It's a simple question and one that shows what Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith's status as a Victoria Cross winner and war hero means to some young Australians: ‘What would Ben do?’
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It was the question that one of Telopea Park School's student leaders was asking herself after a visit from Corporal Roberts-Smith, where he told the students how they should focus on making a positive impression in their future careers.
“I wasn’t the best kid, but the reality is you find a point in your life at that age when some things become a bit more important than yourself,” Corporal Roberts-Smith said.
“You get to a point as a student, particularly at school, where you identify what you want to do and what you want to achieve in your life.
“But the one question you should always ask yourself, before you even think about your occupation, is how do I want to be seen at the end of my life?
“Because when we’re young, as I was, you don’t think about that side of it.”
Corporal Roberts-Smith addressed the students as ambassador for the Royal Australian Mint’s Anzac centenary coin program, which the former corporal believed would serve as a tangible reminder of Australia’s military service.
“I’m here representing the mint because I want you to understand what all of that sacrifice meant … People who fail to remember the past are destined to relive it,” Corporal Roberts-Smith said.
“So what we want to do is understand the magnitude of that loss … and be proud of what our forefathers did, but remember we don’t ever want to be in that position again.”
School captain Siobhán Honey had been excited to meet the war hero since learning about him at school and from her father, who is serving in the air force.
“He’s inspired me and I’m sure he’s inspired everybody in the room,” Ms Honey said.
“You know when you’re in a certain situation and you think, ‘What would this person do?’ I’ll now think, ‘What would Ben do?’”
Deputy principal Tom Kobal said that Corporal Roberts-Smith represented the core values of the school and that the Anzac commemorations would feature prominently at the school in the coming years.
“Basically he’s a real-life role model, and our kids love that,” Mr Kobal said.
“It’s something which they can grasp on to and use going forward in their own lives.”
Mint chief executive Ross MacDiarmid said 40 collectible coins would be released over the next four years to commemorate the Anzac centenary.