pride of australia™ medal

Kevin Browne

When he saw two children being swept out to sea by a rip at the unpatrolled Surf Beach, San Remo, Kevin Browne did not hesitate. He swam to their rescue and helped them back to safety. According to their father: “It would have taken the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club lifesavers about eight minutes to reach Surf Beach, and by then it would have been too late. I wish to express our gratitude to Kevin."

Stan and Beryl Hamilton

Stan and Beryl are at the very core of community life in Upper Beaconsfield. At 70 and 69, the couple are active on primary school committees, deliver Easter eggs, bake and sell cakes for the local fire brigade and help maintain community equipment. For more than 50 years they have devoted their energy to improving the lives of their fellow residents through endless fund-raising activities and assisting families in need. Every year since the Ash Wednesday fires destroyed Upper Beaconsfield in 1983, Stan has organised and distributed gifts for children at Easter and Christmas. Between them, Stan and Beryl have devoted 80 years of service to the local fire brigade.

Crystal Wallace

Since the sudden death of her mother in June 2005, 18-year-old Crystal has become mum to her two sisters and brother, aged 15, 13 and 8. Crystal vowed to keep the family together after her single mother Janis died in her sleep from a cause yet to be determined. Her life now revolves around her siblings – picking them up from school, meeting their teachers, housework and homework, making lunches – all the things a mum has to do. Her ambition to become a police officer may be put on hold…"the kids come first."

Manfred and Donna Zabinskas

Manfred and Donna's wildlife shelter at Greendale is a haven for Victoria's injured and orphaned wildlife. They devote their lives to rescuing animals at any time of day or night, providing them with long-term rehabilitation and then returning them to the wild. They spend thousands of dollars of their own money on veterinary consultations, medicines and food for the animals in their care.

Kim Truong

Kim arrived as a refugee in Australia 25 years ago and has selflessly devoted herself to community and environmental projects. Among her most recent achievements is her appointment by Environment Victoria as a volunteer ambassador for the “Nha Dep" project. This scheme is designed to encourage the Vietnamese community to conserve water and energy and reduce waste.

Charlie Galea

For 15 years, Charlie Galea served up goodwill in style. Six days a week at the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda, and starting work at 5am, he dished out 400 meals for Melbourne's disadvantaged. “I have my immediate family," says Charlie, “but these people are my extended family. I have fallen in love with them"

Steve Hutcheson

In 1999, Steve Hutcheson went from fashion photography to work rebuilding shelter in war-torn Kosovo for a year and a half. Subsequently he worked in Afghanistan for two and half years with UNDP managing programs of large scale work opportunities initially as a UN volunteer in Kandahar and finally as Senior Advisor to the Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development. Following the tsunami in the Indian Ocean he was engaged to work with the UN in Aceh creating work programs for 30,000 people affected by the devastation.

Bruce Johnstone

Bruce is an honorary granddad to hundreds of children. As a volunteer with the cancer charity Challenge, he has been on more than 60 camps, helping children to do everything from abseiling and hot-air ballooning to water skiing. His support continued even throughout his own struggle with cancer, and he was instrumental in establishing the annual fundraising event called “Keeping Cancer at Bay", a boating regatta that has raised more than $300,000.

Bill Page

At 84 years of age, Bill Page's life would fill the pages of a book. Orphaned at seven, he worked from the age of nine, saw active service in the Pacific in World War 2, suffered grievous injuries when a tunnel collapsed on him, and finally settled in Maryborough where today he is involved in numerous community organizations – among them the SES, Maryborough Garden Club and Maryborough Legacy – and is widely respected as “a caring, compassionate gentleman who would do anything he could to help his fellow man."

Michael Smith

In just a few short years, Michael has made an extraordinary contribution to the community through his service with St John Ambulance. In 2004 he was awarded the Commissioner's Badge, the highest honour in St John Junior. Since joining a St John Junior class at eight years of age, he has devoted countless hours to St John activities, completing numerous proficiency certificates as he works to improve his skills in first aid and other disciplines. One of his favourite duties is to attend AFL games at Telstra Dome.

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