SoldierOn.org.au
Inside this edition:
/SoldierOnAustralia
Connecting Students
@SoldierOnAust
Sgt Matthew Locke MG
Autumn 2017
2017 Pollie Pedal
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Contents Regular Items 5 18 21 24
Soldier On Update Activities updates Fundraising heroes Our corporate partners
Feature Stories 6
Soldier On's bid to reach regional Australia
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Connecting students with modern-day veterans
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Young offenders program The psychological science behind coffee catch ups
12 Remembering
Sgt Matthew Locke MG
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Helping veterans and their families transition
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The 2017 Pollie Pedal
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Soldier On launches K9 Support Program
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Soldier On Get in touch Ph: 1300 620 380 Email: info@soldieron.org.au
About Us Soldier On is a national not-for-profit focused on helping veterans and their families build successful futures. Our mission is to achieve the best reintegrated generation of serving and ex-serving defence personnel in Australia’s history. We believe the best way to achieve this is by offering a range of support, services, resources and opportunities to veterans and their families, including: §§ Employment Support Services – Soldier On has Veteran and Family Support Officers working in our centres that specialise in helping veterans and their families forge new career paths after leaving the military. These services help veterans leverage existing skillsets for civilian employment, identify gaps in their skillsets and identify appropriate training, education and career development opportunities. §§ Mental Health Support – Soldier On provides evidence based psychological treatment to veterans who have been affected by their service, as well as their family members, including partners, children, parents and siblings. Our psychologists can address a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma and stress related issues and pain and injury adjustment concerns, as well as relationship and family counselling. We have psychologists available in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Currumbin and Perth. §§ Social Connected Activities and Programs – We offer a range of wellbeing activities and programs to encourage veterans and their families to reconnect with themselves, their loved ones and the wider community. Some of these activities include regular coffee catch ups, yoga and art classes, Surf Therapy Program, golf days, sailing days and more. To support Soldier On, please head to our website at SOLDIERON.ORG.AU
Advertising Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser. Countrywide Austral adheres to stringent ethical advertising practices and any advertising inquiries should be directed to:
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Level 2, 310 King St, Melbourne VIC 3000 GPO Box 2466, Melbourne VIC 3001 Ph: 03 9937 0200 Fax: 03 9937 0201 Email: admin@cwaustral.com.au Web: www.cwaustral.com.au
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Soldier On Update Since the release of our last journal, the team at Soldier On has been extremely busy. In November 2016, we launched our Veteran and Family Support program. In addition to our social inclusion programs and mental health support the program added an Australian first inhouse veteran and spouse employment support program.
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ur program is about recognising our veterans’ remarkable skillsets, training and experiences. In return we encourage industry to provide them with fitting job opportunities. Our veterans have been leaders in uniform, let's allow them to also be leaders out of it. It is very much about giving veterans a hand-up and not a hand-out.
We are proud that Soldier On has matured to this stage before our fifth anniversary and we cannot thank the community enough. We are the community's reaction to the issue of veteran support, and we are honoured to serve those who have done so much for our country.
We will soon be commemorating ANZAC Day 2017. This year Soldier On has established a Schools Campaign that is Our employment support services have achieved significant focused on educating primary success since November with over school children about what a twenty five major companies signing Together, social connectedness, mental modern-day veteran is. We have up and twenty more in the process. These companies have decided that health support and employment support been overwhelmed by the response and over 630 schools around they will educate their workforce is providing a holistic, wrap-around Australia have registered for our on who modern veterans are, and service that not only helps veterans Anzac Day Pack. the skills and attributes that make them excel as employees. They and their families successfully This campaign was designed to will also, if the veteran has met the ensure this generation of school transition from the Defence Force into requirement, provide job interviews children, our country's future, have a the community, but also supports them and opportunities. For those deeper understanding that veterans unsuccessful during the recruitment through the rest of their lives, when don’t just come from the World Wars process, these companies will and Vietnam. and if needed. provide valuable feedback. Together, social connectedness, mental health support and employment support is providing a holistic, wrap-around service that not only helps veterans and their families successfully transition from the Defence Force into the community, but also supports them through the rest of their lives, when and if needed.
