Trooper Mark Donaldson, 29, from Newcastle, has been awarded Australia’s first Victoria Cross since the Vietnam War.
He was presented with the country’s highest military honor for his rescue of a wounded Afghan interpreter from heavy fire in Afghanistan in September.
Congratulations to Trooper Donaldson, pictured above with his wife.
Governor-General Quentin Bryce presented the medal today.
Ms Bryce described Trooper Donaldson as an inspiration.
“We gather around you to distinguish your actions, and to honor the individual they speak of, the person you are, your undertaking, your way of living,” she said.
“We are here to dedicate your contribution, your unconditional surrender to duty and humanity, your abandonment of your own necessity so that others may be secured.
“By your doing and knowing, you will shoulder more than most. You are the finest example and inspiration.
“Trooper Donaldson, VC, I salute you.”
I applaud the presentation and the comments.
I found it interesting however, the Victoria Cross was replaced in 1991 by the Victoria Cross for Australia.
In effect, the imperial honor was replaced by an Australian honor with the same name.
That would have been roughly the same time knighthoods, Orders of the British Empire (OBE) and Members of the British Empire (MBE) were abolished in this country.
Different states had different policies in that regard for several years.
I had no problem with “imperial” honors. They were shared with several countries, therefore being international. People still relate better to an OBE than an AO and knighthoods carried more respect than Aussie gongs.
The honors were decided by Australian governments, so there was nothing subservient about them.
Critics objected to the symbolism, as they do to the constitutional monarchy.
It’s interesting they retained the Victoria Cross among those awards that were changed.
I’m pleased they did.
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As a Victoria Cross historian I can not see why we we must break with tradition and have an Australian VC.
People from outside the (Empire) have been awarded the Impierial VC, Australians have been awarded American, French, Belgian and even Russian awards.
So after 153 years why downgrade this award?
Congrats on your page. Lest we forget.
I don’t see any harm in having a division of the VC specifically for Australia. If the criteria for awarding it are kept high it won’t degrade the value of it.
One thing I would like to see is the reinstatement of knighthoods. Knighthoods can be granted by republics as well as royal states (France is a good example).
I would make a couple of provisos:
They should only be given to persons in the military or police or other emergency services for performance of acts of great courage in the face of physical danger. Thus,no more K’s for businessmen, sports players, artists, bureacrats etc.