Daniel Keighran, VC was born in Nambour, and grew up in Lowmead; a small town approximately 80km from Bundaberg in regional Queensland. His upbringing was anything but normal; Dan describes it as ‘pretty rough’, with a loving mother but an absent father challenging his teen years and where his one male constant was his Grandfather- himself a World War II veteran.
Indeed, the first-person Dan ever saw shot was his father.
Dan then enlisted in the Australian Army at 17 and served his country for 11 years seeing operational service in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his role in the action at the Battle of Derapet. The citation for the Victoria Cross reads:
‘For the most conspicuous acts of gallantry and extreme devotion to duty in action in circumstances of great peril’.
In 2011, Dan discharged from full-time Army service and commenced work in the mining industry. Initially working in exploration drilling throughout Western Australia and then as an underground shotfirer (blaster) in a gold mine outside of Kalgoorlie.
It was in his cottage in Kalgoorlie that he received notification that the Chief of Army was coming to visit him. In the tiny lounge at Kalgoorlie Airport, the Chief of Army handed him an envelope…. The contents of that envelope would change his life.
In 2015, Dan returned to his home state of Queensland and completed his MBA- we talk about this and life with a VC, but beyond the military.
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
00:00 Dan Keighran’s citation for his award of the Victoria Cross
06:00 What an opening line to Dan’s new book! A sizzling start!
06:40 Dan talks about his Dad, Mum and Grandfather- including on the topic of love in the family.
11:30 Dan’s discussion with his Grandfather on service.
14:30 Stories from the family ‘home’ at Lowmead ….. basic and hard living, that would prepare him well for life in the infantry!
17:00 Comparing life as a kid…. to life in the military…..
17:50 Impressions on joining the Army- why yelling Corporals, long hours and sleeping in the dirt didn’t phase Dan!
19:30 Dan joins the 6th Battalion of The Royal Australian Regiment.
20:13 1st deployment into East Timor ....
23:03 2nd deployment into Iraq ….
25:15 Under fire in Iraq.
27:29 Improvised explosive devices versus direct fire.
29:44 What it’s like to be blown up by a roadside bomb…..
30:10 Into Afghanistan to support the Special Operations Task Group
32:15 Dan explains the tempo of special operations
Music
Thanks to all our artists who allow us use of their music. In this episode:
The Externals – available on Spotify
S5E9 – Adam Blum is No Easy Target
S5E8 – Riana Crehan ‘Suffers Well’; From Supercars to SAS Australia
S5E7 – MAJGEN Justin “Jake” Ellwood DSC AM CSC – On Running (an Army Division, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority….and in general!)
S5E6 – Dr. Luana Main – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of stress and (over)training
@RV31 - Reconciliation, Travel and Reflections on Guests
S5E5 – Rachel Vickery “Don’t Fix Broken – Create Awesome”
S5E4– Creativity Builds Resilience: Artists in Foxholes @fova.org.au
S5E3– Ian Prior: How Professional Athletes Stay In the Arena
S5E2– Dr Rob Barbour: SAS Doctor Out of Africa
S5E1B – Jaz Diab – Special Forces Nuclear Scientist, Nerd and Mum! Part B
S5E1A – Jaz Diab: Special Forces Nuclear Scientist, Nerd and Mum! Part A
@RV30 – The Season 5 Kick Off
Season 5- We are (ALL) back on the cans
Season 5 - And We're Back!
Special Episode- Vale Tim Robertson: Forever the Chronic Overachiever
@RV29 – Events and Reflections: The Year in Review
S4E21- Ben and Tim on the Golds Gym Podcast
S4E20 – Senator David Van – Politics and Conflict, at home and abroad
S4E19 – Brad McIlroy: Beyond the Bali Bombing
S4E18 – Associate Professor Justine Gatt: Providing a COMPAS to navigate wellbeing and resilience
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