John Bale, CEO
Helping our wounded warriors
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Soldier On’s bid
to reach
regional
Last year was a difficult year for the veteran community. It was reported by News Corp that 78 veterans took their own life, with many more veterans’ lives impacted by mental health issues, family relationship breakdowns, violence, alcohol and substance abuse, incarceration and homelessness.
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n 2016, these issues gained increased media coverage and Australia gained a better understanding of what our veterans have experienced and the challenges they face in the years after service. As a country, we started to appreciate why after undertaking one of the most demanding, admirable and courageous jobs – defending our country – our veterans and their families need support readjusting to normal life. There is still much for us to understand, but these are important steps forward. Just as important were the steps taken to better recognise our veterans’ remarkable skillsets, experiences and personal attributes. It is our duty as a country – and it should be our honour – to provide our veterans and their families with the right support and opportunities once they leave the Defence Force. This ensures they can overcome any mental impacts from their service, readjust to a normal life and continue to be incredible leaders in our community. Last year Soldier On developed and launched a world-class Veteran and Family
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Australia Support Program, and with industry partnerships, we are changing the lives of veterans and families around Australia. But unfortunately, without government funding, there are only so many veterans and families we can support.
Soldier On wants to let you know that we have heard your calls and we have taken action.
We constantly receive calls for support from regional Australia; locals asking us why we aren’t in places like Darwin, northern Queensland, country New South Wales and many other locations. They can see the difference our services are making and they desperately want their local veterans to benefit too. Soldier On wants to let you know that we have heard your calls and we have taken action. In January, Soldier On presented the Australian government with our 2017/18 Federal Budget Submission for consideration. In our budget submission, we outlined the need for an effective response to the current issues veterans face by establishing
community based regional services, expanding psychology services to meet the needs of families, and improved collaboration and coordination across the sector. We proposed the government invest in:
§§ An expansion of Soldier On’s services to six regional locations and, in doing so, positively impact at least 48,200 veterans; §§ Psychological services to partners and children and those delivered through virtual infrastructure; and §§ An independent peak advocacy body for the veterans’ support services sector. As Soldier On approaches our fifth anniversary, our mission remains to achieve the best reintegrated generation of veterans in Australia’s history. We are not there yet but we are working hard to achieve it. Hopefully our budget submission will take us one step closer. Let 2017 be the year of action and change for our national heroes and their families. Helping our wounded warriors
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Connecting
students with
modern-day
veterans This Anzac Day, Soldier On is partnering with schools around Australia to connect our younger generations with our modern-day veterans.
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tudents often learn about the brave men and women who fought for and served Australia in WWI and WWII. While these veterans will always have a special place in our hearts and history, Soldier On believes students will also benefit from hearing stories from our modern-day diggers. To help connect students to our veterans of today, Soldier On has developed an Anzac Day Pack for Primary Schools. It includes: §§ An Anzac Day assembly run sheet; complete with links to relevant songs, readings and the Last Post. §§ A 90 second video of a veteran sharing his or her story as a modern-day veteran that can be played at Anzac Day assemblies. §§ Classroom resources, including: §§ interactive video with a former soldier, sailor and airwoman answering questions about being deployed overseas; §§ interactive video with 16-year-old author, Jessica Love who is the daughter of a veteran; §§ a ‘find-a-word’; §§ ’true or false quiz’; §§ links to books and songs; §§ information about how to email our troops overseas or send them postcards; §§ a recipe for Anzac biscuits; §§ a video teaching students how to salute; and §§ a sticker for each student. In return, Soldier On is asking primary schools to collect a gold coin from students to donate to Soldier On. The money raised will help Soldier On deliver vital support services to modern-day veterans and their family members. So far over 630 schools have registered.
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Young offenders program Soldier On and SHINE for Kids have combined forces in a new youth mentoring program.
