At Government House in Perth on Oct. 6, 14-year-old Austin Appelbee accepted the Royal Humane Society of Australasia’s Clarke Gold Medal for helping get emergency services to his family after they were swept out to sea near Quindalup. His mother, Joanne, received a Certificate of Merit. They were among eight people recognized at the ceremony, 7NEWS and The West reported.
After receiving the medal, Austin said he felt his younger siblings, Beau and Grace, should share the recognition. He also described his mother as one of the bravest people involved that day. Joanne said she was proud of all three children. His remarks kept the family’s shared experience in view beside the specific actions recognized by the awards.
The emergency began on Jan. 30, during a family outing on Geographe Bay near Quindalup in Western Australia’s southwest. Austin was 13 at the time. The family had taken a kayak and paddleboards onto the water. A Western Australia Police Force account, republished by Mirage News, says police received a report at about 6 p.m. that the family had been swept offshore in rough conditions.
7NEWS reported that the outing began in calmer conditions before the waves strengthened, two oars were lost and the kayak began filling with water. Joanne asked Austin to swim toward shore and get help. She later described that as one of the hardest decisions she had made. The police account confirms the kayak took on water as conditions deteriorated.
Austin abandoned the kayak and swam approximately four kilometres, the police account says. He removed his lifejacket after realizing it was hindering his efforts to reach shore. Once on land, he ran another two kilometres along the beach until he reached a phone and could call for help. The police release describes his call as calm and clear, and says it assisted emergency services in responding.
The call helped set a multi-agency search and rescue response in motion. WA Police coordinated officers and local volunteer marine rescuers with the RAC rescue helicopter and an Australian Marine Safety Authority aircraft. Police said Joanne, Beau and Grace were located about 8:30 p.m., roughly 10 hours after entering the water; The West reported they were nearly 14 kilometres offshore. A volunteer rescue vessel brought them safely back to shore.
St John WA paramedics took the family to Busselton Health Campus for medical assessment, and they were later released without serious injury, according to the police account. Police coordination, aircraft, volunteer marine crews and paramedics each contributed to a response that brought the family to safety and medical assessment.
The medal ceremony came months after the rescue. The RHSA’s 2026 Honour Roll lists Austin as a Gold Medal recipient and Joanne as a Certificate of Merit recipient. 7NEWS reported that Joanne’s citation praised her judgment, composure and maternal leadership. It recognized a different part of the emergency from Austin’s swim and run: the decision to send him toward help as the conditions worsened.
Western Australia Governor Chris Dawson presented the awards, The West reported. 7NEWS said he remained amazed by Austin’s endurance and resolve, and that Austin’s wish to include his mother and siblings showed humility and character. His remarks echoed Austin’s wish to include his family in the medal’s meaning.
Joanne said the family was still processing what had happened and that trying to establish a new normal had not been easy. She said they wished the experience had never happened but felt fortunate about the outcome. Austin told 7NEWS that his siblings were quiet for about 48 hours after the incident before returning to their usual arguments; he felt they had grown closer.
The award recognizes Austin’s effort to reach help, while Joanne’s certificate recognizes judgment during a frightening choice. The police account describes how the call led into a coordinated rescue; the family’s later comments describe what they carried home from it. Together, those records tell a story of individual courage, family trust and a community response that brought three people safely back to shore.
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