The Service Honours are always a bit of a joke. We have combat forces deployed in some nasty parts of the world doing amazing things and yet the majority of the awards are for services to box-packing and the like.
Obviously you didn't look hard enough in places like
here and find the Medal for Gallantry that was awarded to an Australian Army Chinook pilot. The third highest Australian honour for gallantry, with only about 30 awarded since its introduction. Not to be sneezed at, Capt Kremin!
The Baffler 
P.S. - I get what you're saying with the whole ATCO thing though. Are you sure that wasn't just one of the RAAF lame-arse "good show" awards? They're commonly awarded for the doing of ones job!