By
Michael Brooke
Volume 48, No. 8, May 18, 2006
WHEN a car-bomb exploded killing eleven people at the front
gates of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on September 9, 2004,
SQNLDR Ken McLennan was one of several embassy staff members
who rushed to the assistance of those injured by the blast.
SQNLDR McLennan responded to the needs of the situation without
thought for his own safety and his courage was acknowledged
recently with a Group Citation for Bravery.
He received the citation from Her Excellency Professor Marie
Bashir AC, Governor of New South Wales, at an investiture at
Government House on May 4.
SQNLDR McLennan said he is not a hero – just someone who
took action in a time when other people needed help.
The citation reads: “in the immediate aftermath of the
explosion, when it was widely believed that there was the possibility
of further explosions and when the extent of the damage to the
(embassy) building was unknown, a number of embassy personnel,
both Australian citizens on posting and locally engaged staff,
put aside concerns for their own safety and acted to ensure
the safety of others and to secure the site against further
attack.
“Some who were on-site went immediately to the front of
the embassy compound and stayed there to help the
injured; others who were off-site made a deliberate decision
to go from a place of safety to the Embassy compound to provide
assistance, and others stayed inside the potentially unstable
building to evacuate others before themselves.”
SQNLDR McLennan was among half a dozen Air Force personnel to
be acknowledged at the investitures at Government House from
May 3-5.
GPCAPT John McGarry received the Conspicuous Service Cross for
outstanding achievement and performance of duty as the Chief
Operations Officer of HQ Joint Operations Command.
SQNLDR Ian Goold received the Conspicuous Service Cross for
outstanding achievement in the performance of duty as the Standardisation
Officer at 78WG.
FSGT Brett Holland received the Conspicuous Service Medal for
outstanding service in the performance of duty as an instructor
at 92WG.
FSGT Robert Ausic received the Conspicuous Service Medal for
outstanding service in the performance of supervisor duties
at 324 Combat Support Squadron.
