A GALLANT ACT.

Wairarapa Age, 6 October 1926, Page 4

A GALLANT ACT.

HUMANE SOCIETY’S MEDAL. PRESENTED TO GILBERT ORB. The gallant act of Master Gilbert Orr, in rescuing from drowning a young girl named Ina Wallace, on October 4, 1925, was officially recognised yesterday when the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A. Wright) presented to the brave lad the Royal Humane Society’s bronze medal. The function took place at the Central School before members of the committee, the staff, the scholars and representatives ef other educational institutions in the town. Mr. G. R. Sykes, M.P., was also present. - \ The story of the rescue was recounted by the headmaster (Mr. R. C. Drummond) who stated that on the day in question the Waipoua river was in high flood. Ina Wallace and another young girl was playing on a suspension bridge which spanned the river. Without warning, Ina Wallace fell, in. Gilbert Orr witnessed the incident, and without hesitation plunged into the flooded river and under a great handicap succeeded in rescuing the unfortunate < girj. The Central School had produced many great men, continued Mr. Drummond, and they felt proud of Gilbert Orr’s brave conduct. The facts had been brought before the Royal Humane Society who had awarded a brozee medal. “If there is one thing which appeals to all of us it is an act of bravery, particularly any attempt to save life,” remarked the Hon. R. A. Wright in presenting the medal. It would always be found, he said, that people with British blood in their veins were ready to do brave deeds, and none of Britain’s opponents could say that she bred a cowardly race. They were glad to know that Gilbert Orr’s father had achieved high honours as a juvenile swimmer in the State of Victoria, and it was apparent that his son had inherited some of his power in the water. The Minister heartily congratulated the lad on his brave deed, and hoped that he would always cherish the medal as a memento of the occasion. Master Orr was loudly cheered and applauded by the gathering as he received the medal and the Minister’s hearty hand-shake. Mr. Alex Donald, on behalf of the Royal Humane Society, conveyed thanks to the Minister for making the presentation.