WEBVTT - Bonus: First Hand Experience From A Very Brave Guest

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<v Speaker 1>Guys, very very special weekend ahead and I strongly urge

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<v Speaker 1>people to get out attended dawn service swing past an

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<v Speaker 1>RSL have a chat with men and women who have

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<v Speaker 1>served for this country. We are joined by Captain Jeremy

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<v Speaker 1>Smith this morning.

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<v Speaker 2>Good morning, sah No, thank you very much for having me.

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<v Speaker 2>It's a pleasure to be here.

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<v Speaker 3>Thanks so much for coming in. First of all, it

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<v Speaker 3>is and Zac Day on Saturday. What does an Zac

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<v Speaker 3>Day mean to you so much?

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<v Speaker 2>I think as a veteran, it's a day just to

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<v Speaker 2>take pause and reflect on those times that we spent

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<v Speaker 2>together in the militip but also those people have sacrificed

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<v Speaker 2>all and everyone's sacrificed something for their volunteering for their country,

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<v Speaker 2>both people that I've known and in people perform my

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<v Speaker 2>time as well.

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<v Speaker 4>So when you reflect, do you obviously reflect with pride

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<v Speaker 4>and by the way, thank you for your service, and

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<v Speaker 4>we'll get to that shortly, But do you also reflect

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<v Speaker 4>with with a heavy heart and remember clearly mates that

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<v Speaker 4>have fallen.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, definitely, And it's not just and my story is

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<v Speaker 2>more so. And I did three deployments over my time

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<v Speaker 2>in the military. But it's those that are not with

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<v Speaker 2>US post the military times. Obviously they had two friends

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<v Speaker 2>have taken their own life, which I've had to do

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<v Speaker 2>eulogies for which wouldn't wish on anyone. And through those

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<v Speaker 2>experiences you see how many others have really been suffering

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<v Speaker 2>in their post service time as well as those were

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<v Speaker 2>actually physically injured during times of war. So they're the

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<v Speaker 2>things that you often draw strong thoughts about, strong memories from.

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<v Speaker 2>But it's just bringing that madship back, Like there will

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<v Speaker 2>be guys you wouldn't have seen for twenty years that

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<v Speaker 2>we serve with and it's like you haven't skipped debate

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<v Speaker 2>and it's amazing just that unity through those hardships, a

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<v Speaker 2>strong relationship.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, you were just twenty four when you were deployed

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<v Speaker 3>to a rock. That is like, you're such a young man.

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<v Speaker 3>Do you look at your life now and go, gosh,

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<v Speaker 3>I was just a boy?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's crazy. So if you think about it, at

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<v Speaker 2>the age of twenty four is in charge of about

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<v Speaker 2>forty soldiers and the movement of every Australian throughout back.

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<v Speaker 5>That wow, twenty four four year olds.

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<v Speaker 2>And we were incredibly well trained, incredibly incredibly well drilled.

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<v Speaker 2>But at twenty four. You just don't know. You haven't lived.

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<v Speaker 2>Some of the stuff we did was stupid because you

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<v Speaker 2>think you're just invincible. And I look back on it now,

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<v Speaker 2>I said, you know, we'd drive past what we think

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<v Speaker 2>is the roadside bomb and duck, which is dumb, like

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<v Speaker 2>you shouldn't do that, But you know, we had a

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<v Speaker 2>such a strong bondo and did some amazing stuff. I

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<v Speaker 2>look upon that and I guess the opportunity I've taken

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<v Speaker 2>from my time in the military from that point, and

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<v Speaker 2>I did so. I served in two than four was

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<v Speaker 2>with part of what was called Security Attachment now made

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<v Speaker 2>mission was providing security and support for this train embassy

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<v Speaker 2>and at that time it was outside the Green Zone,

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<v Speaker 2>so we were moving the stuff and we didn't know

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<v Speaker 2>what the meetings were about. We just had to get

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<v Speaker 2>them from ade to be and we were taking people,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, from the airport down the most dangerous road

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<v Speaker 2>in the world at the time, route Irish, into the

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<v Speaker 2>Green zone, which was nuts. But we had everyone would

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<v Speaker 2>wait for our vehicles to come and follow us in

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<v Speaker 2>because our guys were so well drilled and what was

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<v Speaker 2>so incredible. But you know, you saw a rockets like

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<v Speaker 2>with fifteen twenty rocket attacks a day. They'd use our

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<v Speaker 2>building as an aiming point to get into the green zone,

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<v Speaker 2>and all the coalition forces were When you first get there,

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<v Speaker 2>you're diving for cover when you first hear it. Then

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<v Speaker 2>after a while you realize which bombs were close to

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<v Speaker 2>which ones weren't. Yeah, I look back now at what

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<v Speaker 2>my kids are young, but you know, to get that

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<v Speaker 2>experience at such a younger ages has such a formative,

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<v Speaker 2>formative part of your life.

