Star of Courage

• Awarded on: December 5, 1977
• Invested on: June 23, 1978

Michael Cox, then aged thirteen, rescued a seven-year-old boy who fell though the ice at the Red Hill Creek, Hamilton, on 5 February 1976. Michael was alerted by the cries of other youths and searched for an object to extend to the boy. When none was found he dived into the water. At first he seized what he believed to be the boy, but it turned out to be a branch. Searching further, he managed to grasp the victim by the coat and pulled him to the edge of the ice where the others helped them both out of the water.