I was recently invited to be a my father's guest at Government House where he received an OAM. To my surprise Mr Payne VC OAM and Mrs Florence Payne OAM were in attendance. This had particular significance to me, as having met them at a Bravery Association dinner, I'd been given Mr Payne's card. One exceptionally bad day (after an incredibly bad night), I actually rang and asked to speak to Mrs Payne OAM, not for myself, but for my wife. I am not completely aware of what was said, but it saved our marriage, which is what I was hoping for. I got to thank her in person, and that in itself, meant a great deal to me. Mr Payne VC OAM asked if I was doing better, and I could only say there are no easy answers, but I'm getting there.
The understanding and support from such outstanding Australian's (I'd say legendary Australian's) helped me no end (despite an incredibly poor performance by the rest of my family when it came to working together so my own immediate family were excluded). I'm not intending to name drop here, I am intending to make the point that Mr and Mrs Payne are the most amazing people I've ever been priviliged to meet and I would like to thank them once again. It is nice to know that there are people out there, who've been through it (and are still going through it) who actually show the respect to others they are entitled to expect for themselves. I am not alone, I am merely one of many who are injured, if I can do even a small part of what they have done for others, then I will have lived a worthy life.
The understanding and support from such outstanding Australian's (I'd say legendary Australian's) helped me no end (despite an incredibly poor performance by the rest of my family when it came to working together so my own immediate family were excluded). I'm not intending to name drop here, I am intending to make the point that Mr and Mrs Payne are the most amazing people I've ever been priviliged to meet and I would like to thank them once again. It is nice to know that there are people out there, who've been through it (and are still going through it) who actually show the respect to others they are entitled to expect for themselves. I am not alone, I am merely one of many who are injured, if I can do even a small part of what they have done for others, then I will have lived a worthy life.
