By Sonia Isaacs
GRADUATING Beerwah State High School student Annabell MacKinney-Clohesy made one of the most memorable arrivals of this year’s formal season, travelling to the event in a Bushmaster armoured vehicle as a tribute to her late father, Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010
For Annabell, finishing high school was a joyful milestone touched with deep emotion. Her father drove a Bushmaster in Iraq and Afghanistan, shaping her wish to honour him by arriving at her Year 12 formal in the same kind of vehicle.
“I think it’s going to make my night a whole lot more special, and it’s going to give me something to look forward to… it’ll remind me of how special it is,” she said earlier in the week, ahead of the formal.
That wish became a reality thanks to Victoria Cross recipient Dan Keighran, a close family friend, who helped coordinate the convoy. “He said, ‘I can get that organised for you.’ And the next day, when we saw him, he said, ‘That’s all set up.’”
On the afternoon of the Beerwah State High School Formal, the Bushmaster led a small convoy supported by the Australian Army, which also provided a Hawkei light armoured vehicle and the battalion mascot “Blue” to accompany Annabell. Adding to the significance of the moment, Annabell was escorted by her stepdad Damien, who she credits for helping her navigate the toughest moments of growing up without her biological father.
“I’ve asked Damien to be my escort with one of his best mates,” she said. “He’s my best friend. I would not have made it through school without him, and Mum wouldn’t have been able to be the mum she is without him.”
In the lead-up to the formal, Annabell shared that stepping into adulthood without her father present had been emotionally challenging.
The convoy, she said, helped bring him into the moment with her. “I’m so glad my stepdad can come with me, but it’s still hard being 18 and graduating without my dad here. It helps knowing I’ve got Damien, but stepping into adulthood and finishing school… sometimes it can be tough not having Dad here watching and cheering me on,” she said.
Although she was a toddler when he died, his memory remained a guiding presence as she reached this milestone.
“This is a really special way to honour the connection with my dad. I don’t think I’d have to say anything. I would just know he’s proud of me.”
Annabell’s mum, Beckie Mackinney-Clohesy, said the Army’s support had deeply touched the family.
“My first husband, Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. I was pregnant with our second child at the time and our daughter Annabell was just not quite three years old. She has grown up knowing who her biological dad was, how much he loved her, and the incredible service he gave his country,” Beckie said.
“Earlier this year, Annabell told me her dream was to arrive at her school formal in a Bushmaster – the same light armoured vehicle her dad drove in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was such a meaningful idea to her, but I never imagined it could actually happen.”
Beckie said that when she mentioned it to family friend Dan Keighran at an event, he responded immediately. “He said, ‘We can make that happen,’ and by the next morning he had already spoken to the Chief of Army. They confirmed they would make it possible. We were absolutely overwhelmed.”
“Since then, the Battalion have wanted to do more… they’ve added another light armoured vehicle called a Hawkei and the Battalion mascot ‘Blue dog’ to accompany Annabell to the formal.”
“For us, as her parents, this means so much. Fifteen years on, seeing the Army continue to honour Jared’s memory in this way and make his daughter’s dream come true is incredibly moving.”
“Damien has been such a wonderful dad to all three of our children Annabell, Noah and Nate , and I know Jared would be over the moon that Damien has stepped up and loved the kids the way he has. We are truly grateful to the Army for the kindness and compassion they have shown our family.”