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<v Speaker 3>And always with you, I imagine.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, one hundred percent. So I did that and I

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<v Speaker 2>was That was about five months on that trip. Then

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<v Speaker 2>I was back and straight for three then I went

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<v Speaker 2>again for nine nine more months.

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<v Speaker 5>And then going back over.

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<v Speaker 2>At the time and I look back on it now

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<v Speaker 2>quite a bit. Actually, I didn't want to miss out

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<v Speaker 2>because it was the first battle group deployment since Vietnam.

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<v Speaker 2>Where to Second caval Regement, which I served with. We're

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<v Speaker 2>deploying as part of the Amathono Task Group. Then we

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<v Speaker 2>had a very different mission to what I did the

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<v Speaker 2>first trip. It was providing security and to southern Iraq,

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<v Speaker 2>so it was the threat level was very different. It

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<v Speaker 2>was still dangerous, but very different. But everyone else was going.

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<v Speaker 2>I felt like I was missing out almost but because

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<v Speaker 2>of my experience, I managed to get on. So I

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<v Speaker 2>didn't want to be part and I ended up being

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<v Speaker 2>part of the advanced party. But I still remember driving

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<v Speaker 2>across and we were driving from Q eight into Iraq,

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<v Speaker 2>and I'm driving back through the desert, like, what the

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<v Speaker 2>bloody hell am I doing here? Again?

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<v Speaker 5>Like this is ridiculous. That's why I asked, because I

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<v Speaker 5>sit there and go.

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<v Speaker 1>A lot of people would come back after their first

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<v Speaker 1>apployment and they could go either way.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 4>Well, I think Lauren was just touching on that. Does

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<v Speaker 4>it ever leave you? And for you, you know, some

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<v Speaker 4>of your worst experiences when you got home. Yeah, and

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<v Speaker 4>your mates just tell us. I mean, it's so to

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<v Speaker 4>it can be so to do. It shouldn't be taboo.

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<v Speaker 4>But no suicide in the armed forces. You know, you've

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<v Speaker 4>lost two of your great.

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<v Speaker 2>Mates and it's and I think that's why. And like

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<v Speaker 2>you said, it is taboo, but it's unfortunately so common,

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<v Speaker 2>and not just in the military, but I think in

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<v Speaker 2>general life, but military instance a lot higher. But it's

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<v Speaker 2>something that should be spoken about and Australian men in general,

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<v Speaker 2>but particularly veterans are not great at asking for help,

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<v Speaker 2>and that's sort of the message we're really trying to

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<v Speaker 2>push out. There's so many great services out there. So

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<v Speaker 2>I did a lot of work with Bravery Trust as

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<v Speaker 2>an example, which is how I got the opportunity for

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<v Speaker 2>the nsach of Game and they provide and that's one

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<v Speaker 2>of many organizations that's there to help. But the message

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<v Speaker 2>I'd say to everyone, just pick up the phone. Nothing's

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<v Speaker 2>that bad in LifeLock. Through some of those experiences in

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<v Speaker 2>the military, you actually see people that have got absolute disadvantage.

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<v Speaker 2>They've had horrible upbringings that don't we don't sort of

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<v Speaker 2>take for granted the privileged life we've got in Australia

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<v Speaker 2>and they go through some difficulties but nothing stopping you're

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<v Speaker 2>picking up a phone and calling you mate if you

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<v Speaker 2>are having times that are down. And that's where I

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<v Speaker 2>really struggled. I guess most it's the what ifs. So

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<v Speaker 2>my first friend that took his own life, the immediate

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<v Speaker 2>thing was what could I have done?

