An incredible and selfless act of bravery was rewarded on this day in 1979 with several members of the public acknowledged for their efforts. The awards were handed out to the real life heroes who risked their own lives to save a women who had been swept into floodwaters in Reedy Creek, near Queanbeyan.
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Rosanna Perry was swept off a bridge while driving through floodwaters and, seeing the event unfold, Daniel Primmer and John Henjack attempted to rescue her. The men, along with others, tied themselves with a rope secured to a guide post and attempted to swim to the woman. Tragically, Primmer became snagged in debris during the rescue and drowned.
Senior Constable Brian Bock of the ACT police eventually took charge of rescue efforts by using a NSW Emergency Service boat to get to the woman and pull her to safety.
Six bravery awards were handed out, Plimmer, Henjack, Bock along with Robert Perrott, who was swept away while swimming to the woman but managed to reach a bank downstream, Sergeant Ahwyne Hill and Senior Constable Robert Burrage who were also involved in the rescue efforts, all received honors.
The awards were announced by the Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowan.
