General News
5 May, 2024
Remember mates and their heroic deeds
AUSTRALIA today needed to remember the mateship that drove men and women to heroic deeds in war. That was the message of former Royal Australian Navy sailor Glenn Hudson at Boort’s Anzac Day commemorative service. “I don’t mean heroes on the...
AUSTRALIA today needed to remember the mateship that drove men and women to heroic deeds in war.
That was the message of former Royal Australian Navy sailor Glenn Hudson at Boort’s Anzac Day commemorative service.
“I don’t mean heroes on the football field as such, because they get paid for their loyalty and skills,” he said.
“I mean true mateship, of looking after each other and being there for others with no expectation of reward. No service member suddenly decides to earn a medal, as medals cannot be earned, they are awarded.
“I have served with such people, and I know that with certainty, that there is no other field but the military, that you will find such people that know their mates as well as you do.
“You must know what their role is, respect what their role is, and if necessary, do their job for them should the worst happen.”
Mr Hudson said mateship made Australia’s military strong in camaraderie and teamwork “if not in a material sense”.
“It’s truly what all Veterans miss when they discharge. My wish is that all Australians remember their mates, when times get hard,” he said.
Mr Hudson said mateshipwas an Australianculturalidiomthat embodiedequality,loyaltyandfriendship.
“It once was concept central to the Australian people.Mateshipderives frommate, meaningfriend, commonly used in Australia as an amicableform of address,” he said.
Several hundred people attended the Boort service where Mr Hudson also recalled the life of Edward Sheean VC. The Tasmanian-born sailor was killed in a battle off the coast of Timor in 1942 when HMAS Armadale was sunk.
“Many of the survivors credited their lives to Sheean and he was posthumouslymentioned in despatches ... (later) upgraded to the Victoria Cross for Australia.
“What does this have to do with mateship? It’s what drives us to do remarkable actions.
“Teddy Sheehan was 19 years old and yet understood mateship and gave his life, in the hope, that his shipmates may survive,” said Mr Hudson.