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Troy Jorgensen
Following wild storms and flash floods on a seemingly ordinary evening in June, Troy Jorgensen found himself amidst several cars awash with water in the Newcastle suburb of Kotara. He took it upon himself to prise car doors open, climb through windows and rescue terrified occupants by ferrying them to higher ground. Two of the occupants were brothers, aged just two years and five months, their petrified mother found the car’s central locking had trapped them inside. Troy saved a total of 12 lives in a remarkable display of bravery.
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Esther McKay
After 15 years in the forensic services Esther was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder and discharged as medically unfit. The day she was discharged, Esther sat down to write her brutally honest account of life on the beat. Following an overwhelmingly positive response to her book, she started the Police Post Trauma Support Group. Esther has created a place for distressed people to share experiences, and has led to more offices opening in other areas.
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Connor Maclean
Connor suffers VACTERL syndrome, a rare and debilitating gamut of abnormalities affecting the spine, limbs and organs. However, despite spending most of his life in hospital wards and having undergone more than 40 serious operations, Connor retains a wonderful outlook on life, maintaining a sense of humour and a determination to not let his illness get the better of him. He also writes his own songs and hopes to record an album by Christmas in order to make money for his hospital.
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Alexander Roberts
Alex's motto is to 'think globally and work locally', and so it is understandable that he was distressed when he was told his school couldn't recycle anything as a result of it being situated between two local councils, neither of which would provide the appropriate bins or collect the recyclable waste. Alex decided to take matters into his own hands and set up a can recycling program at school.
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Jacqueline Pettit
As a result of her dedication to youth work, Jackie runs and manages 'The Shack' Youth Outreach Center in Epping. Jackie recognises that unemployed youths find it difficult to access training due to financial limitations, and so in 2005 Jackie developed a program called ‘Operation Kickstart’, an operation that pays for basic job training and initial necessities for disadvantaged youths.
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David Cronk
Maree was only six when David and his wife moved next door to her family. During times of domestic violence he let her shelter in his home, even taking it upon himself to go in to her own home to protect her mother. When Maree’s brother got married it was David’s garage that they used for the wedding reception. To this day David still remains Maree’s mother’s guardian angel.
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Jennifer Breyley
Despite retiring many years ago, Jennifer works tirelessly to support migrants living in the Shoalhaven area. She teaches them English and provides home tutoring. She prvides culturally appropriate information to assist migrants assimilating to their new homeland. In so doing Jennifer promotes friendship and harmony between migrants and the wider Australian society.
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Darren Marton
Despite being a gifted young athlete and being offered a scholarship with the Cronulla Sharks at the age of 16, Darren succumbed to the lure of drugs in his early 20s, leading to stints in gaol and psychiatric wards. But Darren managed to turn his life around in 2004 and in 2006 Darren launched the No-Way Campaign, where he visits schools, youth groups and sporting clubs to inform young people about the dangers of drugs.
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Desmond Clark
When the local council erected a flagpole in the town centre for bicentenary celebrations in 1988, they were short one thing - a set of hands of raise it each day. Des approached the council 17 years ago to volunteer to fill the position and has done so every day since. Des is also a founding member of the local volunteer Rescue Association, president of Neighbourhood Watch and has just finished a term as local rugby club president.
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Dawson Ko
At age 15 Dawson was diagnosed with Behcet’s disease and in 2003 Dawson, aged 20, went blind. Dawson learnt that not only could life be lived without sight, but he could share his experience and knowledge with other young people who find themselves in the same situation. Dawson established the online Vision Impaired Support. He is currently at university and a black belt in karate. His bravery is an inspiration to us all.
