Everyone’s a great Australian these days.
You only have to appear on a reality TV show, help win a footy game or give away some tax deductible money to see your name in the paper. Of course the real great Australians hardly get a look in. People in the defence forces, police, SES, fire brigade and ambulance only get noticed when they die or nearly die. Teachers, nurses and doctors only get talked about because they dare to complain about their pay.
Australian (even though he was born in Melbourne) Frederick Anthony Owen Gaze, died last month. Think about this. Tony flew 485 missions in World War II. He was shot down over France, the resistance helped him escape through Spain and get back to England so he could fly some more. His 19 year old brother was shot down and killed early in the war. Tony won three Distinguished Flying Crosses and became a double air ace. He told the ABC ‘it was only scary if you had three enemy planes behind you’.
For the full column click here
