Cave rescue heroes share Australian of the Year

The two Australian divers who gripped the public imagination for their part in the dramatic rescue of a Thai boys soccer team have shared the Australian of the Year award.

Dr Richard Harris, an anaesthetist from Adelaide and Dr Craig Challen, a retired vet from Perth, long-time diving companions, worked as part of the international team that, against the odds, brought the 12 boys and their coach to safety.

The members of the Wild Boars team entered the caves on June 23 last year, only to be trapped by floodwater. In the staged rescue, the last boys and the coach reached safety on July 10.

The two Australians were preparing to go on a cave-diving holiday when their help was sought.

“Richard’s medical experience was key in the plan to get the children out of the caves,” the Australia Day Council said.

“After swimming through the narrow cave system to assess the health of those trapped and giving the medical all-clear for each evacuee, he administered an anaesthetic to each to enable their rescue.

"Richard was key to the mission’s success, remaining in the cave system until the last evacuee was safe.

"Craig’s technical expertise was critical to the rescue. He played a leading role, working 10 to 12 hours each day in extremely dangerous conditions to swim the children one-by-one through the dark and narrow flooded caves”.

Chair of the council, Danielle Roche, said that the two men “placed the safety of others above their own and inspired hope when hope seemed lost. Their selflessness, courage and willingness to help others in a time of need typifies the Australian spirit.”

In other awards announced at a ceremony in Canberra on Friday evening:

• The senior Australian of the Year is Dr Suzanne Packer, 76, from Canberra, a retired paediatrician. Among her many activities promoting children’s health, safety and rights, she has been involved in child abuse prevention and an advocate for the importance of the creation of child-friendly spaces in hospitals.

• The Young Australian of the Year is Danzal Baker, 22, an Indigenous rapper, musician and dancer from the Northern Territory.

“Working across rap, dance, acting and visual art, Danzal Baker is an inspiration to indigenous youth,” the council said. “A multi-talented, multi-lingual indigenous artist, Danzal, otherwise known as Baker Boy, is the first Indigenous artist to achieve mainstream success rapping in the Yolngu Matha language”.

• The Local Hero award was presented to Kate and Tick Everett from Katherine in the Northern Territory.

After the death of their teenage daughter Amy “Dolly” Everett a year ago, following extensive bullying, they founded Dolly’s Dream, to raise awareness about the devastating impact bullying can have on children and their families,

The council said the Everetts’ “non-stop advocacy” had resulted in governments acting to prevent childhood bullying.