But it's an honour Luke Chilcott never wanted to receive.

Mr Chilcott was awarded the Bravery Medal for his 'considerable' courage during a confrontation with an armed man, Greg Floyd, in Wangaratta in 2017.

"Humbled is a good word for it," he said.

"I feel humbled because.. the Governor-General is right up there, but on the flip side I'd prefer not to be in the position to receive any awards."

Mr Chilcott, who received another award from the Royal Humane Society of Australia last November, said he accepted the awards not for himself, but to raise awareness of mental health.

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"I only really accepted it because it's been offered to me and I hope I might be able to use it to raise awareness of suicide, mental health, and seeking support," he said.

"It's far braver to ask for help than not to."

Mr Hurley said none of those recognised with a Group Bravery Citation, a Commendation for Brave Conduct, Bravery Medal or Star of Courage, set out to be brave or win an award.

Instead, he said, they were confronted with a situation and acted.

"These awards recognise the courageous actions of individuals who, in a moment of danger or peril, chose to act. They were brave, they did not hesitate and their actions made a difference," the Governor-General said.

A Temora policeman who attempted to rescue a man from a well in 1921 was posthumously honoured with a Commendation for Brave Conduct. Police Constable Henry Grant and another officer were called to a Temora property after a man became trapped in a 15-metre deep well shaft.

The other officer was lowered into the well to rescue the trapped man, but in the attempt both slipped, falling further into the well and sustaining a number of injuries.

Constable Grant entered the contaminated well and brought the man to safety, while the officer was able to make his own way out.

The man didn't survive his injuries.

Mr Hurley said the awards recognise the courage actions of individuals.

"Today's recipients come from all sorts of different backgrounds, are of different ages and were confronted with very different situations..." he said.

"They put their own well-being at risk to help others. They were not only brave, they were selfless."

Two bravery lists are announced by the Governor-General each year with recipients recommended by the Australian Bravery Decorations Council.