Donald Thomson Award

Award

Instituted

Description

1979

Description

In honour of the formative Secretary General of CAMS, this award recognises individuals who have brought credit to the sport by way of a spontaneous act of selflessness and consideration for others – an attitude of service and courage which was always upheld by Donald Kingsley Thomson.

Bronze medallion Framed citation

Criteria

Nominees must have performed an act of courage and selflessness under unique circumstances, which is above and beyond what would normally be expected. In doing so the nominee must have demonstrated how they brought credit to themselves and the sport and portrayed a genuine consideration for others.

Eligibility

1. Any member of the sport is eligible to be considered for this award.

Year

Name

2008

Dion Hardy

Award Citation:
Awarded in recognition of Dion’s prompt and courageous action in recuing a trapped competitor from a submerged off road competition vehicle at Kellevie on 17 May 2008. Without the assistance of Dion, the trapped competitor almost certainly would have suffered life threatening complications.

This award recognised the act of courage and selflessness under unique circumstances, which is above and beyond what would normally be expected. In doing so, Dion brought credit to himself and the sport and portrayed a genuine consideration for others.

2004

Adam Tipping

Award Citation:
In 2004, the Award was presented to Adam Tipping who was competing at a Multiclub Super Sprint at Oran Park in September 2004 when an historic 1965 Ford Cortina rolled.

The body of the car suffered extensive damage and a split fuel tank resulted in a fire, threatening driver Hilton Bennet’s life. Being the first immediate following competitor, Adam stopped and extracted Bennet from the burning vehicle before FIV Rescue arrived. Due to his prompt actions, neither Bennet nor his rescuer suffered fire related injuries.

1986

Matthew Springer

Award Citation:
At Baskerville in March of 1986, two cars touched accidentally. One crashed and caught fire. The driver was unable to release the seat belt. The other driver, 17-year-old Matthew Springer, stopped his car and immediately went to the aid of the trapped driver. Without regard for his own safety and after having been beaten back by flames and heat initially, he succeeded in removing the door from the car, unbuckled the driver and dragged him out of the fire. His courage has been recognised by other authorities. The sport has paid tribute by conferring upon him this Award.

1985

Peter Nelson

Award Citation:
When Australia was granted a round of the World Formula 1 Championship for its 1985 Grand Prix, CAMS needed to put together the most competent race management and organisation team available.

A cornerstone of that team, and the organisation of the very successful race meeting, was Peter Nelson who was appointed Race Secretary. This high point of his career came after 20 years in the sport with Phillip Island Auto Racing Club, first at Phillip Island, and subsequently as the provider of the administration team at Calder.

1981

Ed Van der Weide and Robert England

Award Citation:
The second and third Awards were made to Ed Van der Weide and Robert England, fire and flag marshal respectively, following an incident at Oran Park on 12 April, 1981. On that occasion a car had crashed and was engulfed in flames, the unconscious driver still inside. By their prompt action in attacking the fire and eliminating further risk to the driver, Messrs Van der Weide and England prevented a serious incident turning to tragedy.

1979

Robert Hockley

Award Citation:
The first Donald Thomson Award was presented to Robert Hockley in 1979, who was a scrutineer at the Bathurst race meeting in 1978. As refueling operations on a car were completed, spilt fuel ignited, and the clothes of a mechanic caught fire. Mr Hockley pushed the burning man to the ground and tore the burning clothes from him. In doing so, he himself received severe burns to both arms and hands.

There is no doubt that his actions reduced the severity of the injuries sustained by the mechanic.