Ronald and Deslie Green heard loud shouting outside their Katherine East house in Acacia Drive just after midnight in March 2016 and went to see if they could help.

Despite being pregnant with her fourth child, Mrs Green was quick to follow her husband to the altercation involving a man and a woman. 

"She was calling out trying to tell him to go away. There was lots of shouting and the guy was certainly aggressive," Mrs Green said. 

"At the time it felt pretty intense. 

"I remember looking at my phone afterward to see how long I had spent talking to police. It had only been a few minutes but it felt like hours, especially when he had a knife." 

Leaving the children asleep inside the safety of the house, Mrs Green, 37, and her husband, 40, tried to diffuse the fight happening on the street. 

The man had a 30cm kitchen knife. 

"I was on the phone inside our yard talking to police," Mrs Green said. 

"I remember yelling out 'look out he has a knife', I remember just screaming it as loud as I could so Ron could hear me. 

"Ron managed to get the man on the ground and stayed on top of him. 

"He said he wouldn't get off until he had the knife, and he finally managed to disarm him."

Mrs Green said she saw the man stab the lady several times during the conflict. 

"Either the knife was blunt or it was a miracle because when we got her inside she only had small grazes.

"We were sure we would have to do serious patching up.  

"A neighbour saw the knife go into Ron as well, he was so lucky he didn't have cuts either. 

"There was so much happening, I just felt such a relief when we got her inside and the police finally came."

Mrs Green said she was proud of her partner, a school teacher who spends his spare time volunteering for St John Ambulance and NT SES while also working in the fire service as an auxiliary, for his brave effort in saving someone in need. 

Mr Green positioned himself between the woman and the offender brandishing a knife, despite being lunged at repeatedly. 

He managed to immobilise the man and wrestle the knife away from him. 

Mrs Green said she was surprised to be part of the 101 Australians to receive a Decoration today. 

While most people are quick to mind their own business and turn a blind eye to conflicts, this couple makes a point of helping those in need. 

"I have crazy times myself even though I have the most perfect life. I have a good marriage, steady income and a comfortable home and yet I have been in dark places, coping with everyday stresses," Mrs Green said. 

"We all get to those places where we are not coping and we don't need to be condemned, we just need to be helped. 

"I have been out to many fights on the street, it is pretty common where we live. We let them know we are here to help and we make sure they are okay.

"This kind of recognition and affirmation means a lot." 

Today, the Governor-General, Peter Cosgrove, awarded Australian Bravery Decorations to 101 outstanding Australians thanking them for their courage, support and inspiration. 

"We are a stronger, safer and more caring nation because of them," the Governor-General said.

"Sadly, there are some among today's list whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us. To their families, I express the nation's sadness at your loss but pride in your loved one's actions. 

"The Australian Honours System provides a wonderful mechanism through which we as a nation can recognise and celebrate ordinary people who do extraordinary things. These awards honour those who, without pause, put themselves at personal risk to protect others.

"They are outstanding and deserve our nation's gratitude.

"Today's recipients join the company of more than 50,000 recipients of Australian honours whose actions have enriched the community and whose values we hold dear - professionalism, compassion, dedication, generosity, tolerance, and energetic ambition.

"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."

Mrs Green was awarded a Commendation for Brave Conduct and Mr Green was awarded a Bravery Medal. 

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