Proud family members Hui Duy Nguyen, Thien, 3; Thi Duy Nguyen and Lan Thi Le travelled from Brisbane to see Constable Lam Duy Nguyen (Kingaroy) receive his recruit training award

August 21, 2020

The South Burnett PCYC was a sea of blue on Friday for the annual Queensland Police Service Dalby Burnett Patrol medals and awards ceremony.

Police from across the region converged on Murgon for the celebration.

They were joined by proud family members, many of whom had travelled far to watch the awards being handed out.

Invited guests – including South Burnett mayor Brett Otto – also filled the hall, suitably social distanced.

The morning was compered by Dalby Burnett Patrol Inspector Graeme Paine, who praised the officers receiving recognition for their dedication to duty and commitment to service.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon distributed the medals and certificates.

He made special mention of the work by police across Queensland in difficult times to keep COVID-19 out of the community, especially the officers who had manned the Cherbourg checkpoint.

A highlight of the morning was the presentation of Commissioner’s Certificates (see below) to four civilians who had performed acts of bravery – including the three men who saved a toddler from a tragic fire in Kingaroy two years ago.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon BM APM with South Burnett mayor Brett Otto
Master of Ceremonies Inspector Graeme Paine (Dalby Burnett Patrol Inspector) and Detective Inspector Matthew Kelly

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Special Awards

Commissioner’s Certificates recognising brave acts were handed out to Lex Petersen, Zachary Hairon and Patrick Drinan who rescued a toddler from a burning house in 2018 (see separate report) and Vincent Melbin, who rescued a man from the Brisbane River.

On March 15, 2019, at 2:50am, Vincent Melbin and his companion Bridget Fraser observed a man about to jump from the Goodwill Bridge into the Brisbane River. The pair tried to talk the man down but only got him to identify himself before he jumped. The man briefly submerged before he came up, struggling to keep himself afloat.

Despite not knowing the depth of the river or what was submerged, Vincent – at great risk to himself – jumped about 10-15 metres from the bridge into the river. He grabbed the man and supported him long enough to swim over to a jetty that was under construction. He supported the man, who had fallen unconscious, in the water until police arrived and helped both men out of the water.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon presented Vincent Melbin, from Dalby, with a Commissioner’s Certificate for rescuing a man who jumped into the Brisbane River in March 2019

Acting Superintendent Garrath Channells presented District Officer’s Certificates to three officers:

Sergeant Bradley Fewtrell (Wandoan) for providing a timely, high quality and efficient policing response that resulted in the apprehension of two armed and dangerous offenders at Yuleba in 2018
Sergeant Rene Bond (Murgon PCYC) and Senior Constable Jamie Leonard (Murgon) for their efforts in 2018 to save the life of a young man who had attempted suicide

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Medals / Clasps

Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon presented Sergeant Matthew Donaldson (Cherbourg) with the National Police Service Medal (15 years) and the National Medal (15 years)

Anthony Turner (Dalby) received the Qld Police Service Medal (35 years clasp)

Senior Constable Rob Firman (Kingaroy) received the Qld Police Service Medal (20 years clasp)

Louise Thompson (Cherbourg) received the Qld Police Service Medal (20 years clasp)

Acting Sergeant Murray Sanewski (Kingaroy) received the Qld Police Service Medal (15 years clasp)

Senior Police Liaison Officer Stephen Grant (Murgon) received the Qld Police Service Medal (15 years clasp)

Police chaplain John Selwood received the Qld Police Service Medal (15 years clasp)

Senior Constable Jamie Leonard (Murgon) received the Qld Police Service Medal

Stephen Johnson (Murgon) received the Qld Police Service Medal

The National Police Service Medal recognises the special status that sworn police officers have because of their role protecting the community. It represents a police officer’s past and future commitment to give ethical and diligent service.  A minimum of 15 years’ service is required to qualify.

The National Medal recognises 15 years’ diligent service by members of Australian police forces and members of the ambulance and fire service.

The Queensland Police Service Medal recognises 10 years of diligent and ethical service by members of the QPS and is not granted as a right by virtue of long service. A clasp may be awarded to a medal recipient upon completion of each additional five years of qualifying service.

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Other Presentations

Several presentations were made by Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon which in a normal year would have occurred when recruits graduated from Oxley Police Academy but which had not happened this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Constable Lam Duy Nguyen (Kingaroy) and Constable Thomas Lynam (Kingaroy) received the Community Service Award – Recruit Training; Constable Lynam also received the Commissioner’s Award – Recruit Training
Four constables were presented with Certificates of Appointment … from left, Trent Ward, Brandon Jackson, Ethan Parker and Andrew Lott

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At The Awards

Cr Kathy Duff with Senior Police Liaison Officer Steve Grant and officers from Murgon station

Kirstin Firman and husband Senior Constable Rob Firman (Kingaroy)

Proud mum Tracey Lynam, Brisbane, with First Year Constable Thomas Lynam (Kingaroy)
South Burnett PCYC team leader Karen Sanewski, PCYC manager Sergeant Rene Bond and Murgon Business and Development Association president Leo Geraghty

From Cherbourg Police Station …

… from Kingaroy Station …
… and a large contingent from Murgon Police Station

 

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