Jaspers Brush's Matthew Warwick and Gerroa’s Shayne Elise Hunt honoured in bravery awards

Former NSW police officer Matthew Warwick, who was part of the bomb detection dog section which worked on the Madeleine Pulver collar bomb incident in Sydney in 2011 and a then 19-year-old, five foot two, 50kg female fencing contractor, Shayne Elise Hunt, who crashed tackled a would-be thief in Nowra have both been recognised.

They are among 74 Australians acknowledged with  Australian Bravery Decorations by Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Mr Warwick, who retired from the police force in 2014 after a 23 year career, of which 18 were in the dog unit, has been awarded the Bravery Medal and a Group Bravery Citation and Ms Hunt a Commendation For Brave Conduct.

Matthew Warwick

On the afternoon of August 3, 2011, Matthew Warwick (then Senior Sergeant with the NSW Police Force), provided assistance during a collar bomb incident involving a young woman at a residence in Mosman, Sydney,

Snr Sgt Warwick, who was part of the bomb detection dogs section, and other officers, arrived at a residence in Mosman in response to an armed hostage situation.  

On entering the house, Madeleine Pulver was located sitting at the end of a long corridor, chained to a gun safe style metal box which had a USB drive attached to it in a zip lock bag.

She informed the officers that the collar was a bomb and that the offender had requested “no police”.

An officer had already gone to assist her and was talking to her to keep her calm and to ascertain details of the situation.

Snr Sgt Warwick and another dog handler also went inside and swept the house in search of other explosive devices.

Some-time later, Snr Sgt Warwick was required to follow police negotiators into the house with a bomb detection dog to see if it indicated the presence of explosives on Ms Pulver.  

Over the course of the next few hours, officers examined the device around her neck and, following a thorough inspection of it, a decision was made to cut the wires and release her.

By his actions, Mr Warwick displayed considerable bravery, while along with fellow members were recognised by the award of the Group Bravery Citation.

“I’m extremely proud and but on the most part humbled by it,” he said.

“It was an extremely unique situation, certainly something I’d never experienced. Very confronting.

“I was very grateful I was surrounded by a co-ordinated, professional response by police to work with.”

Of course his trusted explosives detection dog, Toby, the Springer Spaniel was also in the action.

“Madeleine was incredibly calm,” he said “which was testament to the police who were initially on scene. They have been recognised as well and rightfully so. They did a fantastic job.

“It gave us the opportunity to work in and around her in the manner we wished to.”

Upon his retirement Matthew moved to Jaspers Brush, just north of Nowra, but kept his intense love of dogs, starting a dog training business, for both pets and working dogs.

And it is a job that can take him anywhere - he is currently in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea training police dogs and explosive detection dogs for the upcoming Apec meetings.

Shayne Elise Hunt

On the afternoon of February 19, 2016, Shayne Elise Hunt went to the assistance of an elderly man after a robbery at Nowra.

Ms Hunt was in the centre of Nowra when she heard a man yell for help.

She saw a younger man standing very close to a distressed older man who had just left a bank with an elderly woman.

The younger man had put the older man in a headlock in an attempt to rob him.

The older man continued to yell for help and, at that point, the younger man let go and began to run away from the scene.

Ms Hunt heard pleas to “stop that man” and saw other people attempting to grab him.

The offender dodged on-lookers and continued running down the footpath.

Without hesitation, Ms Hunt ran across the road towards the younger man and rugby tackled him.

The impact forced the offender up against a shop front window and she was able to sandwich him against the glass until they both fell to the ground.

Bystanders quickly approached and continued to hold the offender down until police arrived.

For her actions, Ms Hunt was commended for brave conduct.

“I’m a bit speechless about it all,” said the now 21-year-old.

At five foot two and just 50kg it was probably the last thing anyone expected from the young woman.

But what they hadn’t counted on was the fact she grew up playing rugby league in Dubbo against the boys in teams coached by her father and often spent time battling it out against her brother and his mates.

She also spent two years playing women’s rugby league and was a fencing contractor working for the family business.

“I’m a bit stunned by all this,” she  admitted “ I was not expecting it.”

The now Gerroa resident said at the time she hadn't thought about anything, just heard a call for help and “her instincts took over.”

“I’d just deposited some money into the bank and heard the commotion and saw the young guy running away,” she said.

“Other people tried to stop him but couldn't - I just ran across the road and slammed him into the window.

“He looked up and couldn’t believe it was a little girl!”

The would-be crook even told her she “should play football.”

“I was a bit worried then that he might get a bit feisty, but I think he was impressed by the tackle,” she laughed.

“He was only a slim guy but he was at least six foot.

“Once it was all over I did take a step back and think it could have been a bit risky but instincts just took over.”

This year’s honours included two Star of Courages, 34 Bravery Medals, 35 Commendations for Brave Conduct and three Group Bravery Citations.

“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 been recognised through the Australian Honours system,” the Governor-General said.

“Sadly, there are those whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us. To their families, I express the nation’s sadness at your loss but pride in your loved one’s actions.

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

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