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oldier On will recruit veterans as volunteer mentors for a mentoring program that aims to support young people transitioning from a Juvenile Justice Centre into the community. The program is managed and run by SHINE for Kids and funded by the NSW Department of Justice. This is currently available for veterans aged 24 years or older and located in Western Sydney and the Mid North Coast of NSW. SHINE for Kids supports children, young people and families who have relatives in the criminal justice system, working to address the barriers and challenges faced by those with a family member in custody. Their ‘Stand As One’ program provides mentoring aimed at young people who are moving from the Juvenile Justice System back into the community. After leaving custody, many young people may be at risk of re-offending, but evidence suggests that this is dependent on the degree of support an individual receives upon leaving a Juvenile Justice Centre. This mentoring program works towards reducing recidivism for young offenders and promotes better life choices to enable an individual’s potential. As a mentor in this program, you will begin your relationship with a mentee at least three months prior to their release date with
contact on a fortnightly basis. Once released, you will provide one on one support to the young person for 12 months, participating in social outings and other activities that have been designed to meet the needs and interests of the individual. As a positive and committed role model, you will give a young person the opportunity they need to break the cycle of incarceration.
This mentoring program works towards reducing recidivism for young offenders and promotes better life choices to enable an individual’s potential. All volunteers must attend an assessment interview and undergo checks and training before being matched with a young person. Mentors will receive ongoing support and supervision from SHINE for Kids. Applicants will be required to undergo a background check, including a Criminal Record Check and Working with Children Check. If you are interested in this opportunity, download the application form from our website or email NSW@soldieron.org.au for more information. Helping our wounded warriors
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The psychological science behind coffee catch ups Soldier On places a great deal of emphasis on social connection as a cornerstone of good mental health. Our experience shows that building supportive social networks promotes the best outcomes for our participants and their families. However, it might not always seem obvious how activities that Soldier On facilitates – like getting together for a coffee at one of our coffee catch-ups, or for a barbeque at a family day – can improve mental health.
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ne of the main reasons that we do these types of activities is to increase the sense of social connection among current and former serving personnel and among families. This is because we know that loneliness and social isolation are significant risk factors for mental health concerns. Recent research by Cacioppo et al. (2016) has shown that loneliness seems to be both an early warning sign and a contributing factor to mental health difficulties and suicide in military populations. This means that if we work to reduce loneliness and social isolation, we may assist people to reduce their risk of developing mental health concerns. We might also be able to assist people with mental health difficulties to reduce their symptoms through opportunities for meaningful connection with others.
While social isolation and loneliness can be experienced across the broader community, we know that many of the factors which contribute to feelings of loneliness in serving members are specific to military life. According to the research, factors which can increase feelings of loneliness include harassment within the platoon, perceived stress and perceived problematic behaviours within and by platoons. Members at risk of loneliness often have a history of being mistreated, of having unsatisfactory relationships, feeling emotionally strained and not feeling supported in their relationships with others, including within the military.
family and friends, emotional health, platoon cohesion and support and relationship quality with friends and platoon members. All areas of Soldier On’s work aim to reduce loneliness and increase social connectedness, to improve mental health outcomes for our participants and their families. Research shows that there are military-specific environmental and cultural factors which impact on feelings of loneliness. This suggests that just focusing on mental health symptoms alone will not be as effective in supporting the wellbeing of our participants as programs that target loneliness at an individual or organisational level. This is why Soldier On will continue to promote activities that bring people together, and to create genuine opportunities for meaningful connections with others.
if we work to reduce loneliness and social isolation, we may assist people to reduce their risk of developing mental health concerns.
In contrast, factors which decrease feelings of loneliness include regular contact with
Helping our wounded warriors
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Remembering
Sgt Matthew
Locke MG Sgt Matthew Locke MG was with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) when he was killed in action in Afghanistan on 25 October 2007. Following his death, Australia would come to learn about Matt and how he was a family man, a career soldier who was one of our finest and just generally a top bloke.
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ut his family, who conceded at the time of his death they thought Matt was invincible, remember him differently.
