Awards

The Queens birthday honours list has produced some good awards for the ADF.

The highest awards for gallantry announced today were three Medals for Gallantry to Corporal Ryan Avery of the Northern Territory, Bombardier David Robertson of South Australia and Private T, a soldier whose identity cannot be disclosed.

Corporal Avery exposed himself to enemy fire repeatedly while protecting his mates by engaging the enemy in Afghanistan on December 4, 2010.

Bombardier Robertson directed mortar fire on to well-concealed enemy positions from an exposed observation post in Uruzgan Province on March 20 last year.

"His bravery in extremely hazardous conditions guaranteed the safety of his own team and prevented casualties among advancing Australian and Afghan forces," his citation states.

Leading Seaman Deanna Pringle, the cook and primary health care provider aboard HMAS Pirie during the Christmas Island refugee boat tragedy on December 15, 2010, has been awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal.

Her citation states her "highly effective triage and supervision of the treatment of 27 seriously injured casualties for several hours" had saved the lives of many people and inspired even more.

"She undertook this role despite limited medical training and experience. After this ordeal, and once the casualties were ashore, she prepared the evening meal for the ship's company and continued to assist in the search for more survivors."

More than 30 people died after an asylum seeker vessel carrying an estimated 90 refugees, ran on to rocks at Flying Fish Cove. HMAS Pirie and the customs vessel Triton played a vital role in plucking at least 42 people from the sea.