RACHEL Maddox doesn’t remember much about Mother’s Day last year, the day a high-powered fibreglass boat smashed into the tinnie carrying her young family on the Finniss River.

Witnesses have told her what she did next – the slightly built woman flung herself over her two kids, four-year-old Elando and baby Catherine, then aged just two months.

Because of her selflessness and bravery, her kids emerged virtually unscathed from the horrific smash, while she spent months recovering in Royal Darwin Hospital.

The young mum has been awarded a Pride of Australia medal for her heroic act.

“I just did my job, I just did what I was meant to do,” she said.

Incredibly humble, Ms Maddox said she didn’t see herself as having done anything particularly courageous, and would have done it all again.

“I’m surprised, I’m quite proud of myself,” she said.

“But I don’t see myself as doing anything special.”

The Pride of Australia awards honour ordinary Australians for extraordinary acts of bravery, service and charity.