Tim Bushell-Hazell awarded Australian Bravery Medal for rescuing sister from burning house The Sheidow Park house fully blaze. Picture: Pic Tim Zamagias Source: Supplied The family at the scene of the destroyed house. Picture: Jellicoe Naomi Source: News Limited Off-duty fireman Tony Mills, who helped pull Tim and his sister Tabitha from the house. Tim Bushell-Hazell and his sister Tabitha. Picture: Mark Brake Source: News Limited AN act of instinctive bravery as his home burned down around him has earned teen Timothy Bushell-Hazell our state's sole Australian Bravery Medal. But the modest teenager says he never wants to go through anything like that again, no matter what award it brings. In August last year, Tim, then 17, woken by his barking Staffordshire bulldog, Brandy, and managed to run from his burning bedroom as flames engulfed the ceiling, which fell on his bed seconds later. He then almost single-handedly saved his younger sister, Tabitha, 14, who was asleep in another bedroom of their Sheidow Park home. They were home alone and Tim watched fire consumed the front door as he rushed to Tabitha's bedroom then another room and to a window, which was partly obscured by a bedhead. With amazing calm and clear thinking, Tim smashed the glass with his bare fist as an Metropolitan Fire Service fireman, Tony, on his way home after work, thumped on the window pane from outside . The glass smashed allowing Tim and Tabitha to escape uninjured, apart from minor cuts to Tim's feet as he jumped to safety. Brandy followed a short time later, completing a story of celebration which could have so easily been a tragedy. The Australian Bravery Decorations Council recognised Tim's actions among 62 awards to be bestowed by Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce. The accolade has come as a huge surprise to Tim. Gees, this is really big. I never thought I'd be getting a medal," he said, after being told of the honour. It was just instinctive; I didn't have much time to think. I just wanted to grab my sister and get the hell out of there. I think she was quite scared but she just listened to what I said and we just ran away from the fire. Tim said he couldn't believe what had happened after escaping the inferno, which gutted the house. "I was pretty much in shock and I went to a neighbours house because I didn't want to watch (his house burn)," he said. I was a bit shaky and I don't (want to go through that again), hell, no. It was horrible. Tim's proud mum, Tracy, said the ordeal "must have been terrifying" and she admired her son's calm under extreme pressure. She was also greatly indebted to Tony, she said. This is very big for Tim. He's over the moon but he's very shy," she said. Really, he's lucky to be alive because when he woke up he saw the fire was already on the ceiling so he jumped out of bed and then the ceiling collapsed on it. For him to keep such a clear head and do what he did ... I don't know what I'd do in the same situation. Tim is currently unemployed but looking for an apprenticeship as a mechanic. If courage is needed, he looks to be the perfect candidate.