Studio portrait of Mr Allan Sparkes CV, who was awarded the Cross of Valour on 29 April 1988. ...

Studio portrait of Mr Allan Sparkes CV, who was awarded the Cross of Valour on 29 April 1988. Sparkes received Australia’s highest civil honour for bravery, the Cross of Valour. This award were a result of his actions in rescuing a child from a flooded storm water pipe. Detectives Sparkes and Gavin Dengate were on duty in Coffs Harbour, NSW, when the call came that a boy had been swept into a flooded pipe. At the scene and without delay, Allan Sparkes plunged into the pipe, and, whilst tied to a life line, allowed himself to be swept in the floodwaters towards what he and Gavin Dengate thought was the trapped child. This life line proved to be inadequate and another life line was connected to him and he re-entered the floodwaters to be swept some 80 metres to what proved to be piled-up debris. By this time, Allan had effectively dammed himself in and had become trapped. Through the combined efforts of Gavin and other rescuers he was able to be dragged back through the flooded pipe to the surface. In the meantime, the boy had been heard further downstream. Allan and Gavin re-entered the underground tunnel through a manhole which by this time had become flooded almost to the roof. They battled their way to a place where six drains intersected. Some of these six drains were full, pouring enormous amounts of water into that area and onto the two men. Amid rising water they quickly began to search each pipe. After crawling some 30 metres against the flow of the storm water pipe Sparkes located the child hanging onto a piece of timber, absolutely terrified. The child had to let go in order for Sparkes to grab him. By his actions, Mr Sparkes saved the child’s life, displaying the most conspicuous bravery in circumstances of extreme peril.