Soldier On Winter 2023

From the top 5

New CEO Amy Cooper reflects on a busy first few months leading Soldier On.

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March On 10

The annual March On with Soldier On Challenge returned for the fourth consecutive year.

March On 12

We find out the motivation behind the cause from participants.

Vocational training with western sydney university’s the college 27

Soldier On participants to undertake a Diploma of Project Management.

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Success

Kristy Lewis talks about overcoming adversity with the Pathways Program.

About Us

A little goes a long way

Fundraising initiative created by Espresso Room CEO has raised more than $15,000 for Soldier On.

Get in touch

Ph: 1300 620 380

Email: getsupport@soldieron.org.au

Serving

On with March On

Soldier On staff member and ex-Air Force veteran Zane takes on the Match On Challenge.

Soldier on volunteer brings vital support to regional Victoria

As a national charity, we support more than 11,000 veterans and their family members through our Health and Wellbeing services, Employment Support, Learning and Education Programs, as well as Participation and Social Connection activities. Our services help individuals build resilience and create meaningful connections with family, community and employers. These programs are made possible through the generous support of the Australian Community, the Australian Government through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and our Corporate Partners.

Soldier On is a leader in supporting those who have served and continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force. With an exemplary track record of providing practical and emotional assistance critical to building successful post-service lives, Soldier On is recognised as an essential first port of call for veterans and their families as they transition from the Defence Force to civilian life.

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Canberra Gala Ball

Connecting our joint goals, vision and values.

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Paving the way as a Platinum Pledge Partner

Synergy’s ongoing collaboration with Soldier On is driven by shared principles.

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Possibilities of life after ADF

Soldier On Ambassador Jody Hillier talks about life after Defence.

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Invictus Australia supports soldier on employee on unrivalled adventure

A team of six former and current serving veterans as part of the Allied Winter Sports Camp.

36 Soldier On volunteer lives through affliction.

Thriving, not just suriving

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Building Better Relationships

Our Health and Wellbeing team show connection with family is an important part of living.

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Vet Connect

Giving our veterans and their families a chance to enjoy some rest and relaxation and creating connection.

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. Advertising funds the production, print and distribution of this journal, allowing Soldier On to get the word out. Countrywide Austral adheres to stringent ethical advertising practices and any advertising inquiries should be directed to:

GPO Box 2466, Melbourne VIC 3001

Ph: 03 9937 0200

Web: www.cwaustral.com.au

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Social Connections

Catch up on the latest programs around the country.

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We spoke to Soldier On Ambassador Jody Hillier about her remarkable career with the Air Force and what came next.

On the cover: Ambassador, Jody Hillier

Photography: Ryan Banks

From the Top

The success of our annual March On challenge was a wonderful introduction for me to the Soldier On community and its incredible generosity and support. I’m so pleased we’re able to share some of those stories with you in this journal.

The recent release of the Defence Strategic Review identifies a need for Australia to adapt and build capability within the Military, reminding us just how critical it is that we’re supporting serving ADF members and their families with wellbeing and resilience programs.

The interim report from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide produced some initial recommendations that have been adopted by both the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence, resulting in some positive first steps. One of these is the intended simplification and harmonisation of Veterans’ Legislation. It’s been great to see such a swift response from Minister Matt Keogh, and Government consultation with the veteran community already underway. We will be advocating for a process that allows veterans and their families to access the Government support they need and deserve in a more straightforward

and timely manner and without the unnecessary stress the current system can cause.

The Federal Budget announced increased funding to support veterans and families accessing services through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. We hope to see some strong outcomes from this.

As you have probably heard, the Budget also brought some disappointing news for us. For the past several years, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans (EESV) grant program has been the primary source of funding for our Pathways Program. The EESV grant program will not be continued as part of the new Budget, and we have been advised there is no identified alternative funding stream available for the program.

Pathways has been an incredibly successful program for Soldier On, and it has expanded to meet the ever-growing demand of the veterans’ community. The program currently provides employment and learning support to more than 7,000 current serving and transitioning ADF members, veterans, and their family members nationally. We know

this community has highly valuable skills to bring to civilian jobs and the Australian workforce.

Soldier On is committed to delivering our holistic HELP model, of which Pathways is an integral part. This means Soldier On is in the process of scaling our operations and refining our service delivery across the organisation. We will be looking for new ways to work with Government, and to deepen and strengthen our connections with our incredible partners, who we know are equally committed to helping our veterans and their families to thrive.

As a charity, Soldier On will continue to rely on the generosity of the Australian community. I consider it a privilege to have joined a charity that’s doing such important work for serving ADF members, veterans, and their families across our country. As a member of a Defence family myself, it’s a cause very close to my heart. I look forward to leading Soldier On as we continue to ensure that no member of the veteran community is left behind.

Amy Cooper, CEO

Soldier On is a charity built on strength, passion and compassion.

Courage. Sacrifice. Mateship. Endurance.

The annual March On with Soldier On Challenge returned for the fourth consecutive year. We saw thousands of everyday Australians get behind our veteran community to show their gratitude for the sacrifices made by our ADF personnel. They truly demonstrated the values of Kokoda that resonate so strongly within our veteran community –Courage. Endurance. Mateship. Sacrifice.

In total, almost 7,000 amazing fundraisers across the country laced up their shoes and walked or ran the length of the Kokoda Track (with some people completing the return distance as well – a whopping 192km!) to raise an incredible $2 million, to go towards Soldier On’s vital services to help prevent veteran suicide. These funds will be used to reach more veterans and their families in communities around Australia, by enabling us to support our programs in aiding them to successfully transition into civilian life.

We’ve seen some inspiring people share their stories on how they have been personally touched by veteran suicide. Their bravery to share their experiences made our March On community even more determined to do everything they can to make sure that no family should experience this kind on loss.

What was originally created to be a fundraising campaign has grown to become so much more than that. It has become a perfect example of what Soldier On is all about –encouraging health, wellbeing and social connection, in support of veterans and their families. Around the country, individuals, groups of friends, workplaces, and schools, took part in the challenge in amazing and creative ways. Many teams gathered some mates to walk together and complete the 96km in one go. Some trekked to the top of Australia’s highest mountain, and one brave participant faced his challenge trekking through Nepal. Some completed the challenge while holidaying with family overseas, aboard cruise ships while out at sea, and while living abroad.

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One fundraiser even walked laps of the hospital ward one day post-surgery, and another smashed his challenge by using a wheelchair and handcycle for the entire distance!

One of the most humbling things to witness was that the true Australian community spirit that we all know and love came out in full force during the March On Challenge.

This was demonstrated by seeing the heart-warming connections made between fundraisers through the March On Facebook group. This group provided people with a forum to share their journeys with one another, sharing pictures of them proudly wearing their March On T-shirts, providing encouraging words of support when their challenge was going well, as well as when faced with challenges throughout the month. Some ‘donated’ additional kilometres when other individuals couldn’t make it due to illness or injury, and new friendships and connections were formed. We are so humbled to see how the March On with Soldier On Challenge has helped create a sense of purpose not only for many of our fundraisers but within their communities.

It encouraged people to push themselves out of their comfort zones, and to strengthen their relationships with their colleagues, families, friends and wider communities. Whatever the reason, the impact that each of them has made, and continues to make to the lives of our veterans and their families, is truly remarkable.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone back next year, for the 2024 March On with Soldier On Challenge !

We are so humbled to see how the March On with Soldier On Challenge has helped create a sense of purpose not only for many of our fundraisers but within their communities.

The Tasmania Long Patrol Team making a difference for Soldier On to combat veteran suicide

In November 2019 my wife Claire and I lost a friend, a fellow Army Reservist who I had worked with for many years in the ADF, as well as in our past civilian careers as Park Rangers.

