Mentone Grammar student Lachlan McLaren posthumously awarded Gold Medal for Bravery after saving his girlfriend

A 16-year-old boy who died pushing his girlfriend out of the path of a speeding ute in a final act of heroism has been honoured with a bravery award only given to a few dozen Australians.

Lachlan McLaren was walking his girlfriend Ella Mahony home in Mentone, in Melbourne’s south, after she finished her shift at Woolworths in 2021.

A hired ute, driven by 32-year-old Christopher Hennessy, was speeding along the wrong side of the Nepean Highway when it veered onto the footpath.

McLaren moved Mahony out of the way of the vehicle and took the full impact. He died on his 16th birthday.

Hennessy, who was high on ice and unlicensed, had driven 800m in the wrong direction on the highway and was eventually sentenced to 16 years behind bars on a charge of culpable driving causing death.

Now, five years after his death, McLaren has been awarded Australia’s highest honour for bravery — the Gold Medal for Bravery.

His school, Melbourne’s Mentone Grammar, paid tribute to him and his award in a post on Wednesday.

“Mentone Grammar is incredibly proud to recognise Lachlan McLaren (Class of 2023), who was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal for Bravery at Government House on Wednesday 19 August 2026,” the school said.

“Lachlan received this extraordinary honour for his remarkable courage and selflessness in protecting another person from harm, an act that ultimately cost him his life.

“The Gold Medal for Bravery is the highest recognition for an act of bravery in Australia. Since the awards were established in 1874, only 35 people have received the Gold Medal for Bravery.

“Lachlan’s courage and character continue to leave a lasting impact. His legacy lives on through the Lachlan McLaren Foundation, established in his honour to ensure his story continues to inspire others to make a meaningful difference in the community.”

Mentone Grammar said it continued to uplift their former student’s legacy.

“As a member of the Class of 2023, Lachlan will always hold a special place within the Mentone Grammar community. A dedicated and accomplished Scholar, he received 10 Academic Merit and Excellence Awards during his time at the School,” the school said.

“His courage, selflessness and instinct to put another person before himself reflect an extraordinary strength of character, and his legacy continues to inspire those who knew him and many who are now learning his story.