Don Ritchie

Donald Taylor (Don) Ritchie OAM is an Australian who has rescued at least 160 people from suicide over a 45 year period. Ritchie resides next to The Gap, a cliff in Sydney, Australia known for suicide attempts. In 2006, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his rescues,^[1] the official citation being for "service to the community through programs to prevent suicide."^[2] Ritchie and his wife were also named "Citizens of the Year" for 2010 by Woollahra Council, the local government authority responsible for The Gap.^[3] He received Local Hero Award for Australia in 2011, the National Australia Day Council saying: "His kind words and invitations into his home in times of trouble have made an enormous difference... With such simple actions, Don has saved an extraordinary number of lives."^[4]

Ritchie explains his intervention in suicide attempts saying "you can't just sit there and watch them".^[5]

Ritchie is a former life insurance salesman.^[5]

References

1. ^ Benson, Kate (1 August 2009). "An angel walking among us at The Gap". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/national/an-angel-walking-among-us-at-the-gap-20090731-e4f2.html. Retrieved 17 June 2010. 
2. ^ "Australian Honours". Government of Australia. http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1131874&search_type=quick&showInd=true. Retrieved 17 June 2010. 
3. ^ "Suicide watchman saves scores at death spot". The Independent (Independent Print Limited). 13 June 2010. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/suicide-watchman-saves-scores-at-death-spot-1999360.html. Retrieved 17 June 2010. 
4. ^ "Confront suicidal people, Local Hero says". Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2011. http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/confront-suicidal-people-local-hero-says-20110125-1a42u.html. Retrieved 25 January 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Gelinau, Kristen (13 June 2010). "Australian 'angel' saves lives at suicide spot". msnbc. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37670329/. Retrieved 17 June 2010. ^{[dead link]}

Persondata
Name	Ritchie, Don
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death