As head of special operations forces for the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, Brigadeer Mark Smethurst commanded 2500 coalition forces from 25 different countries, partnered with 5000 Afghani special police.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
He would spend three or four days a week driving around dusty, harsh Afghanistan, responding to high-profile attacks, dodging rocket-propelled grenades and shot-down helicopters, seeing first-hand the aftermath of a Taliban siege situation, fought out to the death.
For someone who believed in the mission, and its core aim of training and legitimising the Afghan national security forces, the country’s troubles posed mighty questions.
But today it is problems of a lesser magnitude – such as Australian male bravado – that occupy Mr Smethurst, the newest commissioner of the NSW State Emergency Service.
“Historically, the people that drive in flood waters are males [aged] over 60 and males under 30,” Mr Smethurst told the Mercury.
“The males under 30 can't be told what to do; the males over 60 think they know what the response will be.”
Mr Smethurst comes to the role with 35 years worth of military experience, most of it in leadership positions.
He promises to bring a volunteer-first focus and – importantly, with the leadership of the SES coming in for uncomfortable scrutiny over the past four years – staying power, to the role.
In 2013 a volunteer, Dr Jason Wu, spoke out in the pages of the Mercury about alleged racial discrimination and a “boys' club” culture within the SES.
The following year an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation found then-commissioner Murray Kear acted corruptly by dismissing whistleblower Tara McCarthy, and failing to investigate corruption claims against his deputy and friend, Steve Pearce. A magistrate later contradicted the commission, finding Kear not guilty of sacking a whistleblower.
A subsequent commissioner, Adam Dent, spent a year in the role before resigning in January 2016 over a drink-driving conviction.
“Clearly there’s been turbulence in my job over the years; I think people just want to get on with it,” Mr Smethurst said, adding he did not yet have enough experience of the organisation to form a view on the “boys’ club” question.
“I've come into this job feeling really comfortable about it. I've had 35 years in the military: I commit to things.”
He intends to focus on recruitment and retention, volunteer training and operational capability. Training would include some new online components and tie-ins with the Rural Fire Service, aimed at getting volunteers out into the field faster.
“People join volunteer organisations to actually go out and help, not to sit around waiting to do courses for months and months on end,” he said.
A self-declared “army brat”, Mr Smethurst has left his family in Canberra as he transitions to the role, allowing his son to complete year 12 without changing schools.