If this fine man is amongst us I'd like to thank you sir ! This is my local area and one of my earliest watering holes . I know this guys an Eels fan and if you don't wish to reveal yourself I wanted to thank you . You're a great man indeed .This is the sort of person that should be nominated for Australian of the year , not some PC lefty loved dickhead that's leeching in some governemt funded program .http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4552579/corrimal-anzac-march-saved-by-war-veterans-generosity/Corrimal’s Anzac march has been saved by a last-minute pledge from a war veteran who owns a security company.It had been cancelled after police required additional security measures for the march that were beyond the reach of the small RSL sub-branch’s finances.On Friday Tom Pulleine, a veteran of the Iraq war and the Australian Army missions to East Timor and the Solomon Islands, confirmed he and his Parramatta-based company Mindset Securities, which employs veterans, would cover the costs.He said he and his partner, also a veteran, agreed immediately upon hearing of the predicament that they should step in and help.As if 17 years of military service and stepping in to save the Corrimal march wasn’t enough, Mr Pulleine, 39, was in the process of giving blood when the Mercury contacted him.“I’m a veteran so I wasn’t going to let it happen,” he said. “I’m concerned the police are making it too hard for them.“It’s easy for us to jump on board and say we can help them out there.“It’s just to make sure these guys get their march.”Police declined to say what the additional security measures involved, citing “operational reasons”. But the Mercury understands it involves barriers to close the street to protect against vehicle-based terror attacks such as this week’s in London.The Corrimal Diggers were told in meetings about the event that they could march on the footpath if they don’t pay for their own security.This was a “kick in the guts” to some veterans who march every year to remember their fallen comrades.The Corrimal RSL sub-branch had an extraordinary meeting this morning and accepted the offer. They are now waiting for paperwork to be complete and will then declare the march is back on for April 23.The Corrimal march is traditionally held the Sunday before Anzac Day as a prelude to the April 25 commemorations.Wollongong City Council has also agreed to contribute $2100 to traffic arrangements for the Corrimal dawn service on Anzac Day.

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  • Nice story.
    They're our real heroes, not Dick Smith etc.
  • I never understood why Australian of the year is always someone who is famous with massive public profile and every opportunity and support measure handed to them.
    People like Tom pulleine and others make a huge difference to communities and are what make Australia great. There are also many people who started their own charities and run them themselves despite working over 60-70 hours a week and supporting their own family. These people are also more deserving then sport stars, or the super rich who start charities in their name and get others to run them who have been named Australian of the year previously.
    • Mate one of the nominees this year was a refugee named Dung who was given a tax payer leg up into a free uni course so he could study and become a lawyer who only represents refugees fighting our governments rulings to deny them refugee status . How bloody stupid are we .

      Then guys like this , unless some small regional newspaper runs a story about his generosity and his life as a veteran nobody's hears how much of a great Australian he is . It really pisses me off .
  • I can see your point Wiz. But unfortunately the people on these groups love the type of person you mention. Its never someone who does things quietly...I am surprised Waleed Aly wasn't nominated.

  • What exactly is your issue with Deng Adut? The guy was forced into being a child soldier, saw friends die and was forced to kill as a child. Was shot multiple times before being smuggled out and becoming a refugee. He was sponsored by an Australian couple and got himself through high school at times living in his car. He taught himself how to read and write English. 

    He's hardly been gifted his place in society. He's worked incredibly hard to get to where he is now and he still fights with his past. He can hardly sleep because of the horrors he faced as a child and you're having a go at him? Dead set he's the wrong bloke to get upset over for being nominated for Australian of the Year. 

    Seriously, you have completely over-simplified that guy's achievements and the majority of his law practice is based around pro-bono work in the Sudanese community in western Sydney. He works 60-70 hours a week and is studying his Masters in International Criminal Law. 

    • He was given a tax payer funded education - tick
      He's work is centered around helping non Australians - tick
      He's worked to give himself and the Sudanese comunity a better life - tick

      Which part of my comment is incorrect Super ? He has been given a fresh start by this country , are we to also award him one of the highest honours our county can award because he's helped himself ?


      Please mate , tell me what Deng has done for Australia ? Oh and since most of his work is pro bono for Sudanese it's probably safe to say old Deng isn't earning enough to pay his HECS back either .

      I'll wait right here . However probably for another discussion you have managed to flag the fact that there's a flaw in our system where child soldier killers are being thrown into schools with my children and even with fake lefty sponsors are ending up living in cars in our communities. Very dangerous indeed I'm sure you'll agre that give the circumstances in Victoria under the greeny lefty looneys this issue is bubbling on the surface for exact reasons you've just flagged . These kids are murderers and shoudnt be allowed in . So we got one that did good for himself , at what cost ?


      It's the people like yourself seeing Dengs self serving achievements as some kind of heroism worthy of an award that was designed to award people like Tom that's made an absaloute mockery out of the Australian Of The year award .

      Maybe you should just take a second to take in what I'm saying here and thank Tom for fighting for you to keep your opinion and giving up his OWN money for thousands of people to enjoy a march .
      • He is paying back his HECS debt. Often members of the Sudanese community in western Sydney are Australian citizens but struggle when it comes to understanding Australian law. Deng's never bludged on the dole and he's a contributing member to society, he pays his taxes and pays his HECS debt. His law firm isn't exclusively Sudanese. 

        Australia is a country of immigrants. He was abducted and made to fight as a child, it wasn't something he volunteered to do. His brother recently went back to Sudan and was killed after his village was attacked.

        Deng's example is one that you'd hope for all refugees and immigrants. That they are thankful of this country and contribute to it meaningfully.

        I honestly can't understand the vitriole directed towards him. He's a contributing member to society. He accepted the position of NSW Australian of the Year but turned down the national honour when approached.

        I agree there are ordinary Australians doing extraordinary things and aren't recognised, but it's a bit rich to go after someone who didn't ask to be nominated or, in fact, ask for anything other than a fair go in this country. He's been given a fair go and become a contributor to Australian society.

        And as for HECS and the like, what would you prefer we do with our education system? Make it so we have students going into six figure debts who will never own a house or will be constantly fighting to stay above water? Our VET-FEE HELP system allows everyone to get an education in order to contribute greatly to our society. How else do you expect people to get jobs when even roles such as secretary positions requires degrees or at the very least a diploma? I have a HECS debt. Without our HECS system I wouldn't have been able to afford a degree meaning I wouldn't be in the job I'm in and be able to afford a house. I earn above the HECS threshold meaning I'm paying it off and along with my taxes 30% of my wage goes to the ATO.

        It's not like through the use of our HECS system Deng has got a leg up on other Australians, he was simply allowed the same opportunity someone born in western Sydney was given to attend university.

        • You seem to be pretty close to Deng Super so your opinion is understandably going to be a bit bias . As I said , its flagged a bigger issue as to how a child murderer ends up in the same school as Australian children and even after being sponsored ends up sleeping in a car . The issue is much bigger than your mate. It may not be his fault he had to kill , but that doesn't change the fact we are bringing these troubled people into our society and they're ending up being unsupervised . Needs to be stopped now .

          The point stands that Deng hasn't really done much for Australia has he . Nobody is denying he's had a tough run , in fact I still can't see where he's copped any vitriol Super so stop the usual lefts victim playing routine .

          Good on him though for not ending up as another refugee criminal , but it's hardly Aussie of the year type stuff . In fact If he's earning more than the HECS threshold I'd say Australia'dome enough for the guy without having to give him a medal . It's not him that's at fault , it's you mob throwing ticker tape parades over his accomplishment.
  • Superb story and man. 

  • Deng's Australian Citizenship certificate says different.

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