The Grey Man
Page 27
Our admin person Julie is still with us despite the crippling workload. I would be in an asylum for the administratively challenged if Julie had not taken on the role of admin and ‘other duties as directed’ person. We are where we are because of her efforts.
There are many other people whose help and support over the years The Grey Man has valued. So, thanks to Liz Christiansen for handling our PR and newsletter and Felicity for the newsletter layout and graphics; Colin Rowley, formerly of the AFP for smoothing the way and for so much more; Niel Lake, also ex-AFP, for advice and assistance; former British SAS operator Simon, for inspiration and his ‘can do’ attitude; Nisha for her ongoing support and fundraising prowess; Niel, Pip, Tash, Sophie, Greg Ramsay, and Robbie Maygers, for their support when we needed it; Laurel for rescue admin and reliability; Bruce Molloy who set up our initial website for free, then to Rhett of Northern Beaches Web Designs, who expanded it and finally John Mason of Adimage (www.adimage.net.au) for making it even better; Dave the journo for his help in the early days in Thailand; Phil the expat for having the balls to act when so many others looked the other way; Karl and JD from 538 Pty Ltd for ongoing support and unarmed combat training (www.mdta.com.au); Grandmaster Henry Sue; Noelene Evans and SKAL Albany for their great support; Colin Sheehan for so much that can never be repaid; Danna, for being a role model for generosity and the warrior spirit; James for his friendship and the positive impact he had on my life that allowed me to set up The Grey Man; Don, formerly of military intelligence, for his advice and contacts; Captain Graham Brammer (retired), of the Australian SAS, for his advice on selection processes; the People Factor Group for our HR support and The Rogers Group for our psychological profiling; Lt Commander Shane Doolin, RAN, and the crew of AWARE 2 for their support; and Ron Boston, our first treasurer. I wish he could have stayed on earth longer and I look forward to meeting him again.
As I've pointed out in the book our people on the ground in south-east Asia and India and Nepal face many obstacles and frustrations yet they do a fantastic job. I'd like to thank Panom and ‘The Major’ in Thailand – it may have ended badly but I thank them for all their work and assistance during the early days of The Grey Man. Thanks to our volunteers in the frontline – our ‘shooters’ – Craig, Steve, Mick, Dean, Bruce, Tony, Amanda, Domino, Molly, Dave, Bernard, Ted, Wayne, Elliot, Geoff, David, Elton and many others over the years who prefer to remain anonymous; and to our country directors, Dennis, Tony, Patrick, Paul, and our other operatives Atisa, Peter, Liam, Phalla and Cousin.
I'd also like to express my thanks to the police we've worked with including the Anti-Human Trafficking Division of the Royal Thai police for a job well done, and the officers of Police region 5 for their assistance.
We've been lucky enough to work with some excellent NGOs over the years and I'd like to particularly thank Rita Holmes Gustaffson of Kids Ark Foundation (www.kidsarkfoundation.com) for getting me started, and Philip Holmes of the Esther Benjamins Trust (www.ebtrust.org.uk), our partners in Nepal and India.
In closing I'd like to thank and pay tribute to everyone who has supported The Grey Man, through donations of time, energy, money or all of the above; and I'd like to thank all those who have opposed our organisation – you made us stronger.
I joined the Commandos at eighteen, and again at 32 when I got my green beret. I loved the Special Forces, but politics got in the way. I had my last fling as an officer in the Army Reserve in 2001.
I taught survival for 22 years, from the arctic to the desert and rainforests. My ability to light a fire without matches would later be helpful in gaining the respect of the hill tribes.
With a fellow officer (I'm on the left) at the final banquet for my officer's course. You can see my commando wings on my jacket: I was very proud that I could wear them.
‘We learn to fight, so we never need to fight.’ Sifu Henry Sue and I at the Circular Tong Long Headquarters in Brisbane. Sifu is an inspiration as the 9th Grand Master of Tong Long.
Some bar girls at ChangMam Bar: a very typical scene in the seedy side of Thailand.
A ten-year-old Vietnamese girl our director of operations rescued in Cambodia.
After a rescue at a shelter: two young Vietnamese girls now have a chance for a better life.
Outside view of the house we fitted with covert cameras. Channel 7 spent a lot of money and we never got to use the house.
Traffickers being arrested. In previous meetings with them, the traffickers had been carrying weapons. Luckily on the day of this bust, they were unarmed.
Misao and I on our way to an operation in Thailand. We spent four months working together in Thailand, and Misao was as involved as she could be in The Grey Man: it was a real eye opener for her, and she really came to understand the importance of The Grey Man's work to me.
Peng, one of the girls we rescued, at school. She was sold for $400 but luckily she was sold to The Grey Man and her trafficker was arrested.
Three girls who we lost in Cambodia. We are still bitter about it but we are going back.
Thai-Burmese border at Mae Sai. This border was a well-known conduit for Burmese children into the labour, begging and sex trades.
A motorbike donated by The Grey Man to assist social workers in their work to help integrate rescued girls back into their villages.
One of our great successes: we transport 100 hill tribe kids to school each day through The Grey Man's school transport project.
Misao and I, with a view of Pong Hai — a hill tribe village — in the background. The Grey Man built a trekking lodge and set up a school transport system there.
This little Karen girl from Burma is one of the many children at risk of being trafficked for sex at a young age.
Me with Lahu villagers: some of the things The Grey Man achieved for the Lahu tribe include: a craft centre, school transport, trekking lodge and financial support for twenty families to keep their kids in school.
Me meeting with one of Kathmandu's top cops and Joseph Aguettant of Swiss NGO Terres des Hommes: The Grey Man now operates in seven countries in Asia.
Me and Russell, being filmed in one of the villages for the ABC's Australian Story episode. It was a good experience and a huge fundraiser for us.
Not every charity has their own warship. The HMAS Glenelg whose rotaing crew from AWARE 2 have been some of our biggest supporters.
The crew of HMAS Glenelg in The Grey Man T-shirts: a great bunch of guys. The Navy should be proud.
I am presenting a Grey Man award to a police colonel from Police Region 5 to thank them for their cooperation.
Me and Emma (aged three): the aspect of my life I am most proud of. She's the best.
Overlooking a slum area in Bhairawatha, Nepal, watching small children carrying large rocks to make money for their families. They were all at risk of being trafficked, so later we sent teams into Nepal.
Misao with a group of kids from the slums. She often cried at the things we saw.
Misao and me in Japan, at Himeji Castle. A well-earned rest after four months spent running operations in Thailand.
My sister's wedding with most of our family in attendance. Anna and Emma are on the right. My brother Danny was absent as he was still the black sheep of the family then. Fortunately, he is OK now.
Me: ‘The Grey Man’ is an army term for somebody who operates under the radar and without the need for recognition and glory, and is what our charity is all about.