Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to tell the House how proud our nation is of brother and sister Austin and Dharma Brosnan from Rockhampton. Recently the two teenagers helped to save a six-year-old boy from drowning while swimming in the Marlborough pool. Their heroic act was recognised on the front page of Rockhampton's The Morning Bulletin on 1 November. Dharma and Austin had been swimming in the Marlborough public pool, along with a large group of children, when Dharma noticed that a little boy had disappeared. She spotted him sitting motionless on the bottom of the pool. Dharma called on her brother Austin to help pull the young boy from the water before alerting a lifeguard. The child was airlifted to Rockhampton by rescue helicopter. On behalf of all Australians and our Commonwealth government, I congratulate the pair for their quick thinking and initiative. I also acknowledge their parents, Jim and Deborah Brosnan, who have raised such attentive and caring children. Dharma and Austin's heroic act in saving a young life is even more significant when you consider that drowning rates are rising. Sadly, last year in Australia 280 people lost their lives in the water. Congratulations to Dharma and Austin.

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