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<v Speaker 3>And it's not my fault, but that's so often the case,

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<v Speaker 3>right It's the people that are left behind that feel

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<v Speaker 3>like they're the ones who are who could have made

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<v Speaker 3>a difference. Yeah, it's also it's not always the case,

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<v Speaker 3>but there is so much that I think people aware

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<v Speaker 3>of their own responsible to their mates.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, exactly, and that mayship never stops. So I still

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<v Speaker 2>have soldiers will reach out now and this is twenty

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<v Speaker 2>five years since I've been and they still call me boss,

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<v Speaker 2>which is a don't I'm not your boss, and Jess

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<v Speaker 2>like no.

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<v Speaker 3>But I imagine it is like a unique club that you're

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<v Speaker 3>in and other people like for you to tell us

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<v Speaker 3>these amazing stories. We can sort of imagine them, but

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<v Speaker 3>we don't understand them, like return servicemen and women. So

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<v Speaker 3>you are in this unique club where when you lean

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<v Speaker 3>on those people, they're the ones who really get.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and they're the ones that will look. There are

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<v Speaker 2>mates now that I could call all and they would

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<v Speaker 2>drop everything and would come, and just that loyalty that

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<v Speaker 2>makeship it never stops because of that bond. You serve

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<v Speaker 2>in really difficult times and this and Garthur's the CEO

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<v Speaker 2>of Bravery Trust I served with and he's had a

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<v Speaker 2>far more horrific experienced with than I did. But we

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<v Speaker 2>often we spoke at Pete's funeral, but we're only getting

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<v Speaker 2>together at funerals.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, terribly terrible.

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<v Speaker 2>And then and through those experiences, you see and you

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<v Speaker 2>see some of your friends that some of the most

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<v Speaker 2>professional and dedicated soldiers are really struggling with PT this

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<v Speaker 2>day and other things through their service or things that

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<v Speaker 2>have happened to them since they come back, and it

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<v Speaker 2>just breaks your heart. And you know, some of them

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<v Speaker 2>we've spoken to you that you might be aware of,

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<v Speaker 2>and they've shared the struggles they've gone through another's happening.

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<v Speaker 4>Are the strongest of men.

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<v Speaker 1>And can I ask your advice? Just going into NXACT

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<v Speaker 1>Day this weekend, a lot of people will be at RSLs.

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<v Speaker 1>We say, you know, go and speak to servicemen and women.

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<v Speaker 5>What should we ask? How do what's the appropriate way

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<v Speaker 5>for us to pay our respects?

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<v Speaker 2>Great question. I think it's just thank you for your service.

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<v Speaker 2>And it's not just the veterans, it's their families as well,

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<v Speaker 2>because the sacrifices that the families make is massive because

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<v Speaker 2>they're losing their support network for their own families and

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<v Speaker 2>dealing with the stress of everything. But just thank them

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<v Speaker 2>for the service. And everyone has a different way of

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<v Speaker 2>approaching it. But some people want to have a chat

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<v Speaker 2>about it and will be really open. Others won't because

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<v Speaker 2>of their experiences, but you give them the opportunity. But

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<v Speaker 2>if just saying thank you, it means so much because

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<v Speaker 2>you often don't, particularly in Melbourn where there's not a

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<v Speaker 2>big defense community, you don't hear it.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, it's really two part, isn't it. It's you know,

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<v Speaker 4>remembering those that have fallen, but also celebrating and giving

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<v Speaker 4>thanks for the service. Do you think we're as Australians

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<v Speaker 4>can be better?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'd look better in many aspects of life. But

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<v Speaker 2>I think it's a really good question around recognizing some

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<v Speaker 2>of the skills for what military people can bring. Men

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<v Speaker 2>and women that have served have got some really unique experiences.

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<v Speaker 2>So if we go back to my own personal situation,

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<v Speaker 2>like I was an armored Core commander, and there's not

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of call for people that can manage a

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<v Speaker 2>group of armed vehicles around the battlefeld in the corporate world.

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<v Speaker 2>But I look at my personal like I was twenty

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<v Speaker 2>seven and in charge of about one hundred and fifty people. Wow,

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<v Speaker 2>in a war zone, Like you just don't if you

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<v Speaker 2>went through any other sort of career path, you're not

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<v Speaker 2>going to get that level of experience, and that's where

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<v Speaker 2>I've taken and there are many people like that, more

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<v Speaker 2>specific skills, but just that ability to problem solve, deal

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<v Speaker 2>with adversity, manage risk and issues. And I know and

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<v Speaker 2>this is something probably the thing I've taken away most

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<v Speaker 2>Like I always look back at the sort of work

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<v Speaker 2>I do now and people get flustered quite easily. Something's

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<v Speaker 2>gone wrong. My god, no one's going to die. Just

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<v Speaker 2>take a breath, let's solve the problem together. And that

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<v Speaker 2>sort of calmness you can bring to some of those

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<v Speaker 2>situations has been really available. And there's plenty of veterans

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<v Speaker 2>in their families can bring similar experience, and that's something

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<v Speaker 2>that's getting better recognition now, but it took a long

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<v Speaker 2>time to sort of get that awareness across workforce.