We had learnt that our friend was going through some issues, and I tried to make contact several times and even tried to contact the parents to reach out and offer support. Soon thereafter, I learnt of the tragedy. I am not sure if my offer of support had ever been relayed to our friend and fellow East Timor veteran. We both wished we had done more and reached out sooner. The tragedy hit us hard, and I felt overwhelming guilt I had not tried to do more.

In early 2021 I learnt of Soldier On’s 96 km March On campaign through social media and asked a couple ADF mates if they would be interested in walking the 96km in 20 hours from Launceston to Devonport. The first year, six walkers stepped off with a support crew of four, walking all night we made the epic walk in 20 hours raising more than $15,000.00 for Soldier On. In 2022 our numbers grew to 14 walkers and eight support crew. We modified our 96km circuit to go to Deloraine and return back to Launceston, managing to raise more than $17,000.00. Now an annual event, this year the Long Patrol Team tripled in numbers to over 26 walkers and 10 support crew including doctors, nurses, massage therapist, and a sports strapper. This year we raised more than $24,000.00.

Our team also receive fantastic support from some very generous supporters: Defence Health and Bridget Archer MP kindly assisted with donations for a

breakfast and our snacks. The Westbury RSL came on board to kindly cook our evening BBQ that was donated by Swift Meats. We are also fortunate to have had Hertz on board assisting us with a support vehicle. We had a number of in-kind supporters who assisted our team with equipment or donations: Pycsam Health and Fitness, The Running Company Launceston, and Sushi Plus on Charles. Our Facebook page, The Long Patrol Tasmania, continues to have more followers and supporters and we are already planning next year’s event. What started as a small event with 10 friends has now grown into a fun event with a lot of community supports. This year as we walked into Westbury for our dinner at the RSL many of the town’s community lined the streets to cheer us in. We had politicians, media and the local communities all supporting us along our epic 20 - hour patrol. The Long Patrol Team is now not just serving or ex serving ADF members, we are a team of dedicated walkers and support crew from different backgrounds working together to combat veteran suicide.

Oliver Breeze Long Patrol Team founder and Charity Coordinator.

From the Soldier On Team, a huge thank you to the entire Long Patrol Team for their unwavering support and dedication to help the March On Challenge grow each year, shining a light on our veteran community.

“To patrol for 96km alone in the dark gives one time to reflect on what more you could have done to help. To patrol all night with good mates allows you time to understand you’re doing all you can to help others.”

Walking for Waide

Two years ago, Soldier On Service Ambassador George Sutton and his good friend Shaun McGill decided to band together to walk in memory of Waide, a close friend of theirs, who had not long passed away at the young age of 52 years old. In doing so, they wanted to honour Waide in some way, so they signed themselves up for the March On Challenge to spread the word about Waide’s life while raising funds for Soldier On.

To truly honour Waide, during the course of their March On journey, they decided to walk the distance of 312km – being six times the age of Waide when he tragically passed away. Off the two good friends went, logging their kilometres each day, reflecting on Waide’s life, while rallying their community to support their efforts.

From a humble team of two mates in the first year, team Walking for Waide was backed by many more supporters in their community, growing to a team of 13 people, and what’s more, raising a total of $43,000 this year alone, making them the highest fundraising team for the 2023 March On Challenge.

Thank you, George, Shaun and the rest of team Walking for Waide – your efforts in the March On Challenge in past years and this year will enable so many more veterans and their families to seek the support services they need to thrive.

For those Left Behind

By George Sutton (ANZAC DAY 2023)

Each year we honour veterans who have answered to the call

They join and sign a blank cheque, ever knowing they may fall.

But what about the loved ones, they forever left behind Living with daily worry, for the world can be unkind.

They often live in limbo, not quite sure how to go on Live a normal existence, while the one they love is gone. Nights spent in trepidation, sometimes sleep evades them too,

Promised support from units, yet they never followed through.

Cannot know the details of each and every exercise Get sense of when their loved one goes through all the lows and highs.

Pick up on subtle signals they don’t even mean to send Pray daily in their safe home, that the conflict soon will end.

And nightly is the vigil, watching all the evening news Try gather information from media lies and clues. They never tell the real truth, because that just doesn’t sell

Instead they add their own spin, and the facts be damned to hell.

Two sides to every story, well in fact there’s always three The real truth often hidden, the loved ones left all at sea. Campaign misinformation, media motto of the day Not caring about the loved ones, and the price they have to pay.

Some of those who return home, from the ravages of war Don’t seem like the same person, that they were from time before.

Their eyes and feelings distant, and relationships are wrecked

How do you deal with someone who lives in such disconnect.

Still others never come home to their friends and family Who get that fateful door knock, the bad news, and empathy.

There is no explanation, that can take away that pain Of never seeing a loved one, walking through the door again.

No folded flag can replace a relationship in life

For grieving’s never ending, for a child, parent or wife. Husband, best mate or grandpa, a cousin, nephew or niece

All lose a little something, except pain they can’t release. The medals on the right side, are a heavy load to bear It represents that someone is no longer here to wear These tokens of their service, to the freedom we hold dear

Heartbreaking is the image, of a child marching with tears.

As sun rises this morning, take a look around the crowd

We celebrate the veterans, all dressed up and looking proud.

Look further just beside them, their support crew close at hand

They’ve also given so much, for the defence of this land.

SERVING ON WITH MARCH ON

Soldier On staff member and exAir Force veteran Zane Duce has raised over $12,000 for the March On Challenge after committing to walking 193km in the month of March.

96km in One Day

It was around 9pm on Friday night that Zane decided to attempt walking 96km, the length of the Kokoda Track, in just one day walking from Stockton to Newcastle’s Merewether Beach and back. Having conquered the challenge back in 2021, Zane who is no stranger to a challenge, knew this year would be a lot more physically demanding having undergone three surgeries in the past four months, while also struggling with a foot injury.

Overcome with determination early on Saturday morning, Zane set off with a goal.

24km in and greeted with a picturesque view of the sun rising over the iron silhouettes of our country’s heroes at Newcastle’s ANZAC Memorial Walk, Zane reflected on his own time serving in Defence. He was filled with an overwhelming sense of pride, while paying tribute to the brave soldiers who fought in Kokoda in World War II. Kitted head to toe in March On merchandise, Zane was met with an abundance of waves and smiles. He recalls how a lady out walking just before dawn stopped him to ask about what he was doing. She told him of how her sister was a veteran and passed

away by suicide. A motorcyclist proudly displaying his ribbons on his motorbike jacket nodded on his way past, signifying the gratitude from those with a mutual understanding and respect for those participating in the challenge.

On his way back, Zane stopped atop the Stockton Bridge and recounted his own mental struggles, one of the many reasons why he feels so deeply for the cause.

“Six months ago, I planned to take my own life here. Crossing this bridge twice today for March On goes to show that I have the ability to help others – by people signing up to March On, they’re helping veterans like me.”

Who is Zane Duce?

Zane was born and brought up in Brisbane, often moving around throughout his childhood amid his parents’ separation, he spent a lot of time with his grandparents and some time in foster care. He notes that he was often surrounded by drugs and alcohol and there was never a great deal of stability in his life.

From a young age, Zane always had a deep love for the military. He looked up to and admired family members who served and recalls his obsession with creating miniature battlefields out of soldier figurines in the backyard.

Despite labelling himself as “not much of an academic”, Zane graduated high school in Brisbane city, and focused his attention on what next step he would take.

It was his grandparents who helped him enlist in the first place. After taking the young 17-year old to the Brisbane show, Zane found himself at an ADF information stall face-to-face with brochures advertising life in Defence. Fast forward to early 2006, Zane was amid the newest group of young starryeyed Air Force recruits in Adelaide commencing their military career.

