Three men honoured last week for local acts of incredible bravery were all responding to emergencies in the surf.

At a Government House presentation in Sydney on November 21, the Royal Humane Society of NSW recognised Robert (Bob) Glasson, Dean Rossit and Riley Vaughan for their heroic response in rushing in to save swimmers in danger at beaches in the Royal National Park and Austinmer.

At the investiture ceremony, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of NSW, awarded more than 43 courageous members of the public, paid and volunteer first responders. The state’s highest non-military award recognising the most outstanding act of bravery went to nurse Suzanne Stevens, who received the society's Gold Medal and The Galleghan Award for helping a teenage boy being held at knifepoint in South Wentworthville. Four NSW police officers were also recognised for their bravery during this incident.

Among local NSW State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers honoured were Shellharbour member John McCloghry, who won a Bronze Medal for helping people evacuate during the Currowan Black Summer bushfires, and Sutherland members Elyse Riordan and Fiona Butlin, who received Certificates of Merit for going to the the aid of a driver in danger after his car was trapped in floodwaters at Otford's Audley Weir last year. 

“The Royal Humane Society of New South Wales has been recognising the bravery of its citizens since 1887,” said NSW president Colonel Alexander Dangar (Ret.). “In 2024, we continue a proud tradition of recognising the best in humanity through individual and group acts of outstanding bravery performed in often dire situations amid great personal risk to the award recipient."

Here are some of the local incidents that led to bravery awards.

Silver Medal

Robert (Bob) Glasson was awarded a silver medal for rescuing a woman in a strong rip at Little Garie Beach on the afternoon of 13 March 2024.

In its records, the Royal Humane Society of NSW says: "A young woman was caught in a strong rip at the southern end of Little Garie beach. When her friend on the shore started screaming for help, Bob Glasson, an 84-year-old life member of the Garie Surf Life Saving Club, was the only person within earshot. He immediately swam to the woman’s assistance and brought her safely to shore."  

Bronze Medals

Dean Rossit received a bronze medal for rescuing a father and son from the surf at Austinmer Beach at noon on 11 April 2023.

"A man and his 12-year-old son were standing in the breaking surf on a sandbank near the shore when it suddenly collapsed and they were swept out to where larger waves were breaking," society records state. "The father raised his hand for help and Dean Rossit, a former surf lifesaver who happened to be driving by, ran down the unpatrolled beach, dived in and swam to their rescue. Rossit rescued the boy, and when an undertow swept the man near a rock platform, rescued him as well."

Riley Vaughan received a bronze medal for rescuing a boy in heavy surf at Burning Palms Beach on the afternoon of 3 March 2024.

From the society's records: "A boy was swept out in a rip in heavy surf. Riley Vaughan, an off-duty lifesaver, ran 500 metres to the surf club, which was locked, where he found only a discarded, damaged foam surfboard with which to perform a rescue. He paddled out to where the boy had been struck by a large wave and was struggling to stay afloat, helped him on to the board and paddled him back to the beach."

Shellharbour NSW SES member John McCloghry received a Bronze Medal for the evacuation of Fisherman’s Paradise township during the Currowan bushfires, on 31 December 2019. The SES reports that, "Acting alone, he raised the alarm as smoke and embers blew through the town. He then stationed himself at the intersection of the Pacific Highway and the access road and directed distraught residents to safety."

Certificates of Merit

Elyse Riordan and Fiona Butlin received Certificates of Merit for their attempted rescue of the driver of a vehicle trapped in a flood at Audley Weir on the afternoon of 9 February 2023.

"Rising floodwaters at Audley Weir trapped a number of vehicles and cut roads into the Royal National Park preventing rescue crews from reaching the scene," society records state. "The water level was rising 10cm every few minutes and a car was balanced precariously on the weir with the driver trapped inside. Elyse Riordan and Fiona Butlin, both qualified SES In-Water Flood Rescue Operators, launched a raft in a rescue attempt before the driver managed to escape from the vehicle and swim to safety."

Award recipients are nominated by community members or emergency services, and selected by the Royal Humane Society of NSW's executive board. Some may then be nominated for the Stanhope Gold Medal, an international bravery award given since 1873.