Daryl Elliott Green
BJusS QUT | MAppFin USQ
It was just one phone call. One intense second in time and the catalyst that changed Senior Sergeant Daryl Elliott Green’s life forever.
At 3:50am on 1 May 2000, in a dark Brisbane cul-de-sac, Daryl Elliott Green was TWICE SHOT – once in the face and a second time in the shoulder.
Few Australians could have missed the horrific news of the Hanbury Street shooting in Queensland on the May Day long weekend of 2000.
It all began when a Hanbury Street resident made a triple zero call, reporting threats from a neighbour who had a number of guns and “loads and loads of ammo”.
On arrival at the scene, the then Constable Green and his colleagues, Constable Sharnelle Cole and Sergeant Chris Mulhall, were sitting in a police car performing background checks when they were ambushed by a gun wielding neighbour and shot numerous times at close range. Despite the inescapable barrage of bullets, the three officers miraculously survived.
Shot in the face and shoulder by a semi-automatic .22 calibre rifle from a metre away, Daryl had just encountered every police officer’s worst nightmare.
Doubled over by the impact, and suffering critical injuries and blood loss, he somehow managed in the chaos to draw his service revolver, exit the vehicle and start searching for the gunman.
Three weeks later, after a massive manhunt, Nigel Parodi, a former private schoolboy known to police, was found dead in bushland near the Chermside crime scene. He had taken his own life.
Following a 20 month period of recovery, Daryl eventually returned to work with the Queensland Police Service, and in an effort to get on with his life, embarked on a Master of Applied Finance from the University of Southern Queensland, which he completed in 2008. But during this time and over the next seven years, Daryl climbed physical, as well as, mental mountains. While he underwent a series of facial reconstruction surgeries, for the first time in his life, he experienced debilitating depression. Yet, somehow, through it all, he was able to find within himself an incredible strength of character, determination and resilience that at times he didn’t know he had.
During this long road to recovery, Daryl realised he could use his experiences to help others. His unique journey through adversity and the lessons he’d learned along the way could provide positive learning opportunities.
Daryl gave his first talk in 2006, which eventually led to birth of TWICE SHOT, his speaking business focusing on lessons in resilience, courageous conversations, leadership and brave decisions.
From joining the police at 18, to the harrowing shooting at age 27, and the dark years of operations, depression, anxiety, anger, hyperarousal, dreams, flashbacks and triggers, to his eventual recovery, Daryl has many insights he can tap into and much to offer.
At TWICE SHOT talks, audiences hear about the events of the night, the lead up to the shooting and Daryl’s pathway to recovery. The talks include a highly visual behind-the-crime walk through, complete with spine chilling audio from the shooting, CSI-style ballistics mapping and crime scene reconstructions.
Daryl delivers highly inspirational, motivational and valuable talks, workshops and programs, complete with handouts, worksheets and follow-up materials, that draw on all his areas of expertise. His audiences to date have included corporations, emergency services, community groups, managers, front line workers and victims of traumatic events, in cities and country towns in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Germany.
He thinks he may have found his calling and this was affirmed to him when he was awarded the 2015 Kerrie Nairn Scholarship. This prestigious scholarship is awarded by Professional Speakers Australia to the person they see as ‘the next best thing’ on the Australian public speaking circuit.
Senior Sergeant Daryl Elliott Green has received many distinguished awards, most notably the Queensland Police Service Valour Award – the highest award for valour in the Queensland Police Service.
Citation: “In the early hours of 1 May 2000, Sergeant Christopher Mulhall and Constables Daryl Green and Sharnelle Cole responded to a complaint by a person that a neighbour had threatened to enter his residence at West Chermside, shoot him, and then turn the gun on himself…With screams of ‘I’m going to get you’ the offender ambushed the officers by rapidly discharging a series of .22 calibre sub-sonic rounds through the open doors of the police vehicle, wounding all three officers. Despite being unaware of the whereabouts of the offender and having sustained gunshot wounds to the face, Constable Green immediately drew his Service revolver and placed himself in front of the police vehicle to provide protection for Constable Cole. Senior Constable Brett Price then arrived at the scene and dragged Constable Green, who had by now lost a significant amount of blood, to the side of the police vehicle…Although having sustained serious gunshot injuries, Constable Green demonstrated courage in endeavouring to ensure the safety and well-being of fellow officers. By his actions, Constable Green displayed exceptional bravery.”
Daryl Elliott Green has overcome the physical and Post Traumatic Stress injuries he suffered as a result of being TWICE SHOT. He resumed his passion for travel, skiing, running, learning languages and cooking, and in March 2013, accomplished the grueling climb up Mount Kilimanjaro as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics Australia.
Daryl is an engaging and captivating speaker with a remarkable and insightful story. He has learned numerous lessons and has a unique perspective on life due to his miraculous journey. He enjoys sharing his experiences with others, especially those who are experiencing trauma or after effects from adverse events.
