We refer to Michael Georgiou, John Laughton and Ernie Martens. There were many reasons for their success in life that can be used by those who purport to be our leaders to set higher benchmarks for those still to come to this great nation by whatever means, or are born into it.

American journalist Dennis Pragney wrote: "Goodness is about character: integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage. More than anything, it is about how we treat other people."

Georgiou and Martens were migrants, Laughton was born here. Those facts, in themselves, are enough for refresher courses for our political masters who have lost the way when, as MPs and senators, they should know very much better.

In the funeral service sheet for Georgiou, it said: "His family came to Australia for a better life and they found it. They accepted the Australian way of life and did not endeavour to bring any changes to the new country or expect anyone to change their ways to accommodate them, but only to contribute to its greatness.

"They were proud to be called Australians; the service sheet noted a line from the song, 'we are one and we are many and from all the lands on earth we come'." 

We should not forget it; rather we should be extending the invitation.

After internment at the hands of the Japanese in Indonesia in World War II, the Martens' family migrated to Perth. Ernie joined the Australian Army at 17; when I asked him, why the Army, he answered: "To repay the country that took us in and contribute to ensuring its peace and democracy."

It was to be a standard from which he never deviated. Some years later, during a discussion about famous clubs, he said with pride: "I am a member of the most famous club in Australia, the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, the most highly decorated unit in the Army."

This set me thinking, why on earth can a government not see the sense in compulsory national service so that young men and women may learn from the Ernie Martens' of our serving defence forces; the Michael Georgious' from the other side of the world and the John Laughtons' from civvy street.

In Martens' case a man who, among a multitude of achievements, majored in Italian and psychology at ANU and took up parachuting basically to overcome a fear of heights. Laughton was a public servant out of the top drawer, appraised by former Wagga Base Hospital director of nursing Pat Stephenson as: "The epitome of what a true public servant should be." Wagga Tigers stalwart Doug Priest added to Pat's assessment in three words about the club's no.1 badge holder: "Caring, passionate and meticulous." Here again, another example that a great public service unquestionably makes ordinary governments into great ones. How we need that as a nation right now.

This column has hammered ethics about service for the public good in recent years as our leaders desert such professionalism.

Public servants like Laughton are needed now more than ever. US President, Dwight D Eisenhower, put leadership this way: "The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity."

It is worthwhile mentioning as we examine the invaluable contributions of distinguished Australians, be they migrants or otherwise, that Hieu Van Le, current Governor of South Australia, the first person of Asian heritage to be appointed as a state governor, fled the Communist regime of Vietnam in 1977 and came by boat with his wife and 40 other refugees, landing in Darwin Harbour to seek a new life.

There is much to learn from these lives, and from that of Hieu Van Le: significantly the latter is resident in SA, the state Sir Thomas Playford led as Premier from 1938- 65 during its greatest period of development.

He ran his government at the highest level of integrity and demanded similar standards from his public servants.

One final message emerges from these DA stories: Having good parents was paramount.

Martens reflected it had "set him up for life", Georgiou saw it in his father's foresight to go to Australia "for a better life".