Local man Wayne Carmady had been employed by NSW Corrective Services for just two years when he was involved in controlling a prison riot at Long Bay Gaol.
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Wayne was working with another officer in the supermax prison block, Katingal, on the night of October 23 1986. It was a routine night for the two officers before they were made aware of a problem at the Metropolitan Remand Centre at Long Bay Gaol.
Three prison officers working in Wing 13 that night were attacked by armed prisoners and taken hostage by inmates armed with makeshift weapons and, despite attempts by the officers to negotiate with the prisoners, they were locked in a nearby cell.
70 inmates then took control of a section of the centre.
"I was working with another officer in the supermax prison block when we were notified of the incident at the Remand Centre," Wayne said.
At that time Wayne was involved in the Malabar Emergency Unit assault team.
"We would respond to problems in the prison when other officers needed assistance," Wayne said.
"The officer I was working with and I called the other nine officers involved in the response."
As the Malabar Emergency Unit assault team moved in to free the prison officers they were violently attacked by inmates.
"We had to gain entry to the three-storey complex by using bolt cutters. The inmates had broken furniture and barricaded the stairwell and they poured boiling water on us as we climbed the stairs."
The inmates had weapons, it was really hand-to-hand combat.
- Wayne Carmady
Wayne and the officer in front of him were injured by the boiling water and received blisters from the incident.
"We did all have some bumps and bruises, but we didn't realise until after it was all over.
"The inmates had weapons, it was really hand-to-hand combat."
The team pushed through the chaotic fighting, freed the prison officers, removed them to safety, and then returned to regain control of the centre.
"It was the scariest thing that I've ever done," Wayne said.
Wayne left Corrective Services in 1988 and joined the police force for 17 years. Once he left the police force, Wayne returned to his home in the Macleay. He now works as a teacher's aid at Kempsey High School.
Wayne, along with the 11 other officers involved in the Malabar Emergency Unit assault team, have been honoured with a Group Bravery citation for their actions during the riot at Long Bay Gaol in 1986.
"Getting the Bravery Award really makes you relive that night. It was one of the scariest things I've done, but I'm proud of the work we did that night.
"We didn't do it for any awards, but I'm quite proud to receive recognition for what we did."
