Mr Brown was fishing off the wharf on the Far South Coast when Tathra butcher Shane O'Neill dived in after his two sons - Riley, 4, and 15-month-old Travis - who fell from the wharf into the choppy seas on November 18, 2008.

Mr Brown dived in after Mr O'Neill in fading light, grabbed Travis' pram and tried to free him from the restraints as waves crashed over them.

Nearby, Mr O'Neill was struggling to keep his older son's head above water.

Mr Brown was rescued, but Mr O'Neill and his sons could not be resuscitated.

Four lifesavers involved in the rescue efforts are also being recognised with a group bravery citation.

Tathra Surf Life Saving Club president Scott Meaker and vice-president Tony Rettke were at a nearby surf club meeting.

"We were about 700m drive from there and we were in the water within three minutes of hearing what was happening," Mr Rettke said.

The pair dived in to help Mr Brown, while Mr Rettke's wife, Judy, picked up the couple's sons, Cameron and Shayne, to also help.

Shayne, now 20, and the two older men dived back in when police spotted Mr O'Neill and the children under the wharf.

Cameron Rettke, now 22, and another volunteer deployed a rescue boat to pick up Mr O'Neill and attempted to revive him on the shore.

"The water was thick with bluebottles and that made it even more difficult and uncomfortable," Tony Rettke said.

He said he was proud of both his sons.

Cameron had been home for only two weeks after spending time in a Belgian hospital in an induced coma with a head injury sustained on a European holiday.

The event still has an impact on the lifesavers.

"It doesn't give me sleepless nights but I think about it most days," Mr Rettke said.