Darren Flanagan "the gun of Beaconsfield"

[big fella]

I have attended a 2 day conference on Vocational Education, which is where my job lies. The conference was in Melbourne, where I live, but had attendees from around the country.

There was a keynote speaker for this mornings session. His name was Darren Flanagan. Darren Flanagan was the unassuming expert flown in from Nowra to Beaconsfield to blast through to the trapped miners, Todd Russell and Brandt Webb. He was flown in because of his expertise with some low density explosives. Russell and Webb nicknamed him "the gun" as they waited for him to carry out the labourious task of blasting through to them.

In my job I have had the opportunity to listen to a number of motivational/ inspirational speakers. Most of them are polished performers with real, genuine tales of extraordinary events. I think I had become a little bit blase about the whole "motivational speach" thing. It was with that attitude that I entered the hall this morning.

I can honestly say that I haven't ever been affected by any speach, by anybody, as much as I was this morning. Darren Flanagan is not a natural public speaker, he was obviously nervous, and didn't use some of the basic techniques that professionals use. That only added to the realism of the story he told. Many times he wiped away tears, as did every single person in the hall (other than me because I am tough). You can often tell how engaged an audience is by the occasional whispers from behind you. I did not hear a peep from anyone. Without visual aids, or special effects, we were riveted to our seats for an hour. Had there have been time, he could have easily gone for two.

I would urge anyone, if ever you sniff the opportunity to listen to this man, bloke, hero, move heaven and earth to get there. It was that good.