Mercenary Mum: My Journey from Young Mother to Baghdad Bodyguard (23 page)

Standing in front of a Blackwater Mamba vehicle (aptly named ‘Chick Magnet’) in 2005, holding a clip-on koala which I later gave the driver.

On the Ronin close protection course, 2005, and about to head out on an assessed mission with a teammate. I had been appointed Counter Assault Team Leader for the test.

Paul and me in Perth in 2006 – our first time together outside a war zone. We ended up buying a house not far from where this photo was taken.

Paul’s kids, Liam and Georgia, with Kane in 2007.

ABBREVIATIONS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Firstly, I would like to thank my husband, Paul, for all the support and encouragement he has given me over the years. Without his persistence – or obsessive insistence – it might have been another ten years before this book was published.

I would also like to thank the Silver Fox for messing around with destiny and setting Paul and me up to fall in love on that fateful night in Baghdad. And Skippy, thank you for burning your penis and providing us with the opportunity to be alone. (I do hope everything is okay down there now.)

Thanks to my friends from Team Apollo, in particular Outpatient, Wolf, Cobra, Horse, Dr Evil, Ali, Buster and Bee. Your ongoing friendship has meant the world to me. Outpatient, you’re a legend. Wolf, I hope this book helps dispel the myths that the haters have believed for so long.

To my Blackwater crew – Diablo, Church, Scooter, Butters, Cowboy, T Boy, Spoon, 86, Bram and Yogi: thanks for the memories, and for your professionalism when on missions.

Thanks to the Blackwater Mamba team – roll hard, roll heavy!

To the ‘black ops’ team: no ice-cream has ever come close to tasting as good as what we had that night.

Teamwork and leadership have played a major role in my story. As corny as it might sound, thanks to the Australian Army for its quality training, strong ethics and exceptional defence personnel. I was proud to serve my country. Thank you, Major Murray Heron and Leo Legend, for believing in me and inspiring me to be the best that I can be.

I want to thank my mum and dad for all the experiences I was provided with throughout my childhood (except for the ones where I got in trouble).

Dad, thanks for brainwashing me with your ‘straight as an arrow’ values system and your incredible work ethic. I am truly grateful that you taught me the importance of being honest and doing a job properly.

Mum, thanks for giving me the freedom to explore and participate in ‘male’ sports and activities. Thanks for teaching me how to be a mum, and for helping me in the times when I was alone and struggling with Kane.

Kane, thanks for being the best little kid a mum could want (note ‘little’ kid – this teenage thing is not so fun). I hope you grow up never wanting to work in the private security industry, and instead go on to have a stellar career in the NRL.

I’d like to thank my siblings, Ced, Lil, Shannon and Naomi. Our relationship has shaped me and influenced my decisions in life, and for that I am indebted to you.

Thank you to my dear friend Pauline Sanders. Your friendship, support, enthusiasm and zest have been critical to my success. Reaching for the stars is far easier when you have a friend holding you up to the sky.

I would like to thank authors Robert Schofield and Michael John Barnes for feeding my caffeine addiction at coffee shops and for all the advice they gave about getting my book published. And thank you so much for introducing me to my agent, George Karlov.

To George: thank you for believing in my story and for fighting tooth and nail to get it published. After eight years of feeling rejected, you brought my story back to life and made my dream a reality. Your professionalism, determination and enthusiasm have been a godsend, and your sharp humour has made the journey enjoyable. You are the best!

To my publishers at Black Inc. and Nero Books: thanks for publishing a book about an unknown chick doing an unknown job in a world that most people didn’t know existed. It has been a pleasure working with the team, in particular Bridget Maidment, who did an outstanding job editing my work.

Thanks to the creative team who designed the book cover: photographer Francis Andrijich, make-up artist Gail Wilton, and Black Inc.’s Peter Long. You turned this old soldier into a Battle Barbie – and that’s no easy feat!

Finally, I want to acknowledge all the private security contractors who are still working in the industry. You will never be thanked, you will never be honoured, you will never be remembered for your achievements. Your military service will be forgotten, you’ll be labelled mercenaries, and your heroism on the battlefield will never be known. But you do an important job bringing stability to war-torn countries.

Industry regulation and legislation is the only way forward. It will provide protection for your professional reputation, it will act as a guideline for security operations overseas, and it will ratify the important work that private military companies do for legitimate governments.