Q: If you had to name 3 role models who inspired you, who would they be?

A: My mother
Prof Margaret Allen History Department University of Adelaide
Natasha Stott Despoja

First my mother obviously:
She taught me the art of making do with little and appreciating the true gifts of life: respect, dignity; friendship... community involvement, tolerance and compassion.
Her values are the importance of social justice.

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A woman I met at university, when I was a mature student studying Russian history: Prof Margaret Allen.

This is what she said that so affected me that 25 years later I chose to stand up.
“at certain times in the history of the world it only takes a nominal 12 people to stand up against a dictator”
This got me thinking, would I have the courage to stand up? And in fact is life worth living if you don’t stand up?

It is because of her that I thought “What is life if not lived with integrity. We are going to die sometime anyway. Yes, I was one of those who would stand up for what I believed was right.”

I didn’t know it would be 25 years before that moment occurred.
It was a highly emotional decision, yet worked out rationally.

Most recently, my inspiration is Natasha Stott Despoja who entered politics in her early 20s and has served for over 12 years in a very hard environment. It's wonderful to hear a young woman speaking out strongly (In 1995, at the age of 26, Natasha Stott Despoja was the youngest woman to enter Federal Parliament. In 1997, Senator Stott Despoja was elected as Deputy Leader of the Democrats and, in April 2001, Leader of the Australian Democrats.ed).

All these people had a belief in social justice, and the possibility of achieving it; they saw that a fair society was necessary for peace; they had the courage to speak out and have a voice.

So issues of gender equality and integrity are key to me, for the progress towards peace.

Q: In achieving this ambition, what was the most surprising thing to happen to you?

A: Once I had made the decision it just seemed right for me. All kind of opportunities opened up for me to have a really powerful voice.
Suddenly all the media, papers and TV studio and radio were interested; and I realized that I had the power to make a difference.
When we got to Amman, Jordan, there was a world press conference with people there from all over the world. Then in Baghdad, Iraq, there were 10 Australians, one of whom was really media savvy which was useful. People from 52 countries came to be human shields. and there I was representing Australians, Australians who didn’t wish to support the war. The range of languages was immense. There was a NY woman of 84, nearly blind and a Jewish lawyer who is now facing prosecution in America. She was threatened with 12 years in prison or a fine of $100,000, if she stayed in Iraq once the war started. We said that this was too great a price to pay, and urged her to go back.
We found a silo near Taji and we stayed there. The BBC were in constant contact phoning for an update every day.
I was lucky to have a media contact back in Australia. Until the bombing started, I emailed her daily and she released details to the media in Australia.
I wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister and to all Australians, as well as my speech to the anti war rally, just before I left.

Q: What was your most challenging moment? how did you handle it?

A: We were 20km out of Baghdad and living at the silos at Taji. We used to go into Baghdad to communicate. Once the bombing started, all communications were cut. When Baghdad was under fire, we were invited to Baghdad Airport to witness that the Iraqis had regained control of the airport, despite US propaganda that the Airport was under their control. The human shields and the journalists were invited to go as objective observers. We were afraid if we got caught on the wrong side of one of the four bridges we would never get back so I didn’t go. but went back to Taji. The next day, April 16th, 2003, there was a fierce tank battle on the main road outside Taji silos. The tank bombardment was appallingly noisy and went on for five or so hours. Then, suddenly it stopped. The Americans rushed into the centre of Baghdad and took down the statue of Saddam.

At Taji, we were living in a small community of 30 families at one side of the food silo. When the tank battle stopped we expected them to enter Taji and for us to be arrested and taken to Guantanamo Bay.
You had to be prepared for the consequences. I had a B plan... I had decided to be prepared for suicide. I had a roll of glad wrap which when wrapped around the face would suffocate you in 3 minutes. This was in case I was wounded badly or unable to speak. Also as there are not very many English speakers amongst Iraqi troops, I had a tattoo of my passport number on my arm. You had to be prepared for every eventuality.

Q: But weren’t you frightened?

In truth though I must admit to fleeting moments of angst leading me to identifying my two worst fears – being badly burnt,(Iraq had few medical supplies due to sanctions) and being captured by American troops and ending up in Guantanamo Bay as a traitor.

But “Taking a stand makes you free”, I realized that this is where I must be; the right place and representing all the Australians who didn’t believe in the war. However, I was not as brave as another Australian, Osama, who was Iraqi born and a Queensland farmer. He decided to be a human shield at the oil refineries. Can you image what a bombed oil refinery would be like?

I have a deep seated understanding that violence will never bring lasting change.
We are against domestic violence., We are against violence in the community, between neighbours, Why should we accept violence between countries?
If you make comprises with your values and compromise your ideals, you will never be free.
You can do what is right, or just be silent.
I found a voice and I think I did something worthwhile which is part of shaping a better world and I gain deep satisfaction from that.