Crawling out into the dark on an unstable ladder under a torrent of floodwater isn't something that Bungendore man Ken Pearce would necessarily call ''heroic''.
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But it was these actions almost two years ago that has seen Mr Pearce, the water and sewerage supervisor for Palerang Council, listed as one of 84 people being recognised with Australian Bravery Decorations, announced today.
The misadventure began in the early hours of December 9, 2010, when fears that heavy rains would force the Captains Flat Dam wall to collapse forced Mr Pearce to drive through floodwaters at 4.30am to turn on the release valves.
''The water was coming in at such a fast rate that the water was coming over the top of the dam before we could get to the valves,'' he said.
''For a period, we couldn't do much at all.''
The floodwaters had destroyed the walkway to the valves by the time rain eased off, leaving Mr Pearce and his colleague with no option but to lay ladders over the boulders below in a precarious, makeshift path.
With water still crashing down around him, Mr Pearce crawled out in to the darkness to release the valves.
''It was all a bit scary at the time,'' he said.
But in spite of the darkness, the risky path and the continuing overflow from the dam above, Mr Pearce insists his actions were just part of the job.
''I didn't see it as anything heroic or anything like that,'' he said.
''To me, we were just doing our job and we did it to the best of our ability at the time. I just see it as what we had to do at the time.''
Fellow local Warrant Officer Class One Kenneth Bullman has also been nominated for a Commendation for Brave Conduct after running into a burning building last year.
He limited the damage done by a fire in the library and museum at the Royal Military College Duntroon on March 12, after smashing a window to gain entry and using a fire extinguisher to tackle the flames.
Governor-General Quentin Bryce approved the awards, consisting of two Stars of Courage, 17 Bravery Medals, 60 Commendations for Brave Conduct and five Group Bravery Citations.
Now in its 37th year, Ms Bryce said the Australian honours system announcement recognised the heroic actions of those who have placed the lives of others before their own.
''We are privileged to have such role models in our society and it is an honour to be able to recognise their acts of selfless bravery and thank them publicly for their brave actions,'' she said.
