Retiree honoured for bravery during Bourke Street terror attack

WHEN a vehicle exploded on Bourke Street on November 9, 2018, retiree Rodney Patterson did not hesitate when he ran over to assist the driver he feared may still be inside.

“I was a professional firefighter in Launceston in Tasmania for 18 years, so it was just instinct,” he said.

“I instantly thought ‘I’m going to rescue that person’, but when I got there, it was evident there was no one inside.”

As Mr Patterson searched the area surrounding the vehicle for an injured driver, a man, later identified to be Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, lunged at him with a long knife, stabbing him in the head.

“I had a 14cm gash, 4cm deep. He cut the main artery,” Mr Patterson said.

“I knew I was in trouble because every time my heart beat, I felt a spurt of blood.”

As he called for help, Mr Patterson watched the chaos unfold around him.

“All I could see was people filming it and someone offered me his jumper and pulled me off the road and that’s when my wife came and found me,” he said.

“We said goodbye because I thought it was all over.”

Two others were stabbed in the attack, including well-respected restauranteur Sisto Malaspina who died at the scene, before the attacker was shot by police and later died in hospital.

For his courageous actions, the now-Torquay resident has been awarded a Bravery Medal by the Governor-General.

The decoration recognises acts of bravery where a person selflessly puts themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

But Mr Patterson said the recognition comes with “mixed emotions”.

“This incident has changed my life forever and I wish it never occurred.

“Having that thought, conflicts me with what I’ve been awarded.”

While he said the award would be a nice thing for his family to one day look back on, the lasting impacts of the incident have taken a significant toll.

“Mentally, it’s day by day.

“There’s so much happening in the world that brings this front-of-mind…so it’s really difficult to put it behind you.

“One thing I would like to get across to everyone is it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be sad, but it’s not okay to hate because hate is what done this.”

Mr Patterson and his wife, who have just welcomed their first grandchild, relocated to Torquay approximately three months ago to be closer to their children.

“It’s been difficult to make friends, but we’re hoping we can embrace the community and they embrace us,” he said.