Serving in Uniform

After graduating the Airfield Defence Guard training at Amberley in August 2006, Zane received his blue beret which was a huge achievement and became a prized possession. He spent a lot of time away from home, being posted to various field exercises at Shoalwater Bay, Townsville, Tindal, and Tasmania.

“I didn’t have much connection to my family, so I was happy to be away. My role helped a lot because growing up I didn’t have much stability and the military was stable. It became my family.” But being a part of the military didn’t come without its challenges.

“We worked hard and let our hair down at night. There was a huge drinking culture, which definitely kick-started my addiction to alcohol. Being Indigenous, I experienced a bit of discrimination too, but didn’t speak up because they were my ‘mates’.” A culture, he says that is thankfully being weeded out.

October of 2010 saw Zane off on his first deployment to Pakistan on humanitarian operations after major

flooding, helping to rebuild affected areas, set up a major medical facility and help in providing adequate healthcare.

In 2012, he was deployed to Afghanistan on rotation SECFOR1. This deployment came about only eight days after his daughter was born. Being away for training for most of the pregnancy, this deployment in particular caused a great deal of stress, sacrificing major milestones to be imbedded within highly stressful and dangerous situations at the Multi National Base, Tarin Kot.

Both deployments were cultural eyeopeners for Zane. Having to always be on high alert with the stress of trying to keep his mates safe, and the pressure of seeing how others lived with a limited capacity to help, unwilling to speak up, Zane found both deployments starting to take a toll on his mental health.

Once arriving home to Australia, Zane found himself at a breaking point. After three attempts in rehab, Zane hit rock-bottom and decided to stop drinking and get help.

“Rehab made me get honest with myself. I learned three things –One: get honest with yourself; Two: you have to speak up; and Three: you have to start changing things.”

Soldiering On

It was at this point in his life that Zane was introduced to Soldier On. The Pathways team helped refine the tools he already had from Defence and guided him to map out where he wanted to go.

Soldier On helped in the job application process and refined his IT skills. He ended up getting a role with BAE

and left the military on 27th February 2020, starting his new role and stepping into civilian life not even two weeks later.

Later on, when looking for a career that would enable him to give back to the veteran community directly, Zane joined Soldier On as Human Resources Manager.

“I was able to reconnect with my daughter through work with Soldier On – I have an incredibly supportive boss and work environment. In the military, at any time you could look left or right, and you knew that someone was there for you. I still have that sense to give back to veterans to show I am still here for them, that’s what led me to Soldier On.” The end of March this year marks 193 weeks of sobriety for Zane. In completing March On this year, Zane is not only walking the length of the Kokoda Track twice, but bears testament to the strength he has shown in overcoming adversity time and time again.

“I’ve lost mates I served with through suicide and will always promote the March On message. Some days I might be physically strong, but not mentally. Some days I might be mentally strong, but not physically – but I keep pushing through.”

Today, Zane serves as an inspiration to many. Through supporting fellow participants in their journey, and having raised over $17,000 this year, Zane is making a meaningful and significant difference by serving on with March On.

To see how well Zane did in the March On 2023 Leader Boards, please click: https://www. marchonchallenge.org.au/

Imagine a golden thread, winding through and connecting every aspect of life: home, country, self, family, community. Connecting our joint goals, vision and values. This golden thread is the theme for our 2023 Gala Balls. It weaved its way through the beautiful National Arboretum on the evening of Saturday, 1 April, connecting 500 guests at the Canberra National Gala Ball in a combined spirit of recognition and celebration of our veteran community.

Expertly led by Master of Ceremonies Ben Farinazzo, the Gala brought together senior members of Defence, business and the wider community to raise awareness of and funds for the essential services Soldier On delivers for its participants and their families.

We were honoured to have as our keynote speaker veteran and Director of the Australian War Memorial, Matt Anderson. Matt shared with passion his commitment to reflecting the experiences of contemporary veterans in the new Australian War Memorial galleries currently under development.

This was our largest Gala Ball to date; a powerful indication of the tremendous growth Soldier On has been experiencing year-on-year. We now support more veterans and their families than ever before, with more than 11,000 participants across every state and territory.

The past year saw the Pathways Program place hundreds of veterans and family members in jobs after providing more than 5,000 instances of employment and education support. The Social Connections program gained more than 1,000 new participants, with more than 6,000 veterans and family members taking part in activities. The Health and Wellbeing Program held more than 3,000 appointments.

Behind every number is a person whose life has been enriched, changed, and sometimes even saved by a Soldier On service.

In sharing that sentiment, Soldier On Chairman Peter Leahy spun that golden thread of connection during his address on the evening. “Tonight,” he said, “I want you to feel what we feel when we hear comments like ‘you helped save my life’.

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“A sense of pride, a sense of relief, a sense of resolve and a sense of humility to keep doing what we are doing so that we can not only save lives but allow our veterans and their families to make new lives for themselves and to thrive into the future.”

Of course, Soldier On can only do what it does thanks to the incredible generosity of its supporter community. We extend the deepest thanks to our sponsors for the night, including our Platinum Sponsor, Synergy.

With a champagne bar sponsored by JLL, and live and silent auctions taking place throughout the evening, the golden thread of generosity was certainly on show.

This was a wonderful evening to kick off the rest of our Gala Ball events to be held around the country.

If you couldn’t attend in Canberra, keep any eye out for one near you soon!

Canberra Gala Ball Sponsors

Platinum

Silver

Champagne Bar

Corporate

Event Partners

SYNERGY: PAVING THE WAY AS PLATINUM PLEDGE PARTNER

Synergy has an unapologetic commitment to our veteran community, with an impressive reputation as one of Australia’s leading consultancies. Synergy’s ongoing collaboration with Soldier On is driven by shared principles, having experienced first-hand the value that veterans bring into the workplace.

Soldier On and Synergy’s history of collaboration

Over the past five years, Synergy has upheld its pledge to Soldier On to continuously adapt and evolve to ensure veterans are best supported within their workplace and through the work that they do.

They have been able to establish their Next Steps Discovery Day, a program running twice annually with the specific aim of recruiting veterans and transitioning them into careers as management consultants.

Through the Next Steps program, Synergy’s support for Soldier On has expanded progressively, through collaboration on Discovery Days, pledging support as a Platinum Partner, supporting the Soldier On Mentoring and Pathways Programs, and participating in the annual March On Challenge. Synergy has also sponsored other major Soldier On fundraising events, such as the inaugural Vet-Am Golf Day in 2020 and the National Canberra Gala Ball in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

“Our veterans gain significant experience across Commonwealth Departments and Agencies, developing and enhancing their skills and expanding their understanding of what makes Australia tick,” says Synergy CEO Rob Kennedy. “The confidence that comes from this enables our veterans to find their ‘best fit’ in business, often providing services back to Defence, pivoting to new business opportunities, or competing successfully for public service opportunities.”

Marching On with Loughlin Gould, Senior Partner with Synergy

The support that the annual March On Challenge rallies grows each year, as more people directly experience the struggles that veterans and their families face.

“Synergy Group is proud to support Soldier On through vital fundraising initiatives such as our participation in the March On Challenge, but also through their critical work connecting veterans and their families with business,” says Michael Mahy, Defence and National Security Partner at Synergy. “Facilitating a successful transition into civilian life has become a core and central part of our organisation and is a point of pride for our workforce.”

It’s inspiring to see the lengths that participants have gone to this year to raise awareness and contribute in their own meaningful way.

A particular standout from this year’s March On effort was Synergy’s very own employee Loughlin Gould, who set out to conquer the challenge with a twist.

