Victoria Cross recipient, Boeing strategist and business leader, Mark Donaldson and I got chatting at the Beard Season launch with Jimmy Niggles, Hamish Blake, Wippa and a bunch of other revellers a few months back and bonded over a cheeky beer or two on a tall ship on Sydney Harbour (hence the nautical theme of the pics below).

For those who have listened to my Hot & Delicious: Rocks The Planet! episode with Andrew Hansen from The Chaser, will know my passion for my grandfather, whom I never knew, his service in the Middle East and PNG in Kokoda in World War II, the importance of ANZAC Day to me and understanding (in my eyes) what it actually means to be Australian after my trip to Gallipoli for the 85th anniversary of the ANZAC Day dawn service in Turkey in 2000.

Corporal Mark Donaldson, VC is an Australian soldier and a recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia, the highest award in the Australian honours system.

Trooper Donaldson (his rank at the time) was a member of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) when he exposed himself to enemy fire to protect injured troops and then rescued an interpreter under heavy enemy fire in the Battle of Khaz Oruzgan during Operation Slipper, the Australian contribution to the War in Afghanistan. He was presented with the decoration by the Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce, in a ceremony in Canberra on 16 January 2009.

On today’s show we delve into vast-ranging chats including Mark’s earliest ever memory, his work with Boeing, happy memories of Afghanistan, the people and experiences that have shaped his outlook on life.

Super inspiring chats. Let’s get into it!