Meeting a Hero
Have you ever met somebody that you look up to, like way, way up to?
The thing about heroes is that we can look up to anybody, for whatever reason. We make people our heroes because we respect and admire the virtues that are extolled by their actions. We aspire to be like them in that particular way, and look to them as a considerable yardstick when acting; ‘what would such and such do?’
Now, as I say, a hero can be anybody. They can be your Mum, Dad, your Uncle, a professional athlete, a movie star, a politician, any public figure, or just somebody that you know well and have uber-respect for. Which is a good thing, because this means that you can have heroes in your everyday life potentially, which is something I myself have come to enjoy.
However, today, I am talking particularly about that hero you might have that is famous for some reason, and one that you wouldn’t have a large chance of meeting.
For me, in this instance, I’m talking about Mark Donaldson VC. For the uninitiated, Mark Donaldson VC is a serving SAS operator in the Australian Army, who was awarded the highest commendation for bravery in the Commonwealth, the Victoria Cross.
Trooper Donaldson won this award for actions in Afghanistan, when he carried a wounded Afghan interpreter back to safety, under heavy gunfire, when the convey they were travelling was contacted by the Taliban Insurgency. He literally risked life and limb so that another person could be saved.
But, on top of this, Trooper Donaldson is a man worth admiring. He excelled as a soldier in his basic training, and only spent a short period in the regular Australian Army before attempting, and being successful at, the Australian Special Air Service Regiment’s gruelling Cadre Selection course.
He is a man of single-minded determination, with an unflappable will to succeed at whatever task, and the physical and mental capacity to cope with the extreme demands placed upon Special Forces soldiers.
Now, all of these qualities, plus the fact that this man still has the personal time and dedication to have a family as well as such an amazing career, as all aspects of huge admiration for me. Perhaps many members of the SASR hold these characteristics, and I am sure they do, but because of the nature of their work, they must live in the shadows, which makes ‘Donno,’ a beacon of admiration for people. The embodiment of the spirit and virtue of one of the world’s best fighting forces.
So you can imagine that if you could have the opportunity to meet somebody that you hold in such high regard, you would take it wouldn’t you? Well, for me, that opportunity presented itself in a pub.
On Remembrance day this year, I was out drinking in Canberra with a friend of mine, after enjoying a nice pizza at the same establishment. Apart from it being Remembrance day, which in this country does come second fiddle to ANZAC day in terms of commemoration of veterans, it wasn’t a particularly interesting night out. A few beers, a weekend to look forward to, fairly standard.
However, while my friend was in the toilet, and me standing near the bar people watching, I saw a face that I thought was familiar. This was Mark Donaldson.
He shuffled into the pub with people I assume were friends, all of them dressed to the nines in tuxedos. He was somewhat more low key, wearing only a collared shirt and slacks. Still dapper however.
I am not the most outgoing person it must be said. In fact, I probably would never say hello to somebody famous out in public, for numerous reasons. However, perhaps unfortunately for Mark Donaldson, I made the exception, and after my friend had returned from the loo, as he came past my position again, my friend and I introduced ourselves.
To say that it was a pleasure is a gross understatement. The man was simply lovely. He was gracious, friendly, chatty and modest, which I suppose are all things that a man who has had the admiration of thousands thrust upon him would exude.
But the best thing about meeting the man was that, one on one, as a person he turned out to be better than the man that I thought he was. He was just such a gentleman. He genuinely seemed happy to talk to me and my friend, perhaps because we’re also mil members, but it did not seem at all like he minded us.
Of course, I did my best not to wear out my welcome, and my friend and I left him to his beers and company. But the impression that it left on me was amazing. I had just met a man whom any man would do well to look up to. All the first impression ticks in the box of a polished man, with the credentials of a VC to back it up. He is not a hero like an actor or a musician however. This is a man who’s bread and butter is defending his nation, something at which he is supremely adept.
This is not an individual famous and admired for his creations, but rather because he showed such enormous character in laying down his life to help out another human, in the service of his nation. The fact that he didn’t fob my friend and I off as a football player or other ‘hero’ might, goes further to confirming what a wonderful man this dude is.
In meeting this character, it reconfirmed to me my own immense pride in my current career path, and, despite what it has cost me, it has reminded me that there are indeed great rewards, such as the opportunity to serve alongside such great men as Mark Donaldson VC. It reconfirms your own virtues, goals, and aspirations, and if you have the means, I highly recommend it.