Loughlin and his partner Ashlee Innes combined the Three Passes Challenge in Sagamantha (Everest) National Park, totalling 180km, with a Jiri to Namche Bazaar trek, which was over 100km. The pair essentially hiked the length of three Kokoda tracks, at elevations of 3,000-5,500 metres, with an elevation gain of 15,000 metres.

Loughlin sourced motivation to conquer the trek around the Himalayas having come from a

Defence family himself and dedicating his efforts to the memory of two friends who lost their lives.

On Day 15, nestled within the world’s highest freshwater lake system at Gokyo overlooking the third holy lake, he wrote: “reflecting on today, going over the second pass and navigating the largest glacier in the Himalayas, I reflect on the lives of those who have and who still serve. I was born into the Army’s way of life, moving around, and understanding that dad had to go off and serve either through training exercises or on deployment.

“The Army was king, even having a picture on our wall ‘Home is where the Army sends you’. But we never really knew what the cost of his service was, same as my uncle, who both had multiple deployments around the world, but both came back well adjusted, positive and seemingly like nothing had happened.

“I don’t know what it is that allows some to be ok, and others like our family friend Mitch Judd to not be so, but I’m glad that there are businesses like the Synergy Group and services like Soldier On to provide the guide rails of support to come down from the highs (and sometimes lows) of military service and enable veterans to see their potential over the next ridge.”

Platinum Sponsors of the Canberra National Gala Ball

Synergy was proud Platinum Sponsor of the 2023 Soldier On Canberra National Gala Ball, held at the exquisite National Arboretum on the evening of Saturday, 1 April. The theme for this year is a connecting ‘golden thread’, paying tribute to our veteran community through the connection of joint goals, vision and values.

There was no better organisation to uphold this year’s theme of the golden thread than Synergy, not only pledging, but proving the connection of transitioning veterans to meaningful careers in civilian workspaces.

“We’ve learnt to better recognise and understand the challenges veterans experience during their transition out of service, stepping away from standard recruitment and management approaches to implement different induction and support mechanisms for our veterans,” says Michael Mahy. “Providing support through initiatives like our Veterans Community of Practice and developing career paths for veterans and their families is now a constant within Synergy and is a critical success factor for us.

“We are committed to providing exceptional outcomes for our clients to support the successful transition of the veteran population into meaningful employment opportunities, which comes naturally for the Synergy Group,” he says.

“Our support for veterans, their families, and Soldier On addresses important community needs and plays an important role in meeting Australia’s ever-growing demand for a capable and dedicated workforce.”

Possibilities of life after ADF

Jody Hillier transitioned from an impressive military career into an equally remarkable civilian one with the support of the Soldier On community. She’s now an integral part of that community herself, as a Soldier On Ambassador and an example of the possibilities of life after the ADF.

Atwist of fate brought Jody Hillier to Soldier On. Travelling from Canberra to Newcastle on a tiny nine-seater plane one day in 2018, Jody was approached by a fellow passenger. “I never travel in uniform,” she says, “but I did on this particular day because I had to get to a meeting.” That uniform was what prompted Soldier On’s Prue Slaughter to introduce herself at the luggage carousel.

“She said, ‘Let me come and meet you and tell you all about us!’ We met for a coffee and the rest is history.”

At the time, Jody had no plans to leave the Air Force. Raised in Queensland and having worked a few jobs in local businesses that had closed, Jody was initially drawn to a military career for the job security it offered. She enlisted in the Air Force in her early 20s and never looked back.

A distinguished 25-year career took her all over the world – from RAAF Base Amberley and VIP transport 34SQN in Canberra, to fast jet acquisition programs including the Australian Super Hornet and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program, with which she spent four years working in Washington DC.

“There was always something special about everything I did, and I always made the most of it,” she says.

“You go through it all together”

In 1999, Jody deployed with the International Force East Timor (INTERFET), Australia’s largest overseas military deployment since the Vietnam War and the first time Australia had led a major international coalition.

In Timor, she spent her time supporting Air Movement activities. At its peak, 40 aircraft would land and take off daily,

bringing critical supplies to support the troops on the ground, medical support for locals, fuel, and moving ADF personnel in and out of the country. Jody says she holds East Timor and its people in a special place in her heart, along with the friendships she formed while there.

“You go through it all together,” she says. “They’re your family, they’re your friends, they’re your confidants. They’re the first people you see in the morning and the last you see at night – whether you want to or not!”

In 2019, a plaque was laid in East Timor to commemorate the ADF who had served there and the 20year anniversary of the country’s independence. A party of serving INTERFET veterans attended these commemorations, Jody amongst them. She laughs as she recalls the trip.

“When we were going over, they were saying, ‘These people are all old. Haven’t you got any young people?’ And we were like, ‘We were the young people!”

A lot of moral courage

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program is a United States Department of Defense initiative to create a fifthgeneration fighter jet for use by multiple branches of the U.S. military and its NATO and other allies, including Australia. In 2014, Jody was posted to the JSF Program Office in Washington DC. From that base, she spent four years working within the Supply Team and international Site Activation for the US and its partners, which meant constant travel to sites around the world to ensure they were set up for successful aircraft operations.

“It takes confidence and a lot of moral courage,” she says. “Large groups of local military folks and the large US team all sit in a room and you’re the person everyone is looking at to provide the answers. You have to be able to stand up and provide the response on behalf of the program office.”

Transitioning out

Jody returned to Canberra in 2018, where she was posted to the Integrated Logistics Support Manager role for the Australian F-35 Project team. With frequent travel taking its toll and two young sons at home, she soon found herself ready for a break, and in late 2019 she took long service leave. A few months later, as COVID restrictions slowed the pace of the world, Jody had some time to consider her options.

“That period was a largely positive experience for me,” she says. “It meant no traveling at all – it meant staying put! And changing the thought processes about all those things that had been important for so long and just weren’t anymore.”

With the possibility of a deployment or posting on the horizon, Jody and her husband sat their boys down and asked them what they thought. “They said, ‘No, we don’t want you to go away, especially on a deployment for six months,’ and that just sealed it. I knew it had to be about my kids and my family. And I knew I could have a future outside of the Air Force.”

A “detoxing” period

While she looks back on her service with very fond memories, Jody readily admits there was an adjustment period upon leaving. Without the everpresent structure of the military gone, many transitioning veterans can find themselves feeling somewhat adrift.

“I call it a detoxing period. You’re finding your own doctor, realising that you’re in your own home and you don’t have to move... It’s a weird thing, and for me it happened during COVID as well, so I think I had a double whammy.

“You really look for familiar things, and I think the comfort of Soldier On being there just gave me that perspective,” says Jody. “It was a constant for me when everything else was changing.”

Despite the challenges, Jody was always confident she could transition into meaningful employment outside of the ADF and found herself with several job offers. “I had such relevant

 continued on page 22

skills coming out of the military,” she says. “The military gives you such good training, and because I’d worked as part of a global program, I had desirable experience.”

You have to see it to be it

In her current role as Head of Operations and Delivery for BAE Digital Intelligence (DI) – a role she describes as dynamic, challenging and extremely rewarding – Jody is as busy as ever, though the travel she does these days is a bit different, with rides in the back of a Hercules replaced by the comforts of commercial airlines. It means more time at home with her family – including the newest member, Ivy the Cavoodle.

“We got a puppy in January of 2020 when I took long service leave,” Jody says. “My son said to me ‘Can we get a dog?’ And it was the perfect time. What a gift she was. She’s definitely a COVID dog and she feels abandoned now that I work back in the office more!”

“I feel supported and engaged, which is extremely satisfying,” she says. “And in an uncanny coincidence, I started with BAE DI on the same date that I started my Air Force journey, only 28 years later!”

