AMSA CEO Mick Kinley presented the 2023 awards on 19 October at Salamanca Inn, Hobart, Tasmania.
Professional Search and Rescue category
Award: NSW Marine and Area Command Launch Nemesis crew in recognition of their extraordinary contribution to the search and rescue of 2 men from sailing vessel AVIVA in September 2022: Senior Sergeant Michael Hrnjak, Sergeant Ryan Spong, Sergeant Clint Brown, Sergeant Iain Houlford, Sergeant Michael Morris, Sergeant Joshua Lisle, Leading Senior Constable Bruce Tape, Leading Senior Constable Brendan Nix, Senior Constable Hayley Upton and Senior Constable Lincoln Kilpatrick.
Commendation: AFP Maritime, Air Support and Search and Rescue teams in recognition of their extraordinary contribution to an extremely difficult search and rescue from Kambah Pool on 20 September 2022: Sergeant Elizabeth Swain, Sergeant Reginald Dwyer, a/Sergeant Andrew Craig, Leading Senior Constable Ewen Locke, Leading Senior Constable Benjamin Cox, Leading Senior Constable Allan Bell.
Non-Professional Search and Rescue category
Award: Luke William Baldock, in recognition of his extraordinary search and rescue efforts off the Western Australian south coast on the morning of 5 March 2023.
Commendation: Haylee O'Connell, in recognition of her extraordinary search for Corey O’Connell.
Long-standing Contribution to Search and Rescue category
Award: Sergeant Damian Anthony Bidgood, in recognition of his unwavering dedication, leadership and professionalism during a long-standing contribution to search and rescue in Tasmania.
Commendation: Jeffrey Ronald Caldwell, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution and dedication to search and rescue with Volunteer Marine Rescue Gladstone.
Photos
Top left: Mick Kinley, Sergeant Ryan Spong, Leading Senior Constable Bruce Tape and Senior Constable Hayley Upton
Top centre: Mick Kinley and Luke Baldock
Top right: Mick Kinley and Sergeant Damian Bidgood
Bottom left: Mick Kinley, Leading Senior Constable Benjamin Cox, Sergeant Reginald Dwyer, Leading Senior Constable Ewen Locke
Bottom centre: Mick Kinley and Haylee O’Connell
Bottom right: Mick Kinley and Jeffrey Caldwell
Professional Search and Rescue category
Award: Australian Federal Police Search and Rescue Team (ACT), Senior Constable Paul Yates, Senior Constable Peter Ibbott and Sergeant Andrew Craig, for the rescue of 3 runners from Namadgi National Park.
Commendation: NSW Police Rescue Officers Sergeant Dallas Atkinson, Senior Constable Casson Levy and Senior Constable Stephen Booth and NSW Ambulance Paramedic Specialists David Ipsen and Jen Campbell, for the rescue of 3 people from a rockfall.
Non-Professional Search and Rescue category
Award: Maxime Jond, who performed a selfless act of heroism at a Princeton beach in Victoria on New Year’s Day, saving the life of a swimmer caught in a dangerous rip.
Long-standing Contribution to Search and Rescue category
Award: Jim Whitehead, Queensland Police Service, a retired 42-year veteran of the Queensland Police Service and search and rescue specialist, who successfully coordinated thousands of operations saving hundreds of lives.
Commendation: Constable Dean Wotherspoon, Tasmania Search and Rescue squad with 25 years’ service.
Professional Search and Rescue category
Award: NSW Police Dive Unit Senior Sergeant Raymond Busby, Sergeant Josh Lisle, Sergeant Steven Wye, Senior Constable Tim Boardman, Senior Constable Ryan Good for retrieving 2 deceased people from a remote canyon.
Commendation: NSW Police Marine Area Command Sergeant Tony Hogg, Senior Constable Matthew Gray, Senior Constable Nicholas Leach, for the rescue of a yacht north-east of Sydney.
Non-Professional Search and Rescue category
Award: Andrew Peter Coronis and Samuel Michael Coronis, for the rescue of 2 people in distress while out on their fishing vessel.
Commendation: Captain Rohit Upadhyay, Chief Officer Santosh Kumar and the crew of the ship Godam, for rescuing 2 people in the Torres Strait.
Long-standing Contribution to Search and Rescue category
Award: Southport Volunteer Marine Rescue.
Commendation: Mr Francis Egan, Volunteer Coast Guard.
2020 recipients
Professional Search and Rescue category
Award: Western Australian search and rescue dive team. Team members: Sergeant Bradley Bell, Senior Constable Alan Trist, Senior Constable Christopher Jacob, Senior Constable Luke McCulloch, Ashley Skinner (Esperance Marine Rescue), David Macmahon (Esperance Surf Life Saving), Jacob Oversby (Esperance Surf Life Saving), for multiple search and rescue operations.
Commendation: ‘Westpac 1’ Rescue Helicopter Crew. Team members: Graeme Anderson (Helicopter Pilot), Sean Flanagan (Air Crewman Officer), Sean Vallance (NSW Ambulance paramedic), Tim Starkey (NSW Health Doctor), for the rescue of 2 people.
Long-standing Contribution to Search and Rescue category
Award: William (Bill) Folder, Tasmanian State Emergency Service.
Commendation: Tony Clitheroe, Rockingham Volunteer Marine Rescue, WA.