Matt was the “baby of the family”. The youngest of six children to Norm and Jan Locke, Matt had two older sisters, Belinda and Debbie and three older brothers, Wayne, Rowan and Nick. His sister Debbie says being the youngest of the family, all the brothers and sisters kind of thought Matt was theirs and he was very much loved. His death left a gaping hole in the family and Debbie admits there isn’t a single day that passes where they don’t think of Matt. He was also the last to leave home, leaving a special imprint in his parents’ lives. Matt was extremely close to his parents. His dad
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told a journalist not long after his death that they were “as close as 40 thieves,” and Matt worked with his father for two years before enlisting in the Australian Army on 11 June 1991, at just 17 years of age. There is no denying Matt had found his calling in life. He excelled in his career as a soldier and in November 1997 successfully completed the gruelling SASR selection course. He was also awarded the Medal for Gallantry in December 2006 for repeatedly exposing himself to intense rifle and machine gun fire to stop his patrol from being overrun. The Medal for Gallantry is awarded for bravery and is the third highest award in the Australian honours system. But if the Army was his calling in life, school certainly was not. In between bouts of laughter and a few tears shed, Debbie recalls how Matt was incredibly smart but hated school. Perhaps the best way to describe him is as bit of a scallywag. Debbie recalls the story about how one day Matt disagreed with his teacher, so he picked up his table, turned it around to face the back of the room and then sat down with his back towards the teacher. “He thought his teacher was a bit of a fool,” Debbie says while laughing, “so I guess he didn’t want to face her.” It would seem even from a young age, Matt had a strong set of values that he would live by during all his days. Not only would these values help him excel as a solider, but they
It would seem even from a young age, Matt had a strong set of values that he would live by during all his days. Not only would these values help him excel as a solider, but they were probably part of the reason why he was so well-liked. t Left Matthew Locke. Image Credit: Defence Force
were probably part of the reason why he was so well-liked. “Everyone loved Matt,” says Debbie. “He was a really, really good person.” But his strong values meant his work as a soldier – the places he would visit and the people he would meet – had a profound impact on him. “Matt was deployed to East Timor in 2001 and when he came back he kept saying how he wished the Timorese people had the same chance at life and the same freedoms we have in Australia,” explains Debbie. After Matt’s death, Debbie knew she had to continue his work of doing good for others and set up The Grub Club in 2008 in his honour. The Grub Club assists children in East Timor obtain an education. So far it has paid for volunteer teachers to be trained and for a school facility to be built. The following year the first annual Sgt Matthew Locke MG Charity Match was held in Matt’s home town of Bellingen. At the time, the captain of the Army Thunder football team, who also grew up in the Bellingen area and was a special forces soldier, presented the Locke family with the idea of the Army Thunder football team taking on local Bellingen Magpies in a charity match – and they loved it. It is hard to believe this February players took the field for the 9th annual Sgt Matthew Locke MG Charity Match. Money raised from this year’s event went towards Soldier On, as well as The Grub Club, Bellingen-Dorrigo Junior Rugby League Club and Fernmont RFS.
This Year’s Sgt Matthew Locke MG Charity Match On Saturday 25th February 2017, the 9th annual Matthew Locke MG Charity Rugby League match was held. It was a significant day, as this year marks 10 years since Matt was killed in action in Afghanistan. The day saw teams from the Army, Navy and Air Force come to Bellingen to play against local teams. The remembrance match was attended by NSW Governor His Excellency General, David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), and his wife Mrs. Hurley, as well as Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG. Also in attendance was the local Mayor, federal and local politicians, Group 2 Rugby League President and committee, other local dignitaries, members of Defence, and Matt's battalion buddies. With a great day planned, the weather played its part and all games were played in sunshine. A large crowd was in attendance and showed great support to the players and the Locke family. Matthew’s sisters, Debbie and Belinda, as well as brothers Wayne and Nick and their families were in attendance, and selling merchandise celebrating the day. It was great to see a community continuing to wrap their arms around a family by supporting them through friendship and sport whilst celebrating the life of one of their own. The generosity shown on that day had to be seen to be believed.
