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Despite his recognition as a true hero, Darren Flanagan remains humble and exudes an aura of kindness and gratitude. Meeting Darren is like conversing with an old friend, and it’s plain that Flanagan is a down-to-earth man of depth and integrity.
Recently presented with a National Bravery Awards medal, Darren is candid about the impact of the Beaconsfield mine disaster on his life. Darren, as well as the others involved were significantly and eternally affected by their role in the rescue mission. In his presentations, Darren now speaks about the very real issues of mental health that can follow such a traumatic ordeal. By addressing these issues, he hopes to spark a broader conversation, encouraging those who’ve suffered to reach out to others. In particular, Darren emphasises the importance of genuine and open camaraderie between men, intimating that the typical “tough guy” approach can be isolating.
Darren Flanagan’s presentations focus not only on the rescue story and mental health awareness, but take a broader approach to workplace and organisational considerations. Darren is able to tailor his presentations to meet the needs of each group, but he always speaks on topics which are of great personal importance to him. Overarching themes of his talks consistently concentrate on resilience, perseverance, effort, bravery, innovation, connection, teamwork, and a positive spirit.
On an April night in 2006, Darren Flanagan was at home in Nowra when he received a phone call that would irrevocably change his life. An accomplished miner and explosives expert, Darren’s services were requested at the site of a collapsed Tasmanian gold mine. Flying immediately to the site, Darren prepared to help save the lives of two men who were trapped nearly 1km beneath the surface. This was an ordeal that would affect him deeper than he knew.
The name Darren Flanagan gained national recognition through his critical role in the Beaconsfield mine disaster. Darren was instrumental, heading far underground and operating more than 70 individual explosives over a period of 30 straight hours. Two weeks after the collapse, the rescue mission was successful (with Darren at the centre of it) and the grateful and exhausted miners walked free.
In this emotional and truly memorable session, Darren will share his story and in doing so, demonstrate the capacity of ordinary people to show unrelenting spirit and perform under extreme pressure when faced with a set of extraordinary circumstances.
Darren’s presentations are always passionate and thrilling however Darren includes a mix of humour as well to ensure audiences are taken on a roller coaster ride. He draws guests into a real life drama. His presentation and stories are truly memorable.