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<v Speaker 3>ANZAC Day is a huge day on Saturday. But tonight

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<v Speaker 3>you will be at the MCG and you have been

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<v Speaker 3>asked to light the eternal flame at the ANZAC Eve game.

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<v Speaker 3>It is I find the ANZAC Eve ceremony at the

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<v Speaker 3>MCG one of the most moving five minutes of the year.

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<v Speaker 2>It's extraordinary. How are you feeling? Incredibly nervous? I don't

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<v Speaker 2>have to do much except light the flame. But like

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<v Speaker 2>you said, an absolute honor and it's not about mate,

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<v Speaker 2>it's about the message for being the representative of all

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<v Speaker 2>the veterans and their families past and present. To be

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<v Speaker 2>able to do that, and I think it brings just

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<v Speaker 2>the silence they have that many people. Yeah, it's the

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<v Speaker 2>one event, whether it's anzac Eve or the ends of

0:10:18.400 --> 0:10:20.719
<v Speaker 2>day game that I've never been anywhere with that many

0:10:20.720 --> 0:10:24.319
<v Speaker 2>people where they're actually truly focused and hear hear a

0:10:24.360 --> 0:10:26.120
<v Speaker 2>pin drop and that is just an amazing thing. When

0:10:26.120 --> 0:10:28.040
<v Speaker 2>you hear the bugle sound and it's just incredible. So

0:10:28.520 --> 0:10:30.520
<v Speaker 2>I can't wait. It's great to be able to share

0:10:30.559 --> 0:10:31.320
<v Speaker 2>it with family and friends.

0:10:31.960 --> 0:10:33.440
<v Speaker 5>I was about to stay. The family going to be there.

0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:35.080
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm a little bit worried about my six year

0:10:35.080 --> 0:10:38.439
<v Speaker 2>old and three year olds about making about them, which

0:10:38.480 --> 0:10:40.199
<v Speaker 2>is a fair risk, but we'll see there we go.

0:10:41.400 --> 0:10:43.520
<v Speaker 5>Did your old man used to play for fitz Yeah, he.

0:10:43.480 --> 0:10:45.760
<v Speaker 2>Played Fitzroy so unfortunately didn't get the skill it he died.

0:10:45.840 --> 0:10:47.720
<v Speaker 5>But I was about to say first time running out

0:10:47.760 --> 0:10:48.760
<v Speaker 5>on the j Yeah, first.

0:10:48.559 --> 0:10:51.640
<v Speaker 2>Time for me. I think I often give him grief

0:10:51.640 --> 0:10:53.560
<v Speaker 2>because he didn't sign me up for him, so see membership.

0:10:55.400 --> 0:10:57.440
<v Speaker 3>Never forgive him for that, No, but no.

0:10:57.480 --> 0:11:00.000
<v Speaker 2>It was good even Yes, I had a great opportunity

0:11:00.000 --> 0:11:02.280
<v Speaker 2>the Richmond players to share my story and they still

0:11:02.280 --> 0:11:04.480
<v Speaker 2>remember the old man running around back in the day.

0:11:04.480 --> 0:11:06.319
<v Speaker 2>But football has always been to be part of my life.

0:11:06.960 --> 0:11:10.120
<v Speaker 2>You know, when dad came and he never is his

0:11:10.200 --> 0:11:11.840
<v Speaker 2>claim to fame. I think he came fifth in the

0:11:11.880 --> 0:11:13.920
<v Speaker 2>Brown Law in nineteen eighty as a centerf back, which

0:11:13.920 --> 0:11:15.839
<v Speaker 2>is rare. No back whenever does well in the Brown Laws.

0:11:15.840 --> 0:11:18.760
<v Speaker 2>We know became he wasn't invited, so they were freaking

0:11:18.800 --> 0:11:19.040
<v Speaker 2>out and.