A strong advocate of workplace diversity, Jody wants to be a visible example to others that veterans don’t just come in one shape and size.

“I’m not the typical veteran,” she says. “When I’m in the pub on ANZAC Day, people are looking around for a guy with medals, not this petite blonde woman. I really feel we have to present options to younger women so they can see that there is a pathway for them into the military, through it, and life after it.”

Jody remembers her first visit to Soldier On HQ in its old home in North Canberra. “I think I was the first person to point out that at the time there wasn’t a single photo of a female veteran on the wall, and they were horrified!

“To be in it you need to see it, you know? And there are plenty of female veterans out there – just Air Force weren’t being represented. I was really keen to help get more women representatives involved from all three services, so other female veterans can acknowledge themselves and their contributions.”

Soldiering On

Soon after leaving the Air Force, Jody took part in Soldier On’s annual March On Challenge. It was one of her first experiences of the Soldier On community, and a profound one.

“There were a bunch of women in the team doing these hill climbs up at Mount Kosciuszko,” she recalls. “I went up and stayed with them and went on team walks, which were really enlightening.

“Some women were ex-military, some just wanted to raise money for veterans. During that period of uncertainty leaving the Air Force, it gave me this feeling that I would be OK. That there were like-minded people around me.”

As an incredible Soldier On Ambassador, Jody is now part of that community of support for veterans. “I bring my experience with Soldier On into every business I work with,” she says. Her current employer, BAE, is one of Soldier On’s biggest supporters.

While her employment transition was smooth, the experience isn’t as straightforward for some veterans, as Jody is all too aware. “Many of my mates in the military have so many skills that are so broad that they don’t really know what to do next.

“I always point them to Soldier On and tell them to go to these networking events, talk to these people. They’re so welcoming. And they can help.”

INVICTUS AUSTRALIA SUPPORTS SOLDIER ON EMPLOYEE ON UNRIVALLED ADVENTURE

Invictus Australia in partnership with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) sent a team of six former and current serving veterans to Whistler as part of the Allied Winter Sports Camp.

For six Australian veterans, the morning of February 21st was met with an abundance of excitement as they set off on the experience of a lifetime.

The Australian team consisted of Corporal Jason Moore, Laura Reynell, Karen Thomas, Kate Rose, Able Seaman Heidi Giudice and Soldier On’s very own Steven Richards.

The team were selected from the ADF Adaptive Sports Program, which is open to former and current service personnel from all branches of the regular or reserve ADF who have become wounded, injured or ill during their service.

The Allied Winter Sports Camp is one of a number of international programs that Invictus Australia is involved in, alongside their community activities, which aims to strengthen veteran wellbeing through recovery,

rehabilitation and reintegration, following transition.

For adrenaline seeker Steven, this trip was a dream come true. Embarking across the globe to experience some of the most exciting winter sports Canada has to offer that will feature at the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler was an incredible experience.

Steven joined the Army back in 2005 as a Fitter Armament. Originally posted to 2nd/14th Lighthorse in 2008, he transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a Ground Mechanical Engineer Fitter (GMEFITT) in 2010 and deployed on Operation Slipper in 2013. He was a driver for Air Commander Australia (ACAUST) in 2014 and was medically Discharged in October 2022. Steven, who recently underwent surgery due to back injuries acquired throughout his service, expressed his gratitude in saying, “The opportunity to participate right before my back surgery makes me all the more grateful that I was chosen to go to the camp. It was an absolute ball!”

The team set off from Sydney, flying into Vancouver eager to explore the sights of the city. The next day saw them off to Whistler’s Olympic Athletes’ Village where the team would be

staying alongside fellow participants from the United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

The 10-day camp allowed the teams to try out sports such as Sledge Hockey, Bobsleigh, Biathlon, Skiing, Snowboarding and more, with the chance to learn how to do these new activities in an adaptive environment. Steven says, “Picking a highlight from the trip is a tough call. As far as things I’ll never get the chance to do again, bobsledding allowed me to experience my ‘Cool Runnings’ dream.”

“There’s not much that can get me too emotion-charged, but going 130km/h, pulling 4G’s, and getting the fastest time on the track for the day was a pretty awesome experience.”

The trip overall can be described as nothing less than exceptional, with the team also getting to experience making Native Canadian hand drums at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, learning about the history and culture of the area.

“We had a great team dynamic”, says Steven, “the adaptive learning environment made us all step out of our comfort zones and united us as both teammates and veterans.”

Invictus Australia Teams and Events Coordinator, Anne Rutlidge, said the camp was a great experience for all involved.

“The camp wasn’t about winning; it was all about recovery and using sport as part of your healing journey. The longer the camp went on, the positive impact it was having was more evident.”

“To meet so many new people, with a shared background, and all come together and participate in new activities and thrive was the most pleasing part. It really provided everyone with an opportunity to get out and try some new sports in a safe and supportive environment, while challenging themselves over multiple days to build their skills.”

“The location was the perfect backdrop for the whole experience – it was such a beautiful landscape and the facilities allowed our participants to really involve themselves.

FULLY FUNDED VOCATIONAL TRAINING WITH WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY’S THE COLLEGE

Soldier On and Western Sydney University’s pathway provider, The College, in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and Training, have offered 10 fully funded places for Soldier On participants to undertake a Diploma of Project Management.

The eager participants commenced their studies in April, keen to learn new skills and gain a valuable qualification. The group will be studying over the next eight months, working to secure a credential that lands their dream career.

The in-kind support to Soldier On participants is worth more than $70,000 and provides them with the tools and techniques to take a project idea from concept to execution.

The course supports careers in a variety of industries, from the construction and architecture to software and information technology sectors.

“The College at Western Sydney University delivers accredited vocational qualifications to a wide

variety of learners, each of whom possess a rich and unique set of experiences,” says Mark Raven, Director, Registered Training Organisation (RTO), at The College. In providing the Diploma of Project Management, The College has demonstrated its understanding of how well veterans’ military skills can translate into the civilian workplace outside of Defence.

Mark goes onto say, “The College’s commitment is to connect people, with quality learning opportunities and pathways, whilst acknowledging and incorporating their professional backgrounds.”

Soldier On’s Education Partners understand the value in upskilling

and how doors open with the right qualifications. Soldier On is grateful to have received such generous support to provide our participants with a high-quality upskilling opportunity.

Western Sydney University is proud to support Soldier On’s mission and Pathways Program, with Mark saying, “Returned servicepeople and their families are amongst Australia’s most professional and highly trained groups of people. The selfless contribution which they make is gratefully, and only partly, repaid in kind through The College’s partnership with NSW State Training Services and the provision of fee-free qualification training to the veteran community.”

 Photo credit: Sally Tsoutas.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY WITH

THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM

Kristy is one of the many Australians who has experienced firsthand the complex challenges that comes from military lifestyle.

Kristy’s husband has served in the Army for over 17 years and together the pair have been posted to Bonegilla, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin and are now happily situated in Melbourne. Interrupted friendships and careers, uncertainty and isolation are just a few of the challenges service families face throughout their time in the miliary, and they are often left to deal with these unique struggles alone. While her husband was deployed to East Timor and Afghanistan, Kristy gave birth to two of their children

while he was still overseas, adding to the already incredibly stressful situation of becoming a new mother, and singlehandedly adapting to a growing family.

“I felt that I lost my ability to commit to work, I struggled to connect with people, lacked confidence within myself and was sick of starting again,” says Kristy.

Challenges aplenty

A difficult posting in Darwin pushed Kristy to reach out to Soldier On for help.

