MELBOURNE, Australia — The nation is mourning the loss of Michael Pratt GC, a distinguished former Victoria Police Constable and the last Australian recipient of the George Cross, whose courage and selfless heroism will forever be etched into the country’s history.
Michael Pratt passed away leaving behind a legacy defined by bravery, humility, and devotion to duty. His extraordinary act of courage — confronting armed robbers while off duty and unarmed — earned him the George Cross, the highest civilian award for gallantry, and a place among Australia’s most honored heroes.
The George Cross, awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger, was presented to Pratt in 1978, following his remarkable bravery during a bank robbery in June 1976. The official citation, published in the London Gazette on 3 July 1978, commended Constable Pratt for displaying “outstanding bravery, devotion to duty, and a complete disregard for his own safety when, unarmed and single-handedly, he faced and attempted to arrest dangerous armed criminals.”
Pratt’s actions that day embodied the very highest ideals of policing — courage, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to protect others, even at great personal risk.
At a time when the George Cross was still awarded under the Imperial Honours System, Michael Pratt’s recognition stands as a unique and defining moment in Australian history. When the Australian Honours System was introduced in 1975, the George Cross was replaced by the Cross of Valour (CV) — and Pratt would remain the last Australian ever to receive the George Cross distinction.
Friends and colleagues remember Michael as a quiet, humble man who carried his heroism with dignity. “He never saw himself as a hero,” said one fellow officer. “He simply did what he believed was right — that’s who he was.”
His legacy continues to inspire generations of police officers and everyday Australians, reminding all of the courage that exists within ordinary people faced with extraordinary circumstances.
A photograph taken with Allan Sparkes CV OAM and Tim Britten CV — two fellow recipients of Australia’s highest bravery honors — captures the camaraderie and respect shared among these men of exceptional valor.
As the nation reflects on his life and service, tributes have poured in from across the country, honoring both his gallant act and the quiet integrity with which he lived.
Vale Michael Pratt GC.
Australia salutes a true hero — a man whose courage, humility, and sense of duty will never be forgotten.