Battlefield bravery deserves more recognition

THIS year`s Australian of the Year nomination ritual is almost unique in the philosophical challenge it presents. It`s a ritual that comes in the middle of cricket, tennis and sunburn and is usually dispensed with by giving due homage to someone no one could ever disagree met at least the minimum standard of contribution and achievement. Consequently an extraordinary number of sportsmen and doctors have featured and we have mostly been pleased for them. Occasionally some of us have worried that the Australian of the Year has merely been doing their job or been paid well to entertain us with bat or ball, but Australia Day is not a time to carp in public; this would be unpatriotic.

Ideally the wearer of this crown will have contributed to the wellbeing of the nation and exemplified virtues and values we like to think of as part of the national character. Which is why this year there should be no trouble in identifying the one, the only, person who can receive this award. He is almost unknown, but that is not the point. That person is the winner of the Victoria Cross for Australia, trooper Mark Donaldson.

Donaldson`s citation says it all, summarising his deeds on September 2, 2008 in Afghanistan in these words: "During a prolonged and effective enemy ambush, on numerous occasions he deliberately drew the enemy`s fire in order to allow wounded soldiers to be moved to safety.

a coalition force interpreter was lying motionless on exposed ground. With complete disregard for his own safety, on his initiative and alone, trooper Donaldson ran back 80m across exposed ground to rescue the interpreter and carry him back to the vehicle."

He "displayed exceptional courage in circumstances of great peril" and saved the life of the interpreter.

"Trooper Donaldson then rejoined his patrol and continued to engage the enemy while remaining exposed to heavy enemy fire."

Surely a citation that continues the legend of Aussie mateship, guts and daring. Unlike Britain, Australia has awarded the Victoria Cross only rarely, making our recipients all the more honoured and exceptional. Fewer than 100 men have received it in more than a century of fighting and Donaldson is the first in 40 years, despite the wars Australians have fought in since Vietnam. What`s more, many received the Cross posthumously, so daring were their deeds. It is clear that Donaldson, in that extraordinary dash across open ground, could easily have been in their number.

While other Australians of the Year have given their talents and gifts for the benefit of the nation, this man was prepared to give his life. In a sense that is what makes every soldier exceptional; each signs up prepared to risk their life for the sake of their country, right or wrong. In this case, trooper Donaldson was called upon as few of us are, including soldiers. He was called to meet that commitment, to risk his life to save others, and in the service of Australia.

To not salute trooper Donaldson when our Governor-General and head of defence forces have both done so, to not bestow on him our most important popular honour, would be to deny the importance of the qualities the trooper stands for, along with those thousands of men and women who have gone before him into battle on our behalf.

It would mock our history and deny those much vaunted Australian qualities in which we take so much pride.

Pru Goward is Coalition spokeswoman for women and community services in NSW.