0:11:20.120 --> 0:11:22.240
<v Speaker 5>I'll get ready, you're going.

0:11:22.200 --> 0:11:24.360
<v Speaker 2>To come along. He didn't have a seat, I don't think,

0:11:25.240 --> 0:11:27.120
<v Speaker 2>but then dropped off because he was injured the last

0:11:27.120 --> 0:11:29.080
<v Speaker 2>few ends and he got his invite the day after

0:11:29.240 --> 0:11:33.360
<v Speaker 2>in one, so he's never actually got to go. But yeah,

0:11:33.440 --> 0:11:34.840
<v Speaker 2>it's always been a big part of it. And that's

0:11:34.840 --> 0:11:38.040
<v Speaker 2>sort of one of the reasons I I always love

0:11:38.080 --> 0:11:41.600
<v Speaker 2>the leadership aspect of the team aspect foot. Yeah, and

0:11:41.600 --> 0:11:43.760
<v Speaker 2>that's sort of one of the parallels that you can

0:11:43.760 --> 0:11:46.640
<v Speaker 2>often draw, like just looking up, do your role, look

0:11:46.679 --> 0:11:49.000
<v Speaker 2>after the person next to you, and it brings people together.

0:11:48.760 --> 0:11:50.720
<v Speaker 4>Which is which is why I think all those years ago,

0:11:50.800 --> 0:11:53.599
<v Speaker 4>Kevin Sheety sort of came up with the concept of

0:11:53.679 --> 0:11:57.800
<v Speaker 4>Anzac day footy because he could, in part see very

0:11:58.160 --> 0:12:01.240
<v Speaker 4>a lot of similarities between the mate ship that you

0:12:01.360 --> 0:12:05.320
<v Speaker 4>explored in Iraq for instance, and the matship that footballers

0:12:05.400 --> 0:12:06.600
<v Speaker 4>share on a footy field as well.

0:12:06.679 --> 0:12:08.480
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, definitely, and I think that's where you see the

0:12:09.200 --> 0:12:11.600
<v Speaker 2>great teams, as they'll do anything for their mate. It's

0:12:11.640 --> 0:12:15.679
<v Speaker 2>just that strong culture says so much, and it's probably

0:12:15.679 --> 0:12:17.480
<v Speaker 2>the thing I miss most about the military. There's that

0:12:17.480 --> 0:12:20.400
<v Speaker 2>team culture, like you'd spend so much time. It's not

0:12:20.440 --> 0:12:22.160
<v Speaker 2>a twenty five, it's not a nine to five job,

0:12:22.200 --> 0:12:24.560
<v Speaker 2>like it's twenty four seven through sixty five, So you

0:12:24.640 --> 0:12:27.040
<v Speaker 2>spend so much time with each other so much, to

0:12:27.080 --> 0:12:29.400
<v Speaker 2>the point I was quite happy getting back from someone

0:12:29.480 --> 0:12:34.360
<v Speaker 2>performance and not spend time with an infigem the It

0:12:34.480 --> 0:12:36.240
<v Speaker 2>is like you'll do anything for them, and you know,

0:12:36.360 --> 0:12:39.080
<v Speaker 2>you often know these people better than what you know

0:12:39.160 --> 0:12:41.960
<v Speaker 2>some of your family members because you're with them so

0:12:42.200 --> 0:12:45.120
<v Speaker 2>much and you do some really dumb things together.

0:12:45.160 --> 0:12:50.120
<v Speaker 1>But yeah, that we can relate to. Captain Jeremy Smith

0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:52.320
<v Speaker 1>is joining us on the air. If you are heading

0:12:52.320 --> 0:12:54.599
<v Speaker 1>along to the g tonight they ask you to be

0:12:54.640 --> 0:12:56.280
<v Speaker 1>in your seats by six forty five.

0:12:56.840 --> 0:12:57.760
<v Speaker 5>It's a huge honor.

0:12:57.760 --> 0:13:01.360
<v Speaker 1>Congratulations on receiving it tonight, Thank you very much and

0:13:01.400 --> 0:13:03.040
<v Speaker 1>most importantly, thank you for your service mate.

0:13:03.240 --> 0:13:06.160
<v Speaker 2>Thank you all. An absolute wanted to be able to

0:13:06.160 --> 0:13:08.320
<v Speaker 2>share the story and be part of the vent tonight