The Australian’s Australian of the Year: Diggers deserve nation’s gratitude

For their sacrifice and achievements, the last Diggers to leave Afghanistan have been jointly nominated for The Australian’s Australian of the Year.

For their sacrifice and achievements, the last Diggers to leave the country have been jointly nominated for The Australian’s Australian of the Year.

When the last six Australian Diggers left Afghanistan, they were met at Karzai International Airport in Kabul and congratulated on their commitment to supporting the country’s security forces stave off the Taliban.

Brigadier Todd Ashurst, Corporal Carl Conroy, Corporal “Johnno” Perez, Captain Adam Blue, Warrant Officer Class Two Glenn Herbert and Major Matt Hamill left the country on June 18 2021, nearly 20 years after Australian troops were posted there in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.

They left earlier than expected, after Scott Morrison announced last year that – in line with the US – Australian troops would be withdrawn by no later than September.

And it was a covert exit, amid security concerns for remaining Australians and Afghan nationals employed at the embassy.

Brigadier Ashurst told photojournalist Gary Ramage – as reported in The Australian last year – their withdrawal needed to maintain the strong reputation of the ADF after nearly two decades.

“We are standing on the shoulders of approximately 39,000 veterans who have deployed to Afghanistan,” he said.

“As 20 years of Australian involvement in Afghanistan comes to a close, we reflect on our achievements as part of the ­coalition – and we remember the 41 Australian soldiers who lost their lives here.”

After coalition forces withdrew from Afghanistan, the country’s capital ultimately fell to the Taliban in August. The US-backed Afghani president Ashraf Ghani fled, and chaos ensued as many tried to leave the country, flocking to Kabul’s airport in a bid to escape the Taliban.

Australia evacuated about 4100 people on 32 flights from the capital Kabul between August 18 and 26.

Despite the swift re-emergence of the Taliban, US and Australian forces say they boosted educational and job opportunities especially for women, improved health outcomes for the population, and stimulated the economy with international aid.

For their sacrifice and achievements, the last Diggers to leave the country have been jointly nominated for The Australian’s Australian of the Year.

Last year, the Prime Minister said of the nation’s longest war: “Freedom is always worth it. ­Australians have always believed that. That’s why Australians who have serviced in our Defence Forces have always pulled on that uniform.”

When the last troops left Afghanistan, Commander of the Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East, Rear Admiral Michael Rothwell, met them at the airport.

He said the ADF’s efforts over the past two decades were meaningful and significant. “Through these contributions, we have helped improve the security for millions of Afghans,” he said.

The war that started out with the aim of halting al-Qa’ida operations cost the lives of 2442 US soldiers, 3800 security contractors, 1133 coalition soldiers – including the 41 Australians who made the ultimate sacrifice – as well as more than 47,000 Afghan civilians and 70,000 Afghanistan National Army soldiers.

Readers are encouraged to submit a nomination for The Australian’s Australian of the Year. Prominent Australians can be nominated by filling out the form, or emailing to [e-mail]. Nominations close on Friday, January 21.