True Blue Conversations Podcast

In Part 2 of our chat with, former Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Sergeant McQuilty 'Coco' Quirke NSC, Coco will be talking about fighting demons from his tour of Iraq and overcoming PTSD arising from that deployment.

Deploying again in 2011 in Afghanistan McQuilty's life changed forever when on 13 August 2011, he was blown out of the back of the Bush Master after hitting an IED. He received life-threating wounds but fought courageously and with great determination to overcome what many would never have survived. By cultivating a positive mindset and developing resilience, Coco was well on the road to recovery.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: McQuilty Quirke

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Our special guest for today is former Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Sergeant McQuilty Quirke NSC. Despite receiving life-threating wounds in battle, he fought courageously and with great determination to overcome PTSD arising from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

McQuilty joined the Medical Corps because he wanted to save lives. 'Coco' to his mates, he was a soldier, a medic, a leader, but in a brief moment, his life was suddenly in the hands of the blokes around him.

He deployed to East Timor in 2001, and to Iraq in 2006. Like many other veterans, McQuilty's return home was not a smooth transition, and his life descended into a nightmare of excessive alcohol consumption to drown out the horrors of his time in Iraq. However, unlike many people, McQuilty had a loving and supportive wife, and two kids, all of who saved him from a perilous journey.

In 2007, McQuilty's exceptional skills were recognised when he was awarded the extremely rare, but well-deserved, Nursing Service Cross for his lifesaving treatment of a badly injured soldier in 2004.

By cultivating a positive mindset and developing resilience, McQuilty fought hard to be deployed again. These traits were to be sorely tested when McQuilty was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. On 13 August 2011, McQuilty's life changed again, forever...

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: McQuilty Quirke

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Welcome back everyone, and thanks for joining me and my good mate, Battlefield Historian, Pete Smith, for Part 2 of our walk around the iconic Belgian town of Ypres. Known as 'Wipers' to the Allied soldiers, the town and surrounding countryside were the scene of some of the most fierce and tragic events on the Western Front during the Great War. 'Lest We Forget' all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Pete Smith

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Former Australian Army Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment, Electronic Warfare operator Team Leader Corporal Andy Fermo. Andy enlisted in the regular Army in 2001 as an Electronic Warfare (EW) operator in Royal Australian Signals Corps. In 2006, he was posted to 2 Commando, immediately deploying domestically with Tactical Assault Group-East in support of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Having worked closely with Special Forces during this time he undertook the arduous selection process, becoming Commando qualified and realised a career goal. Andy did two (2) operational deployments to Afghanistan as an Electronic Warfare Team Leader and was awarded a Special Forces Commendation for his performance during his first deployment. Over two special episodes, Andy shares what its like to be a Special Forces Commando, the toll it took on his life, and why he is optimistic about the future.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Andy Fermo

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Former Australian Army Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment, Electronic Warfare operator Team Leader Corporal Andy Fermo. Andy enlisted in the regular Army in 2001 as an Electronic Warfare (EW) operator in Royal Australian Signals Corps. In 2006, he was posted to 2 Commando, immediately deploying domestically with Tactical Assault Group-East in support of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Having worked closely with Special Forces during this time he undertook the arduous selection process, becoming Commando qualified and realised a career goal. Andy did two (2) operational deployments to Afghanistan as an Electronic Warfare Team Leader and was awarded a Special Forces Commendation for his performance during his first deployment. Over two special episodes, Andy shares what its like to be a Special Forces Commando, the toll it took on his life, and why he is optimistic about the future.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Andy Fermo

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

G'day and welcome to the third season of True Blue History. Thanks to all those who have supported the podcast, and a special welcome to new listeners. What a line-up of great guests and topics we have for you this year, On today's podcast, we'll be joining my good mate, Battlefield tour guide, Pete Smith, on a walk around the iconic Belgian town of Ypres. Known as 'Wipers' to the Allied soldiers, the town and surrounding countryside were the scene of some of the most fierce and tragic events on the Western Front during the Great War.

Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Pete Smith Editor: Kyle Watkins Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

The largest mass escape of prisoners-of-war in modern military history occurred on Australian soil during the Second World War. Attempting to overcome the disgrace of captivity 1,104 Japanese prisoners-of-war escaped from the prisoner-of-war camp in Cowra, New South Wales. Mat McLachlan shares insights about the Cowra Breakout and what Prime Minister John Curtin later called 'a suicidal disregard for life'.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Mat McLachlan

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Former Australian Army Special Forces, 2nd Commando Regiment, Warrant Officer Nick Hill served in Malaysia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as being deployed to other countries including Egypt and the United States of America. Over two episodes, Nick shares fascinating insights about his twenty-five-year career (1989-2014), as well as family members who include a Victoria Cross recipient and a nuclear physicist who was involved with the Manhattan Project and Atomic Testing during the Second World War.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Nick Hill

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Former Australian Army Special Forces, 2nd Commando Regiment, Warrant Officer Nick Hill served in Malaysia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as being deployed to other countries including Egypt and the United States of America. Over two episodes, Nick shares fascinating insights about his twenty-five-year career (1989-2014), as well as family members who include a Victoria Cross recipient and a nuclear physicist who was involved with the Manhattan Project and Atomic Testing during the Second World War.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Nick Hill

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Former Australian Army Special Forces, 2nd Commando Regiment, Warrant Officer Nick Hill served in Malaysia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as being deployed to other countries including Egypt and the United States of America. Over two episodes, Nick shares fascinating insights about his twenty-five-year career (1989-2014), as well as family members who include a Victoria Cross recipient and a nuclear physicist who was involved with the Manhattan Project and Atomic Testing during the Second World War.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Nick Hill

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike