First responders awarded decades after Australia's worst rail crash

First responders at the Granville rail disaster are being honoured with Australian Bravery Decorations, nearly 50 years after the tragic event. The 1977 crash resulted in 85 deaths and over 200 injuries, making it the worst rail accident in Australia's history. Ambulance officer Barry Gobbe and former police officer Gary Raymond were among the first to arrive at the scene, where a passenger train had derailed and was crushed by a nearby bridge.

Gobbe and Raymond's bravery is credited with saving many lives and improving emergency response protocols. Raymond recounted the chilling scene, describing how people on the train continued their daily routines as the disaster unfolded around them. The Granville rail disaster prompted significant changes in transport management, including improvements in rail maintenance and emergency response procedures, such as the introduction of colour-coded helmets for rescuers.

Other honorees include retired lawyer John Bamford, who apprehended a knife-wielding man in Sydney's CBD, and Superintendent Richard 'Dickie' Lamb, who coordinated the rescue efforts despite not being on-duty that day.