A person holding a military medal with a red ribbon, gold cross-shaped medal, and a gold bar inscribed with 'FOR VALOUR' and topped with a small crown.

The Cross of Valour

The Cross of Valour is Australia’s highest bravery award and Australia’s highest civil Award. It is awarded for ‘Acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril’.

Allan is one of five recipients who have been awarded the bravery medal since its inception in 1975.

Five men in suits wearing military medals posing outside a modern building.
Police officers and civilians around a man kneeling on the street, appearing to rescue or assist him as he is partially nude and emerging from a manhole.

Allan’s Story

Allan was awarded the Cross of Valour in September 1998 by the then Governor General, Sir William Dean AC, KBE, KC, for his role in the rescue of a small boy, Jai, who was swept 600 meters down a flooded stormwater pipe in Coffs Harbour in 1996.

His colleagues, crucial to saving the life of the little boy, received commendations as well. Detective Senior Constable Gavin Dengate SC, APM, VA, was honoured with Australia’s second-highest bravery award, The Star of Courage (SC), while paramedic Michael Marr BM received Australia’s third-highest bravery award, The Bravery Medal (BM).

Allan and Gavin’s bravery during this rescue was also acknowledged through the presentation of the highest award for bravery within the New South Wales Police force—the Police Commissioner’s Valour Award (VA).

Letter from the Governor-General of Australia awarding Allan John Sparkes the Cross of Valour for bravery, dated June 29, 1998.

Further Recognition

In August 2016, Allan received Australia’s fourth highest bravery decoration, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, for saving the life of an Aboriginal man who had fallen onto train tracks at Redfern Railway Station. Additionally, in January 2017, Allan was further acknowledged in the Australia Day Honours List, where he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his outstanding service to mental health support organisations and the community. 

His accolades extend beyond bravery. In December 2012, Allan was among the select few Australians to be presented with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and in 2022, he earned the distinction of being one of only 10 Australians to receive the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. September 2022 marked another significant event in Allan’s distinguished journey, as he travelled to London to represent the Cross of Valour recipients of Australia. Invited by St James Palace, he participated in the Chivalry and Gallantry Procession during the funeral ceremony of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Additionally, Allan is set to be among the exclusive group of 10 Australians to be awarded the King’s Coronation Medal.

A man in a suit with medals on his lapel smiling and talking to a boy wearing glasses, a baseball cap, and a hoodie, outside with greenery in the background.
A man in a suit standing on a train platform with trains and tracks in the background.
An elderly man in a black suit with a white shirt and red striped tie, wearing glasses. He has several military medals and decorations pinned to his suit.

Top left: Allan and Jai in 1998
Bottom Left: Allan at Erskineville Station in 2017
Above: Allan with his bloody sick collection of medals