2. On October 7 of 2001, the world went to war with Afghanistan in response to the September 11 attacks. The Australian army, as brave and courageous as they are went immediately into battle.

3. In 2005 a seventeen year old boy signed up for the army. With the intention of growing up and gaining experience. Regardless of the raging war in Afghanistan, war and fighting on the front line were worries of the future for his unknowing friends and family ‘We were proud of him, yet upset at the thought of him leaving us… The thought of war wasn’t even an issue, if anything it was an issue we would have to cope with in the distant future’.

4. From 2005 until 2011 Tony was posted on three separate occasions. Once to Iraq, once to East Timor and the third time to Afghanistan. ‘We always knew that one day he would be posted to Afghanistan so it wasn’t a surprise when he told us. Of course we were worried though. I noticed on his last break home before he left how tense and worried he was, he tried not to show it. One night he confessed to me that he wasn’t worried about his own safety but more so the fact that he has 10 men under him he was to take responsibility for…’

5. By this time, he was a corporal. Which is not just an incredible honor but also a dangerous responsibility. ‘Tony was definitely a key target to insurgents, as they try to take out the ‘brains’ of each operation… If the phone ever rang in the 10 months he was gone, my heart sank. But deep down I ultimately knew that if another was to survive it would be him, he is very good at everything he does…’

6. ‘Towards the end of his deployment the deaths increased dramatically, it was exceptionally hard to deal with these especially as we knew they were all good friends… There were many tearful nights, I just felt sorry for their families and the boys left over there still fighting and dealing with grief at the same time…’ ‘Death reports were heartbreaking… Mum and I were sent text messages if anything ever happened to personnel overseas. This is a procedure to inform families so that we knew before the media released the news and did not worry that it was Tony...’

7. ‘My heart did not settle until I knew he had landed safely on Australian soil. It was a great feeling but we were also anticipating the after effects he would endure after being at war… He does deal with his problems by drinking and he has a great group of friends dealing with the dame issues… together I think they are all coping quite well…’

8. ‘At the end of the day, they were professionally trained to do a job and no soldier was forced to join the army, they did it because they wanted to serve their country and if asked to go again I know he would…’