Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak today on the exceptional courage displayed by four young boys from the town of Dongara in my electorate who saved the life of an elderly fisherman in rough seas off the coast at South Beach, Port Denison. The boys were watching the surf one Friday afternoon when they noticed a fisherman several hundred metres offshore caught in rough seas in a small dinghy. As they watched, a large wave hit the dinghy and the elderly fisherman was thrown from his boat. The boys sprang into action and, after acquiring the keys to the local surf lifesaving club, all four paddled out on rescue boards in the cold water to rescue the fisherman. Travis Owen managed to get the fisherman onto his board and bring him into shore while his friends managed to retrieve the boat and several of the man's belongings.

I will be presenting an award from Surf Life Saving Australia to Travis Owen next week here in parliament, but I wanted to take the time for this House to acknowledge the bravery and selflessness Travis and his friends showed to this perfect stranger. Travis and his friends are fine young men and I am extremely proud that they call the electorate of Durack home.

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