“This charity match is a place for the general community to come together with the defence community and honour Matt’s memory and service, and pay tribute and thanks to all our veterans. It’s also about building on Matt’s legacy,” says Debbie. “It’s special to be able to help others in Matt’s name. He would probably think we are crazy for running the event each year, but I also think he’d like it.” The war in Afghanistan may have been the longest conflict in Australia’s history but for Debbie, Matt’s other brothers and sisters, his wife Leigh-Ann and son Keegan, the impact from the war is felt for much, much longer.
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Helping veterans and their families transition Last November, we launched our world-class Veteran and Family Support Program. In the months since then, over 400 veterans and partners have signed up to access support with more than 35 already securing new employment and training opportunities.
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ur dedicated Veteran and Family Support Officers provide one-on-one support via phone or face-to-face meetings. They can help you develop a range of skills, including:
§§ How and where to search for employment opportunities; §§ How to build a better resume and tailor it for specific job opportunities; §§ How to prepare for interviews; §§ How to network for employment opportunities both online and in person; and §§ Skills to negotiate pay and conditions during the offer of employment stage. For some of you, the transition process may be very daunting. You may be unsure about what career you would like to pursue. Our Veteran and Family Support Officers can undertake career exploration with you. This involves undertaking a personality assessment, skills assessment and qualification assessment. After this, you and the Veteran and Family Support Officer can build a plan to help you forge a new career path. In addition to our employment support services, we are also working with industry partners to secure employment and training opportunities for veterans and families. So far 25 organisations have pledged their support and signed up to our program. The best way to access employment, education and training opportunities is to sign up to the program. You can do this by sending your name, contact details and state to veteranemployment@soldieron.org.au, then one of our team members will get in contact.
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The
2 17 Pollie Pedal S
ince 1990, over 290, 000 men and women have served in the Australian Defence Force. Some veterans and their families are impacted by this service in one way or another. This year, politicians across the nation will be riding to support Soldier On. The proceeds of Pollie Pedal 2017 will go towards developing Soldier On’s facilities in New South Wales, which means your support this year will help us make a big difference for many years to come.
“It is about appreciating that even the strongest, even the bravest, even the toughest, can carry scars through life that need to be understood and accepted. I congratulate Soldier On for the work they’re doing … recognising and helping all who are part of our ex-service community.” The Hon Tony Abbott MP, former Prime Minister of Australia Helping our wounded warriors
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K9 Soldier On Launches
Support Program
Mrs Linda Hurley, Co-Patron of Soldier On, together with His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales, officially launched Soldier On’s K9 Support Program on 14 February 2017.
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he program aims to assist veterans experiencing anxiety, hypervigilance, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or a physical disability with everyday tasks.
to everyday life, and re-engage with the community through the care and training of their service dog. This is a very strong step to help people to take control and rebuild their lives.”
Mrs Hurley commented: “I am honoured to launch the K9 Support Program. I know the importance of supporting our servicemen and women when they have returned home from operational service and the stresses that this can place on family life. This Program will assist them make the transition
A pilot of the program will be rolled out in the ACT and NSW, with hopes of a national roll out at a later date. Rob Marshall, National Services Director at Soldier On says the new initiative will complement Soldier On’s other services, including psychology support and social connected programs and activities.
tremendous benefits for veterans impacted by mental health issues and can significantly help them with everyday tasks.” The program is being delivered to Soldier On by Integra Service Dogs Australia, which is run by two passionate and dedicated volunteers, Ken LLoyd and Ben Johnson. Ben explains that the program has been developed in partnership with an accredited service dogs provider and has been designed to ensure maximum benefits for veterans.
“Soldier On is excited to launch our K9 Support Program because we have seen first-hand the difference service dogs can make in the lives of veterans impacted from their service to our country,” says Rob Marshall. “These amazing dogs can be trained to enter a room and make sure it is empty before a veteran walks in, stand in front of a veteran and create a protective barrier and even provide physical contact to a veteran if they are experiencing a nightmare – these are
p Above Mrs Linda Hurley, Co-Patron of Soldier On with His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd), Governor of New South Wales at the launch of the K9 Support Program.
