Tom Harper (pictured) and Jae Waters will be recognised with bravery medals for their 2016 rescue of friend Cooper Allen who had been attacked by a shark.

Teen surfer Tom Harper doesn't think too much about the day he saved a mate from a four-metre great white shark, in New South Wales, Australia.

But his fearlessness hasn't been forgotten.

Harper and mate Jae Waters will be recognised with bravery medals on Monday for the rescue of friend Cooper Allen at Lighthouse Beach in September 2016.

The boys, then aged 16, immediately paddled towards their friend after he caught a wave and then found his leg in the mouth of the shark.

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With the shark tangled in Cooper's leg rope, the teens had just enough time to pull him onto their surfboards and start heading for the shore.

But the shark gave chase and circled the trio as Tom repeatedly said: "just keep paddling".

"It didn't really seem real but I guess afterwards it kind of sunk in what was happening," Tom told AAP.

The trio made it to shore before Cooper, whose leg was covered in blood, was taken to hospital and later recovered.

Tom says it's Year 12, rather than the shark attack, that keeps him from surfing almost daily these days.

"Getting back in the water, I don't really think about it too much," he said.

"It was a traumatic event but Cooper was just lucky that it didn't get him really good.

"It could have been a lot worse. It was probably one of the best outcomes he could have."

Tom's dad Matt said he's never been prouder of the boys.

"They handled it very well," he said.

Cooper's rescuers are among 62 Australians honoured in the national bravery awards announced by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Monday.

Grant McOmish and Brian Mitchell from northern NSW have also been recognised for their bravery after they saved a friend from a shark at the same beach.

The duo spotted a large tail fin next to their friend who was surfing a wave in July 2015.

The shark attacked, prompting McOmish and Mitchell to immediately begin paddling towards their injured friend, who was lying on his board with blood trailing behind him.

They took hold of him and paddled towards the beach where McOmish told a beachgoer to call an ambulance while Mitchell compressed the leg wounds.

By their actions, the duo displayed considerable bravery, their accolade says.

The Australian Bravery Decorations recognise members of the public who selflessly jeopardise their own safety to help others.