Two men who faced that moment of truth have been awarded one of Australia's highest bravery awards, the Star of Courage, for paddling out to shark victims.

Minnamurra science teacher Joel Trist went to the aid of Brett Connellan after he had been hit by a shark while the pair surfed at Bombo Beachnear Kiama on March 30, 2016 and put his profusely bleeding mate on his board and paddled him to shore.

A little over a year before, East Ballina osteopath Hugh Giles was surfing a reef break when a shark attacked Tadashi Nakahar at nearby Shelley Beach on March 9, 2015.

The Japanese-born surfer had been fatally mauled and there were a number of surfers in the water who fled to the shore, but Mr Giles paddled out and grabbed the lifeless Mr Nakahar and brought him to the safety of a nearby reef.

Another East Ballina surfer, Matt Meadows was awarded a Bravery Medal after he stayed in the water with Mr Nakahar, urging him to catch a wave with him towards the reef.

Mr Trist said he had surfed with Mr Connellan for years and had often wondered about his reaction to a shark attack.

"I can remember hearing Brett call and then seeing a board floating away from him. Something was wrong, I guess instinct kicked in and I just knew," he said.

"Didn't think really, I just paddled out to him and got him. I remember there was blood everywhere in the water. Brett took about four months to recover from the operations."

Another recipient of the Star of Courage was Karen Lowden, a police constable who remained with bomb hoax victim MadeleinePulver for three hours while bomb disposal unit members tried to disarm the device.

Other recipients of the Star of Courage were Andrew Cochran (Medowie), Hayden Griffiths (Quakers Hill), Michael O'Rourke (Hornsby Heights), Paul Pollard (Hornsby Heights) and Thomas Raymen (Elanora Heights) who were all involved in the rescue of two people from a burning vehicle at Mona Vale on October 1, 2013.

Two people died and six were treated for burns after a petrol tanker jack-knifed and collided with a number of cars before bursting into flames.

After helping an elderly woman from her car Mr Raymen pulled the tanker driver out of his burning vehicle.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove congratulated the recipients and expressed gratitude for their contribution to Australia.

"Sadly, there are those whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us. Today, to their families, I express the nation's sadness at your loss but pride in your loved one's actions," he said.

"We are fortunate as a community to have so many outstanding people willing to put themselves in harm's way to assist others in need, and it is only fitting that they have today been recognised through the Australian honours system.

"These awards have helped to define, encourage and reinforce our national aspirations and ideals by identifying role models. Today, we add a new group of people to those whose lead all Australians should follow."

The Australian Bravery Decorations date from the establishment of the Australian honours system, and recognise acts of bravery in other than warlike situations, by people who put themselves in jeopardy to protect lives or property.

There are four levels of bravery awards to recognise the actions of individuals, as well as an award (established in 1990) to recognise acts of bravery by a group of people involved in a single incident. These awards are the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the Group Bravery Citation, respectively.

Since 1975 there have been five awards of the Cross of Valour, 165 awards of the Star of Courage, 1325 awards of the Bravery Medal, 2050 Commendations for Brave Conduct and 179 awards of the Group Bravery Citation.

Recipients will attend investitures in the coming months around Australia to receive the insignia of their award.