“As part of the program, veterans will be trained as dog handlers and will in turn train their own service dog. This program can have huge benefits for veterans, even reducing their medication in some instances,” says Ben Johnson. Service dogs will be provided to veterans as part of the program but in some cases veterans can bring their own dog to the program, subject to suitability. The pilot program kicks off in Canberra and Sydney with up to eight veterans taking part. The program will work side-by-side, and in addition to, a veteran’s psychological treatment. Helping our wounded warriors
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Activities Update
Creative Writing Workshop Soldier On NSW recently ran a series of Creative Writing Workshops. These workshops were facilitated by screenwriter and secondary school teacher Alastair Brown. Feedback from the workshops was extremely positive with participants saying that writing is a fantastic creative and calming outlet that helps them express their feelings and work through problems with an objective perspective.
Golf Golf is held on the first Monday of every month in Canberra at the Gungahlin Lakes Golf Course. This is a great chance for participants to learn new skills, create new connections and an opportunity to create short term purpose with goals to work towards.
Family Sailing Day Thanks to the ongoing support of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, veterans and their families have been able to enjoy another family sailing day in NSW. Social connected activities and programs like this are a chance to get together, share experiences and make great new friends.
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p Above Image Credit: Surfing Australia.
Surf Therapy Soldier On has partnered with Surfing Australia and nudie® juices to offer a Surf Therapy Program to current and ex-serving members of the Defence Force and their families. This partnership provides participants with a unique rehabilitation experience. As part of our program, Surfing Australia offers both intermediate surf camps at the Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre (HPC) at Casurina Beach, and learn to surf lessons facilitated by Surfing Australia affiliated surf schools across Australia. Recently, a number of participants took part in the HPC weekend, with one veteran saying that “surfing has given me a new lease in life and has really made me stop and appreciate the simple things.” The Learn to Surf Weekends have also been taking place around the country with the last one being held at Redhead Beach in Newcastle. Helping our wounded warriors
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Art Classes Recently, Art classes were held at the Gregory Sher Reintegration and Recovery Centre in Melbourne. These classes are a great chance for individuals to engage in a relaxing learning experience, express themselves in a creative way and meet other like-minded individuals in a casual environment. The culmination of the classes saw the participants exhibit their work in a small exhibition held at the centre. The spouse of one participant said that the Soldier On art program had been fundamental in helping her partner settle in and adjust to their new posting.
Melbourne Zoo Nine families enjoyed a day out at the Melbourne Zoo during January. This outing was an opportunity for families to connect and relax after the holiday season and before the back to school rush. Those who went along said: “It was such a nice day, my family realised how much we needed this and how much Soldier On have helped” “It was so good to see the family relax and smile, especially my partner.”
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“Being able to get back into art with Soldier On has seen him much calmer at home. It has given him an outlet and provided him with a purpose. He comes home happy with not only what he has accomplished but because he has had the chance to chill out and chat with others. Our son now sits at the table with him and they complete art projects together. It is great seeing them bond in this way and seeing him do something he is passionate about.”
To find out more about activities going on in your state and to get involved contact:
ACT – act@soldieron.org.au NSW – nsw@soldieron.org.au VIC – vic@soldieron.org.au
SA – sa@soldieron.org.au WA/NT - wa@soldieron.org.au QLD – qld@soldieron.org.au
Fundraising heroes
Gerald Slaven Holden and Volkswagen Many thanks to Nathan Hayes and the team at Gerald Slaven Canberra, who recently handed over the keys to a brand new 7-seater van. Provided at no cost, this van allows Soldier On to move veterans, families, staff and equipment around Canberra and further afield for events, workshops and meetings.
Illona Bebbington Pinups with a Cause The ladies at Pinups with a Cause have always been great supporters of Soldier On. Over the Christmas period they decorated a Christmas Tree at the Penrith Panthers Club as part of their Tree of Hope campaign. The trees were voted on by the staff and public for the top prize. The Pinups with a Cause tree won the ‘Staff Favourite’ category, raising $2,000 for Soldier On.
