Bomb detection dog wins purple cross
Jennifer Macey reported this story on Tuesday, April 5, 2011
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MARK COLVIN: The bomb detection dog Sarbi which went missing in action in Afghanistan for 13 months today received the RSPCA's highest honour, the purple cross medal. It's only the second time the purple cross has been awarded for service in war. The first was bestowed posthumously on 'Murphy', one of John Simpson's Gallipoli donkeys.
Jennifer Macey prepared this report.
LYNNE BRADSHAW: So here's your reward, Sarbi. Congratulations.
JENNIFER MACEY: At the War Memorial in Canberra today, the national president of the RSPCA, Lynne Bradshaw received a big lick on the lips from the latest recipient of the animal bravery award, the bomb detection dog Sarbi.
LYNNE BRADSHAW: I think there's no doubt that Sarbi has shown an incredible resilience and strength that should be recognised. The RSPCA would like to present Sarbi with the RSPCA Australia purple cross award for the courage she has shown while serving her country during her time in Afghanistan.
And by presenting this award to Sarbi, the RSPCA hopes to raise awareness of the role that animals play in war, the unquestioning and unwavering service to man. And we hope now that Sarbi can live out her life here in Australia with all the love and luxuries that any dog deserves.
JENNIFER MACEY: The medal was in recognition of an encounter Sarbi had with the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2008. The Taliban ambushed a convoy of Australian and American troops, injuring nine soldiers, including Sarbi's handler, Sergeant D.
The explosion blew off the leash that attached Sarbi to her handler and she went missing in action. One of the soldiers, Trooper Mark Donaldson was later awarded a Victoria Cross for risking his life to rescue an Afghan interpreter who was blown off the vehicle. Today the nine-year-old Labrador/Newfoundland cross, Sarbi, becomes the second member of that convoy awarded a medal for bravery.
LYNNE BRADSHAW: Throughout our history thousands of animals have supported the Australian Defence Force in a variety of roles. Like most people, no doubt, we would prefer animals didn't go to war but they do go, and while ever they do we must recognise the part they play and, in many cases, the lives lost.
JENNIFER MACEY: After the ambush, nobody could find Sarbi. Then 13 months later an American soldier on patrol in north-eastern Uruzgan province spotted a Labrador cross walking with an Afghan man. She was eventually identified and reunited with her handler, Sergeant D. Then, after several months in quarantine Sarbi returned to Australia in January.
Corporal Adam Exelby from the School of Military Engineering in Sydney trains dogs to sniff out explosives and accompanied Sarbi to the ceremony in Canberra today.
ADAM EXELBY: I think it's great. I think they probably don't maybe get recognised enough for the job that they do over there.
JENNIFER MACEY: Sarbi meanwhile took all the attention in her stride.
ADAM EXELBY: Yeah, I think she's all a bit bewildered at the moment but all the attention, you know they do tend to get a lot of attention, especially overseas as well with the troops. Yeah, probably wouldn't be the first time that she's actually had a lot of attention.
JENNIFER MACEY: But she won't be going back to the front line again.
ADAM EXELBY: No, she won't actually deploy overseas again. As far as her role here in Australia, she's currently helping with a course that's running. But other than that, she's probably due to retire in the not too distant future. So she'll actually, Sergeant D will be taking her home and she'll become a bit of a home dog.
JENNIFER MACEY: This is the Sarbi's third award. She's also the recipient of the Afghanistan medal and the canine service medal awarded by the Australian Defence Trackers Association.
MARK COLVIN: Jennifer Macey.
