters as
they held onto Andrew’s surfboard.
The rescue was carried out in most diffi cult surf conditions.
As the boat eventually broke apart on the rocks, the bravery
displayed by both Andrew and Anthony most certainly
averted what would have been a family tragedy.
Jae Dawes (Bulli SLSC, NSW)
Awarded the SLSA Meritorious Award
—Certifi cate of Merit
On 16 April 2006, Jae Dawes—aged just 17 at the time
of the incident—was patrolling Sandon Point Beach in
an ATV with fellow surf lifesaver Dean Dudley, when they
were alerted to two swimmers in distress. Acting swiftly,
Jae grabbed a rescue board and proceeded to aid the fi rst
victim, approximately 150m from shore. With the powerful
waves reaching heights of 2.5m, it took the effort of both
surf lifesavers to return the patient to the beach.
By then, the second victim was 250m out to sea.
Jae turned around to again face the heavy seas, while Dean
continued to assist the fi rst patient to shore using a rescue
tube, then radioing the patrol for help and resuscitation
equipment. With no time to spare, Jae managed to reach
the second victim and secure him to the board, waiting for
an IRB to provide assistance. Upon returning to shore, the
second patient was barely conscious and both victims were
vomiting large amounts of water. The selfl ess and heroic
actions displayed by Jae most certainly resulted in averting
the tragic loss of two lives.
Bulli members Dean Dudley and Nicole Sheedy also
received Commendations for their part in this rescue.
Casey Brennan (Brunswick SLSC, NSW)
Awarded the SLSA Meritorious Award
—Certifi cate of Merit
On 17 April 2006, Casey Brennan—aged just 17 at the
time of the incident—was patrolling at Brunswick Heads
when she was called upon to rescue two of her fellow
surf lifesavers after their IRB motor failed and the craft
was overturned in rough seas. Although the disabled IRB
was situated 100m off shore, Casey assisted the patrol
to successfully retrieve the craft, before noticing that the
driver was not with the boat and had been carried out to
sea in a northerly sweep. Acting quickly, Casey grabbed
the rescue tube from the IRB and swam out in search of
the missing patrol person, who by now had drifted further
towards a rock wall. By the time Casey reached the patient,
he was badly battered from being twice knocked back into
the water after unsuccessfully attempting to exit the water.
Though just 10m away with the rescue tube and despite
members of the public having thrown two life preservers
from the wall, the rough seas prevented any assistance.
Finally the patient was swept further along the wall where
he could approach the shore, though again the powerful
surf knocked him down. Casey and fellow surf lifesavers
were fi nally able to assist in retrieving the patient from the
water and apply oxygen therapy. Though unable to reach
the patient until the last moment, Casey’s actions showed
true courage and determination. Her outstanding fi tness
and ability in swimming over 600m in the treacherous three
metre surf conditions, is exemplary and well beyond what is
expected of a surf lifesaver of her age.
SECTION 04—SURF LIFESAVING IN AUSTRALIA
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