In brief
On Oct. 30, 2026, the University of Wollongong hosted a memorial for Jiang Antong, a Chinese student who died trying to save Justin Peng at Fairy Meadow Beach. The ceremony, attended by family, classmates, and officials from China and Australia, highlighted Jiang’s bravery and kindness, and he was posthumously awarded the Commendation for Brave Conduct. A scholarship and memorial football matches keep his legacy alive.
Three years after Jiang Antong, a Chinese student, drowned while rescuing a classmate at Fairy Meadow Beach, the University of Wollongong held a memorial ceremony on Oct. 30, 2026, the anniversary of the day he lost his life.
Jiang, who had begun a master’s program at the university in July 2023, was swept away by a rip current on Oct. 29, 2023, after attempting to help Justin Peng, who was in danger in the sea off Wollongong.
Justin Peng told Xinhua on Thursday:
I feel like I've been given a second chance at life.
At the ceremony, Jiang's parents, former classmates and people from China and Australia gathered beneath a tree planted in his memory, laid flowers before a memorial stone, and shared stories of his kindness.
According to his father Jiang Yu, Jiang had always been generous, calling an ambulance for an injured classmate during a cycling trip, staying overnight in the emergency department, donating blood, and volunteering in community projects—qualities his family discovered only after his death.
On Sept. 1, 2026, Australia’s Governor‑General announced the national bravery awards, including the posthumous Commendation for Brave Conduct awarded to Jiang Antong.
The university later established a scholarship in Jiang’s name and organizes memorial football matches that honor his memory and encourage students to share his story.
Helen Partridge, the university’s deputy vice‑chancellor for education, said Jiang remained part of the community, and his former classmate Yan Lingzhi added:
We remember Antong not only for the courage he showed in a moment of danger, but also for his kindness, sincerity and love of life.
These tributes underscore the lasting bond between China and Australia and the enduring impact of Jiang’s sacrifice on the lives of those who knew him.
