JIM Bobolas and his two sons, Nicholas and Timothy, of Downer, have been awarded Bravery Medals in the latest Australian Bravery Awards announced today by the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove.

On the morning of October 9, 2016, the Bobolas family assisted in the rescue of two people from a burning vehicle in Downer.

Jim Bobolas was at home with members of his family when they heard the sound of a car crashing into a tree. Two men were trapped with smoke coming from under the bonnet and petrol leaking from underneath the vehicle.

Nicholas and Tim, both players for the Canberra Olympic soccer team, went to the passenger side of the vehicle where they managed to rip the smashed door open. Tim reached across and undid the passenger’s seatbelt, enabling the brothers to extract the unconscious passenger and move him to safety.

As his two sons were at the passenger side, Jim Bobolas used a fire extinguisher to smash the driver’s window and attempt to extinguish the flames.

He was then joined by his two sons where, after a struggle, they managed to open the door. They began to pull the driver from the car when Jim was overcome by smoke.

The driver was extracted from the vehicle moments before the petrol caught fire and the vehicle erupted in flames.

By their actions, the individual citations say, the men “displayed considerable bravery”.

Commenting generally on the awards, Sir Peter said: “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.

“These awards have drawn national attention to the personal efforts of individuals, made willingly, without thought of personal risk.

“Today’s recipients now join the company of more than 50,000 recipients of Australian honours whose actions have enriched our community and whose values we hold dear – professionalism, compassion, dedication, generosity, tolerance, and energetic ambition.

“These awards have helped to define, encourage and reinforce our national aspirations and ideals by identifying role models. Today, we add a new group of people to those whose lead all Australians should follow.

“On behalf of all Australians, I thank them for their bravery. They are a source of courage, support and inspiration, and we are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them.”

There are four levels of bravery awards to recognise the actions of individuals, as well as an award (established in 1990) to recognise acts of bravery by a group of people involved in a single incident. These awards are the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the Group Bravery Citation, respectively.

Today’s awards were made in the following categories: Star of Courage, 2; Bravery Medal, 34; Commendation for Brave Conduct, 35 and Group Bravery Citation, 3.