Initially after moving to Darwin, Kristy was moved into a house with no working toilet, a broken fridge,

As a Defence spouse with four children, Kristy Lewis wants nothing more than to ensure her family are in the best possible position to thrive. However, personal struggles and difficult postings have made that goal feel out of reach at times.

washing machine, and bed. Months after moving, and a constant barrage of housing maintenance issues later, Kristy found herself burnt-out, fatigued, but still holding out hope that they could make Darwin a home. In an attempt to involve herself within the community, Kristy volunteered in schools, sports clubs, and made strong connections with the teams at The Top Ender Magazine, and Billeroy House. “Darwin is undeniably beautiful and home to some of the most stunning places in Australia. If you are lucky enough, you’ll find some gorgeous people too”, she says.

Despite her efforts, the family was not immune from hardship. Within the first two months of their posting, Kristy’s son was robbed at knife point. Fights on the street were common in the area they lived in and there was even an instance where the children found a man unconscious in the local park, being offered no help by passers-by.

“For those who have been to Darwin, you know how quickly you’ll learn how important it is to know where you can safely go, and when you can go there. The values of the city definitely didn’t align with how I wanted my children to be raised, it was time for a change.”

“Our family was surviving, not thriving. We’ve been through a lot over the years, but this posting was by far the most challenging for us. All we wanted was for our next posting to be better. I wanted to see my kids settle in with a community.”

Time for change – reaching out to Soldier On

Eventually a new opportunity popped up, and the family found out they were heading to Melbourne. Struggling to keep her head above water with the weight of the posting on her shoulders, Kristy decided to reach out for help.

At Billeroy House, Kristy met with Soldier On and Mates4Mates. Not confident in the help that could be offered, Kristy said, “worst case scenario, I’d have wasted a phone call and some time. Best case scenario, I’d learn a bit about where we were being posted to.”

Raising four children on one wage is hard enough as it is, Kristy says, “I wanted to work. I didn’t care if I was stacking shelves, I needed to earn a wage again once we moved to Melbourne.”

Kristy was contacted by Soldier On Pathways Officer, Jessica Koop, and was told about the Pathways Program.

“I was lucky to be contacted by Jess from Soldier On. She really listened to me and gave me back all of the confidence I had lost along the way.”

Match to a meaningful career

“Jess let me know that Soldier On could help with my resume and connected me to further education courses that I could complete free-of-charge. Despite my doubts, Soldier On matched me to a meaningful career rather than just a job.”

Kristy landed a school-hours role working as the Simpson Barracks Community Support Coordinator.

It was important that Kristy could find a job where she could balance being

a mother of four, while still being able to work. Her new role has also provided her with a career where she is able to not only utilise her lived experiences and help other Defence families who may have been in similar situations, but can also give back to the Defence community.

“Soldier On was a blessing to our family of six. They gave my children and I opportunities to connect with our community and make Melbourne a home. We’ve never had to pay for anything and are always greeted with a smile.”

“If you are in Melbourne, all of us at Simpson Barracks will happily be your Melbourne Defence family. We will celebrate, listen and help you where we can. We’ll be the concerned parent and do everything a family would. Connection is important, and you don’t need to do this alone.”

“I was lucky to be contacted by Jess from Soldier On. She really listened to me and gave me back all of the confidence I had lost along the way.”

1 20/4/23 8:36 am Page 1

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Be sure to include your personal details such as your name, contact details and LinkedIn profile address at the top, followed by your hard skills. Articulate your achievements clearly by displaying your career summary, work experience, education history and relevant references to the role you’re applying for.

2. Things to avoid:

Avoid including your date of birth, marital status, address, text boxes, page borders, different fonts and too much information. Resumes need to be easy to read, and AI (Artificial Intelligence) doesn’t scan information well with too much ‘noise’. Use brief sentences or bullet points.

4. How do you make your resume stand out?

Using key words and phrases listed in the job advertisement is a great way to peak prospective employers’ interest when linked back to your own relevant experience. Make sure to use consistent fonts, correct spelling, grammar and punctuation, and ensure it is visually pleasing to look at. Resumes should be three pages maximum.

3. Pitch yourself!

Make sure to also include your specialist skills, strengths and interests. Your personal brand is drawn from your values and should underpin any role you apply for when looking for meaningful employment. Make sure to establish an authentic and consistent image of yourself. You are in control of your work image – know who you are and what you want other people to know you for.

5. Triple check everything!

Ensure all of your information is upto-date, correct, and relevant. Double check spelling and grammar and research into the role and organisation you’re applying for, to make sure you didn’t miss any vital information.

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A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

Michael Rose, founder and CEO of Espresso Room came up with the ingenious initiative of donating funds to Soldier On every quarter, driven by a passion for wanting to support the veteran community. Having organised fundraising initiatives for other not-forprofit organisations, Michael is continuously making an incredible contribution. He has involved himself with Vinnies CEO Sleepout, helping break the cycle of homelessness, and has raised funds for a number of mental health services across Australia.

“The work and support that Soldier On does for our veterans and current Defence personnel is very important. I think we should all be grateful for the lives and sacrifices our servicemen and women have given for our country, which is a debt that can never be repaid,” he says.

Delivering HELP programs nationwide

This fundraising initiative not only goes a long way in promoting environmental sustainability but has provided unimaginable support to Soldier On in delivering Health and Wellbeing, Employment, Learning and Participation programs across the country.

To put the initiative’s impact into perspective, with the funds donated by Espresso Room, Soldier On could host 15 separate Pathways Networking Events, giving up to 750 veterans the chance to meet prospective employers and gain valuable workplace coaching. $15,000 can fund more than 70 psychology sessions that would assist veterans in overcoming mental health battles, supporting them on a path to recovery, or could be put towards funding 200 peer support sessions giving up to 1,200 veterans the opportunity to interact in a safe and supportive environment.

Giving back to Defence personnel and families

“We wanted to give back to Defence personnel and their family members and became aware of the work Soldier On does during our time as an espresso bar service operator within the Canberra region”, says Michael. “We thought rather than offering discounts to purchase keep-cups like most cafes do, that we would come up with a better plan which has more impact. To date this has been very well received”, he continues.

Charitable donations and ongoing support to the local community is at the heart of Espresso Room’s brand, as their team and work represents sustainability, passion and a love for the service they provide.

Michael states, “Our customers are our family and it’s only right we give back to the community that supports us.” Espresso Room is fortunate to be an integrated part of the Defence community in Canberra and has big plans in raising awareness and funds the best way they can to continue their support for serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.

“We are very proud to be involved with Soldier On and will continue to contribute to help out whenever we can”, says Michael.

A fundraising initiative created by Espresso Room CEO has raised more than $15,000 for Soldier On by donating 20 cents for every keep-cup used in their cafe’s located within Defence hubs.

SOLDIER ON VOLUNTEER BRINGS VITAL SUPPORT TO REGIONAL VICTORIA

Since transitioning from the Army, Soldier On volunteer Brett Newman has devoted the past ten years to bringing invaluable support networks for the veteran community to Albury-Wodonga through collaboration with ex-service organisations (ESOs).

After 13-years of service starting in 1999, deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan and having been awarded seven medals including the Defence Long Service Medal, Brett returned to Albury-Wodonga and commenced a civilian life, focusing on his family.

Ten years ago, support for exservice personnel was drastically less accessible compared to the avenues of support we have today. Having navigated the complexities of leaving the Australian Defence

Force himself, Brett saw that there was a gap in support for veterans regionally and decided to do something about it.

A Man on a Mission

“At the back end of 2013 when I first got out of the Army, I saw what Soldier On was doing and reached out. A few of us got together just wanting the coffee catch-ups for all of us Afghan and East Timor vets to get together and reintegrate back into society again after leaving Defence”, he says.