Illona Bebbington, from Seymour, Victoria, held a BBQ during our Host a BBQ campaign and did a fantastic job at rallying the local community behind her. While her original goal was $300, a donation from the local Darts Association and a bucket collection at the local markets saw Illona smash her target and raise an incredible $3,300 for Soldier On. Illona said, “I think the general public need to made aware of what life is really like when our loved ones come home physically, but not mentally. I’m very fortunate; about 60 per cent of the time my partner is the man I fell in love with, but 40 per cent of the time it is like he is someone completely different who I barely recognise. We send them, we must mend them.” Helping our wounded warriors
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Lemonade Stand Rosie, Jack, Will and Jess held their annual Australia Day lemonade stand. Every year, the siblings sell homemade lemonade to their local community and raise money for a charity of their choice. This year they chose Soldier On and raised the most they ever have – an amazing $860! We are very proud of their efforts.
Patriots MMC For three years, the South Queensland Chapter of the Patriots Military Motorcycle Club have held regular BBQs at Gasoline Alley Harley Davidson Brisbane. Over the past year, they held 11 BBQs and raised over $6000 for Soldier On. During 2017, they plan to hold another 12 fundraising BBQs. We continue to be appreciative of the incredible support we receive from the Club and store, and if you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by for a sausage!
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Want to Support our
Modern Veterans? Regular Giving
Red Bull Dinghy Derby Amanda and John competed in the 2017 Red Bull Dinghy Derby in Renmark, South Australia. In this extreme sporting event, competitors race in modified fishing boats, reaching speeds of up to 90km/h while they navigate the twists and turns of the Murray River. Amanda and John were hard to miss in their bright red boat raising awareness for Soldier On, and they managed a podium finish in third place.
There are approximately 210 people who participate in our regular giving program. Over the year, they have donated a combined total of $50,000. For just the price of a cup of coffee, regular giving is a simple and easy way to help Soldier On support veterans and their families. Sign up at donation.giveeasy. org/soldier-on.
Workplace Giving Soldier On has over 14 companies who have registered with our workplace giving program, including the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Soldier On is grateful for the support from employees of these organisations, and encourages other workplaces to get involved.
Bequest For information on how to leave a bequest to Soldier On in your will, contact us.
Fundraise You can fundraise for Soldier On by holding a fundraiser or participating in an event.
Pushups for PTSD Shakira has taken the 22 Pushup challenge to the next level, having completed over 200 consecutive days of 101 pushups as part of her goal to raise $8,000 for Soldier On. So far, Shakira has raised over $5000 (and counting!) and completed around 13,000 pushups!
You can host a BBQ, a dinner or trivia night or a theme day, or participate in an obstacle course, fun run or bike ride. The only limit is your motivation and imagination. Contact us to find out how.
For more information visit our website, or email fundraise@soldieron.org.au
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Our Corporate Partners Soldier On are grateful for the support of so many Corporate partners and sponsors. Please see below for the organisations that provide vital funding that keeps Solder On and its support alive.
Principal Partners
Ernest Heine Family Foundation Principal In-Kind Partners
Major Partners
In Kind Supporters
Strategic Partner
Legal Partner
RPS Group
ACT Fitness Partner
Champions
Associates
Jamieson Foley Gerald Slaven Hewlett Packard AUS.
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Ainslie Group Clubs ACT Elgas
GoodGuys Canberra Lockheed Martin
Free counselling sessions provided by Soldier On Soldier On recognises a veteran’s time in the Defence Force doesn’t just impact him or her; it can impact the whole family. Whether you are the mum, dad, wife, husband, child or even sibling of a veteran, you may feel the need to talk to one of our experienced psychologists in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Currumbin or Perth about issues either you or your veteran are experiencing. We off er a range of psychology services, including individual counselling for adults and adolescents, as well as couples and relationship counselling and counselling for families. Our psychological treatment is evidenced-based and can address a range of mental health concerns, including trauma and stress-related issues, depression, anxiety, relationship diffi culties and pain and injury adjustment concerns.
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