Four Queensland Police officers who arrested an armed man after he crashed a stolen car into a 7000-litre gas tank at Noosa Heads in 2014 have been commended for bravery.
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On November 6 that year, a man fired a gun at a woman during a domestic violence incident, before fleeing the scene. The man flagged down a driver and got into his car.
The driver, Peter Steer - a Seven News cameraman - was also commended for bravery after the man confessed the domestic violence incident to him, and then gave the weapon to Mr Steer, who called triple zero.
As they waited for police to arrive, the man took back the weapon, pointed it at Mr Steer and stole the cameraman's car, driving away.
Two police officers arrived and Mr Steer jumped in their car and helped provide critical information about the fugitive.
A few kilometres away, the man crashed the car into a gas tank at a service station and ran inside the shop.
As gas leaked across the forecourt, the two police officers arrived and ran across the forecourt with guns drawn.
Two other officers arrived and the man left the shop and headed back towards the leaking gas tank.
One police officer talked to the man, telling him to stand down, while the three others were still 20 metres from the gas tank.
The man surrendered and was taken into custody while two officers ran to the leaking tank and worked to shut it down.
Senior Constable Michael Romas Grigalius, Sergeant Gordon Dean Holmes, Senior Constable Peter Thomas Low and Senior Constable Adam David Tickner were recognised for group bravery in the Australian Bravery Awards 2018, announced on Monday.
Senior Constable Tickner was also recognised individually with the Bravery Medal for approaching the man and convincing him to surrender.
Other Queenslanders were named in the commendation list, including Ryan Martin and Luke Robinson who in 2016 went to the rescue of a mother and daughter caught in a rip at Fingal Head.
Mr Martin died during the rescue and, with Mr Robinson, was awarded the Bravery Medal.
Australia's Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove congratulated the recipients.
“We are fortunate as a community to have so many outstanding people willing to put themselves in harm’s way to assist others in need, and it is only fitting that they have today been recognised through the Australian Honours system," he said.
“These awards have drawn national attention to the personal efforts of individuals, made willingly, without thought of personal risk."
Nominations are considered by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council, an independent advisory body that meets twice a year to consider nominations and make recommendations to the Governor-General.