With his mind set on getting an ESO to Albury, Brett travelled to Canberra and met with Soldier On. It didn’t take much convincing to set up services in the area with Albury being home to three Defence hubs and being the centre of three capital cities.

“There was a need for services to reach rural areas, or even just to target military bases. With so many ESO’s operating solely out of major cities, there was a large population of Aussie vets who were unable to access the support they needed.”

From there, Albury RSL’s sub-branch took Soldier On under their wing offering a telephone and office space to get the operation running – the rest is history.

Coffee Catch-Up’s with a Purpose

Since getting Soldier On to the area, Brett has had some incredible experiences, highlighting trips to the snowy mountains, cooking masterclasses making croquembouches, and attending a Vet Connect weekend in Melbourne. However, most notably, he regards his volunteer work organising bi-weekly Social Connections Coffee Catch-Up’s in collaboration with the local Open Arms team as the most influential, and at times even providing life-saving services.

“A couple of years back while wearing a Soldier On shirt a woman, clearly distressed, approached me asking for help. She told me how her son had served and desperately needed support. I took her to the local café,

we talked about the different avenues which were available and I gave her the best points of contact for different ESO’s around town, including Soldier On.”

“Later she found me at one of our regular Coffee-Catch Up’s and she told me how her son was doing better. With so many veterans having taken their own lives already, this reminded me why these meetings matter,” Brett recalls.

“Another time that stuck with me is when we were able to help out a young mother with a newborn who was struggling with her mental health. I went out to where she was living, and she ended up getting the help she needed.”

“I’d rather know that I’ve tried my best and if it means achieving better results, so be it. I don’t have the certifications or qualifications in the area of mental health, but if a veteran can’t talk to another veteran to help them, how else are we meant to get that support”, he says.

Community Contribution

Outside of being deeply integrated within the local veteran community, Brett also offers his time as the Treasurer of the Albury RSL to support the local community and has an impressive history with adaptive sports.

Brett has been to the 2016 and 2022 nationals in Melbourne for Wheelchair Australian Rules Football (AFL) and remains to this day, the captain of his team for Victorian RSL Active. On top of these already incredibly impressive achievements, Brett was drafted for the inaugural Victorian Football League Premiership in 2018 as Vice Captain and won his first inaugural competition for Collingwood. Brett has incredible reach, and is a well-respected figure within his community – the work he does with Soldier On is inspiring to many.

“I can no longer work because of my injury and Soldier On helped me reconnect with society. I am deeply grateful and hope I can keep helping others in the same way,” he says.

THRIVING, NOT JUST SURIVING

A survivor is one who lives through affliction, to thrive means to come back even stronger.

Soldier On volunteer and cancer survivor Amanda Hibberson demonstrates just that.

With an impassioned fire burning inside her, Amanda dedicates every day to helping others thrive by spreading Soldier On’s mission and offering a helping hand to those who need it.

When Amanda was a teenager, she was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and endometriosis which unfortunately went untreated for too long, resulting in her being diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2010.

Being so young and longing to become a mother one day, the advised treatment of a full hysterectomy wasn’t even an option in Amanda’s eyes. Having found an incredible specialist, Amanda underwent experimental treatment in the hopes to shrink her

cancer to allow enough time to be able to have a child. After three long years of trialling unconventional treatments, the desired results ultimately weren’t there, and Amanda was faced with two options; surgery or death.

Lifesaving surgery

On April 16th, 2013, Amanda underwent lifesaving surgery, and it took just three days for the results to come back. On April 19th, she was declared cancer free. This year is monumental, marking 10 years of Amanda being cancer free. The past 10 years, she says, has been full of lessons and memories.

After leaving a toxic relationship, Amanda moved from New South Wales to Sale, Victoria back in 2020 saying,

“when I moved to Sale, it was the middle of the night, and I had nothing to my name. I was starting anew and arrived with just my husky, some clothes and the vehicle I had at the time, looking for a fresh start.”

Amanda landed a civilian managerial role at the RAAF Base in East Sale and began fostering life-long connections as a sisterly and motherly figure to many. While still going through a great deal of personal struggle, Amanda never let her circumstances hinder her work.

Keep giving back with Soldier On

When the time came to move on from her initial role in Sale, the friendships she had made on base made Amanda realise that she wanted to find a way to keep giving back to Defence members and their families. It was only when a friend suggested she should have a coffee with the local Soldier On Pathways Officer, Rosa, that her passion for volunteering was ignited, facilitating her own Coffee Catch-Up’s to offer a listening ear to anyone who may need it in the Sale area.

“When I met Rosa it all clicked, seeing her passion for her job was contagious. Since volunteering with Soldier On, I have been enabled to put my passion into practice. I passed the ASSIST course in suicide first aid and it is very well known that if anyone ever needs someone to talk to, I’m there. I’ve learnt so much from Rosa, she fixed up my resume and helped me apply for a position with APS which I’m very proud to say I accepted. The position is back

on the RAAF Base in East Sale and I’m incredibly excited and looking forward to what my future holds”, she says.

March On challenge

The annual March On challenge holds a special place in Amanda’s heart, with this year being her second consecutive year participating in memory of loved ones. This year she didn’t only complete the 96kms, but doubled the length of the Kokoda Track walking 192km for Ryan Leslie, Amanda’s close friend Tara’s husband who served for over 20 years and tragically lost his life alongside his fellow soldier, Craftsman Brendon Payne, while serving our country on a military exercise in the Townsville Training Area on August 30th, 2021.

Ryan was a character larger than life itself with a sense of humour that could light up even the darkest of situations. Ryan and Tara have been long time supporters of Soldier On.

“I’m so proud to be a part of Soldier On, I pretty much live in my Solder On merch – my Soldier On hoodie is my favourite, although it is worn pretty thin now. I wear my merch to the gym, grocery shopping, out walking and pretty much anywhere I can. If someone stops and wants to talk to me about Soldier On, I am always there to chat.”

Soldier On advocate

“When I get asked what I do for Soldier On, I have a bit of a joke that I drink the coffee and bring the humour, but the truth is I just enjoy being able to help

out at events and get the Soldier On word out there as much as I can”, says Amanda.

Time and time again, Amanda has overcome obstacles that life has thrown her way and has bounced back each time with more and more to give. Her compassion, wisdom and humour acts as a beacon of hope and inspiration for so many, being a key figure within her community through helping enable veterans and their families to thrive.

“My way of thinking is even if I’m having a bad day and don’t feel like smiling, at least I can make someone else smile. I honestly didn’t know the difference I had made in so many lives by just being myself”, she says.

Today, Amanda lives with her first love, high school sweetheart and his son after reuniting a couple of years back. For Amanda, every day is met with optimism and good spirits as she proudly displays her Soldier On merch and supports veterans through social catch-up’s that can be lifesaving. “It’s funny how things work out in the end,” she says.

Invitation to donate to Ryan and Brendon’s memorial

There is a plan to build a permanent memorial rest stop for people to stop and remember Ryan and Brendon.

If you would like to donate to support this cause, please click: https://qld. raeme.org.au/index.php/about-us/ raq-recovery-mechanics-memorial

Starting October 2022, the Health and Wellbeing team here at Soldier On has been running a program for Defence and veteran families called Building Better Relationships

(BBR).

One of the absolute highlights of this program has been the series of family weekends in Queensland, New South Wales, and most recently, Victoria. The weekends are comprised of a parenting program for one caregiver and an activity program for the other to enjoy time with their children.

Informed by Tuning into Kids, an evidence-based program designed to help foster connections between parents and children, the weekends’ parenting program has been adapted by the Soldier On Health and Wellbeing team to support Defence families. Each BBR weekend has been an invaluable opportunity for veteran families to come together, connect, and learn from each other’s experiences.

