“Children notice what we do as adults. Our good deeds can lead the way and give them joy and hope for a better world,” wrote Prof. Arnold Dix in a heartfelt X post.
For the Australian lawyer, engineering professor, and emergency response expert, these words are more than just a mantra—they are a way of life.
In 2023, a young girl from Pondicherry dressed as Prof. Dix for her school’s fancy dress competition. Touched by this gesture, Dix launched a search for the girl and her family, eventually discovering that she attended Aditya Vidyashram Residential School in Pondicherry.
A year later, Dix fulfilled a promise to visit her, her family, and her school, saying, “I kept my promise and travelled to pay my respects.”
Dix’s commitment to inspiring young minds aligns with his extraordinary work in saving lives. Just last November, this Aussie hero played a pivotal role in rescuing 41 Indian labourers trapped in a collapsed Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel in the Himalayas for 17 harrowing days.
The rescue, which could have ended in tragedy, instead became a testament to perseverance and Australia-India cooperation.
While in Europe, Dix was alerted by India’s chief engineer about a tunnel collapse in the Himalayas, where unstable conditions threatened rescue efforts.
Arriving in India on November 19, with the story already a national headline, Dix confidently assured journalists the team would rescue all 41 trapped workers before Christmas.
“I cried when the men were reunited with their families—an outcome no one thought possible at times,” Dix told 3AW radio.
Reflecting on the experience, he described the moment as “a reaffirmation that good people can do good things.”
Dix worked alongside Indian rescuers, navigating monumental challenges that included unstable terrain and broken machinery. His expertise in tunnel safety proved crucial in preventing further disasters, as the team worked “softly and slowly” to free the workers.
For Dix, the rescue was deeply personal. “It was for their country. These are their children that we’d brought home,” he told media. The emotional reunion was broadcast live, with 1.4 billion Indians celebrating the triumph together.
Dix, who has spent 20 years helping organisations and communities make better decisions, is now back in Australia, tending to his flower farm in the Yarra Ranges. But his experiences—from inspiring a schoolgirl in Pondicherry to leading a life-saving mission in the Himalayas—continue to resonate.
“Many peoples—one world,” he wrote, urging everyone to act with kindness and inspire the next generation.
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