If you've had your head buried in the sand and haven't heard of Susan Boyle (Pictured above), then I suggest you watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBTVdnWj1hM (It can't be embedded as it's been disabled on Youtube).

What Susan lacks in looks, fashion and everything else we expect many to be, she more than makes up for with her amazing singing talent and attitude to life.

Watch her dance and talk and present herself before and after her mind blowing perforance on Britain's Got Talent.

Watch the judges. They've dismissed Susan before she's even begun singing!

After watching this a few times, it got me thinking about the things I saw and did when I was more active with the emergency services.

We had many a new member join full of enthusiasm and a real "can do" and "want to" attitude.

Only to have it eroded away over time by the knockers.

There's knockers everywhere we go, in all walks of life.

What I struggle with though, is the so called brotherhood where many seem to think it's acceptable to put others down, to question motives and belittle those that show a more active interest in doing something for themselves and the community.

I've seen this first hand. I've even been a part of it at times.

It's only as I've progressed a bit further in my career that I realise the loss that the emergency services and the community has now suffered because we literally (whether intentional or not) drove someone to quit before we saw their full potential.

As I look back now, I question why it happens? Are we threatened? I don't know.

Again, watch the video, show your friends, show your family and the extended family we're a part of.

And before you or your collegues knock someone for showing some enthusiasm to do something, consider what talents we and the community could be losing.

I say hooray for the underdogs! And knock 'em dead Suzan- good luck!!!! :-)