Hartsuyker pays tribute to Trooper Mark Donaldson in Federal Parliament

5 February 2009

Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker this week paid tribute to former Dorrigo resident, Trooper Mark Donaldson, who was recently awarded a Victoria Cross.

 

Trooper Donaldson was awarded the VC after placing his own life at risk to save the life of an interpreter in Afghanistan.

 

Trooper Donaldson’s acts of exceptional gallantry in the face of accurate and sustained enemy fire ultimately saved the life of the coalition force interpreter and ensured the safety of the other members of a combined Afghan, US and Australian force.

“From Gallipoli and the jungles of Kokoda and Vietnam to modern-day Iraq and Afghanistan, our service personnel have done us proud,” Mr Hartsuyker told the Parliament.

“They have defined this country in the eyes of the world. But why have the military defined this country in the eyes of the world? I think the words of Winston Churchill give an insight into why. He said:

“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because … “it is the quality that guarantees all others.”

“I think that is a very important point that Churchill made, that courage is the quality that guarantees all others.  Only recently, in the awarding of the Victoria Cross for Australia to Trooper Mark Donaldson, we have seen courage on display, courage writ large.

“Trooper Donaldson’s actions on this day displayed exceptional courage in circumstances of great peril. His actions are of the highest accord and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the Special Operations Command, the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.

“I make this contribution today not only because of the merit of these very courageous actions by Trooper Donaldson but also to recognise in this House that Trooper Donaldson grew up in Dorrigo, within my electorate.

“He is certainly a very well-known member of the Dorrigo community. Regrettably, the dangers of military service were brought home to our region quite recently by the tragic death of Sergeant Matthew Locke, a young man who came from Bellingen—also within my electorate.

“I think it is totally appropriate that, within this House today, we recognise the great deeds of Trooper Donaldson.

“We should also recognise the efforts of all Australian Defence Force men and women who serve wherever they are asked and do the duties which they are asked. They do Australia proud. They are always there. They always do their share of the heavy lifting. They are a tribute to this country,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

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