The Coffs Harbour Legacy Club extends throughout the Bellinger Valley district, encompassing Urunga, Bellingen and Dorrigo.

Mark became a Junior Legatee with the Dorrigo Chapter of the Coffs Club when his father, Greg, died in 1995, and Legacy supported Mark and his brother Brent over the next few years.

This help was acknowledged by Mark in his biography, The Crossroads, which was published late last year.

Mark was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime, for his valour in action in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Mark’s unit was ambushed by a group of insurgents and nine Australians were wounded.

As the battle raged around him, Mark drew enemy fire on several occasions to himself, so that wounded soldiers could be moved to safety.

This disregard for his own safety was displayed again when Mark courageously ran 80 metres across exposed ground to rescue a wounded coalition-forces interpreter.

Since being awarded the Victoria Cross, Mark has continued to serve and inspire the community and is an inspirational role model for young and old.

Mark was also the Young Australian of the year in 2010. He is married to Emma and has a son and a daughter.

Legatee Bob Denner, president of the Coffs Harbour Legacy Club, said it is a great honour to have Mark as patron.

“Mark epitomises everything that is good about our military connections and he provides a relevance for Legacy in our support of the widows and dependants of servicemen and women who have given their lives in service to our country or died as a result of that service,” he said.

Coffs Harbour Legacy serves some 600 Legacy widows and 20 dependants in the region, and is keen to engage with any person who might wish to be come a Legatee.

For more information, contact Bob Denner on 6652 7583.