Families reported that they come away from the weekend feeling less alone after sharing their experiences. In the parenting program, parents explored what it was like having to move, leave loved ones behind, and how they could support each other to learn to trust and form new bonds and re-bond to the parent who had gone away.

Parents also thought about ways they could respond to and manage the impact of generational trauma within their communities and their families.

The Health and Wellbeing Team are delighted to have had this opportunity to provide meaningful weekends for Defence families in all three states and would like to extend our thanks to all families who participated so wonderfully during each weekend.

This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.

Queensland

The first weekend in October 2022 was hosted at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Resort in Queensland, which lived up to its name with torrential rainfall for the duration of the weekend!

Despite the weather and a few rearranged activities, the group enjoyed getting creative with arts and crafts, putting on their adventure hats in search of glow-worms, and a few even managed a particularly sodden flight on the flying fox! We found ‘forest lobsters’ (yabbies), got up close and personal with a barn owl, and fed honey to teeny tiny possums.

Meanwhile, the parenting group focused on developing ways to manage and respond to the multiple transitions that they have endured. The group collectively explored and shared stories, coming up with creative and innovative ways to support their kids to grieve and rebuild.

New South Wales

New South Wales was up next in March 2023, with two beautiful sun-filled days in Gerringong. The activities group trekked down to the beach for a surf safety presentation from the Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club. The kids learnt how to stay safe between the flags and what to do if they felt in danger in the waves.

Following this was a visit to the beautiful Buena Vista Goat Farm, which has been run by the same family since the 1800s. We had baby goats climb all over us and learnt how goats’ cheese is made – and got to taste it too!

On the Sunday we had a round of disc golf, which very quickly turned to target practice. The feedback showed families valued meeting with other families above all else, with some wonderful friendships forming.

A huge thanks to the staff at Mercure Gerringong, who were extremely accommodating of our large group. We certainly hope to partner again in the future.

Victoria

Last but certainly not least, we had a much colder weekend in Creswick, Victoria in May 2023. The possibility of snow created some excitement, however it held off for a successful Saturday morning of golf on the stunning course at RACV Goldfields.

Yoga and fencing activities made for an active weekend, with all kids and adults getting admirably stuck in.

Families thoroughly enjoyed being looked after by the resort and the infinite food selections!

Those attending the parenting program really valued hearing from others and exploring and thinking about different ways to interact with and respond to their children. Many said that they felt more normal feeling the feelings that they had in their families. This was a great relief for many parents.

Respite and Relaxation

Giving Veterans a Chance to Connect with like-minded people

Our national program, Vet Connect, brings together veterans and their families for residential weekends to re-establish a sense of mateship. Designed specifically to connect our veterans to a healthy lifestyle, solid friendships, and to their local community, Vet Connect allows participants to gain a greater understanding of their circumstances and gives them the tools to thrive in their transition to civilian life.

This free program takes a selection of veterans to serene locations across their home states, teaching them mental and physical health strategies, relationship building and life skills, while also providing an opportunity

to connect with other veterans on a personal level.

In providing a safe and supportive environment, Soldier On Psychologists are also on hand throughout the weekend to give optional support to participants through some of the more challenging activities, as veterans confront their own fears and uncertainties following their service.

“It’s hard to put into words the impact this program is having on veterans and their families. We have seen a new community come together, sharing challenges and support that extends well beyond the weekend,” Soldier On National Program Director – Social Connections, Sarah Hartley commented.

“Seeing whole families bonding over tugo-war, couples reconnecting and veterans planning for new future goals has been incredibly rewarding to be a part of. We will continue to develop and improve this program and work with our supporters to ensure we can provide this to more veterans and their families,” Sarah said. In the past financial year, Soldier On, with the support of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), the Victorian Government and The Snow Foundation, has been able to host six different Vet Connect events across multiple states and territories. These events have been focused on supporting younger veterans, families, and veterans in transition to provide a holistic approach to support.

Being part of a community and having a close circle of friends are integral to leading a happy and healthy life. Soldier On’s Social Connections team provide activities that are designed to build a strong support network in the civilian world for current and ex-serving veterans and their families.

Supporting Younger Veterans – VIC

Hosted in picturesque Healesville, participants were able to meet on the Friday afternoon and get to know each other over a short Game of Games. Over the course of the weekend, there was a chance to create new connections either over food or the amazing activities that had been planned, from creative aspects such as coaster making through to physical activities including walking, swimming, laser clay pigeon shooting, lawn bowls and yoga.

The Supporting Younger Veterans Vet Connects was funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Families Vet Connect – ACT

We created a three day two night program that engaged families with school aged children with opportunities for reconnecting in a fun environment. The families were looking at transitioning out of service or had recently transitioned. Some had faced time apart through deployments and exercises, as well as living separately due to the member’s service.

Participants joined in the fun with Family Olympics sports and a Famous Families themed night of trivia. In addition to this, participants had the opportunity to do a private tour at the National Zoo and Aquarium, experiencing some of the behindthe-scenes work that goes on and the opportunity to feed some of the beloved animals.

Feedback from the participants included “It is so great to connect with other families that have similar experiences and understand the challenges of being a veteran family. We are so grateful for the opportunities Soldier On gives us to grow and connect”, and, “The amenities were well suited to family connection and allowing the children to bond with one another. Thank you to the Snow Foundation and other groups that helped make this happen! Us veterans are thankful to be looked after by the team.”

The Families Vet Connect in Canberra was funded by The Snow Foundation.

Supporting Younger Veterans – NSW

Our NSW Supporting Younger Veterans weekend program in the Hunter Valley saw participants take part in a dessert making class and an Italian cooking class throughout the weekend, against the beautiful backdrop of the mountainous region.

The participants came together for two sessions with our Health and Wellbeing Team in a private conference room for guided workshops about common female veterans’ experiences. Meals were shared overlooking the green valleys spotted with kangaroos.

The participants reported feeling relaxed and spoilt throughout the weekend, with one saying, “All the facilitators were amazing and looked after us so well. The accommodation was amazing, and I felt so relaxed when I left. It was nice to get some decent sleep.”

Another said, “This is an incredible opportunity to connect with other women who have travelled the same path. Post-service is extremely isolating, particularly for a young female veteran. One’s identity is lost and we struggle to adjust to a civilian community. Just three days with my tribe greatly enhanced my sense of self, my purpose and in turn has a huge positive effect on my mental health. I go months without being in the company of a female vet, the three days is a welcome respite. Back with my clan where I feel that I fit, that I am seen and mostly where I am understood. This means so much and reaffirms who I am even out of uniform. Thank you.”

The Supporting Younger Veterans Vet Connects were funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Supporting Younger Veterans – QLD

Participants reported they felt really well informed prior to attending the weekend and were excited about the venue. The venue provided a very smooth check in process that enabled Soldier On staff to be hands-off for this stage and allowed everyone to settle in at their own pace.

Participants reported that the welcome brief really set the scene and they felt safe and supported. The workshop was practical and promoted open and safe discussions. Activities including a glow-worms tour, flying fox and segway tours enabled bonding between the participants while trying new things.

The Supporting Younger Veterans Vet Connects were funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Families in Transition – VIC

This weekday moved away from the traditional layout of a Vet Connect. Activities took place on the resort grounds and included a drum circle, fencing, and tai chi.

The fencing was definitely a hit, with participants reporting that it was so much fun trying to score points. The Psychology team ran two couples’ workshops, which were well received.

The Families In Transition Vet Connect was supported by the Victorian Government.

Families in Transition – VIC

Following a similar format to the previous Families in Transition Vet Connect, activities included archery, an escape room, and segways. The participants came together for two sessions with our Health and Wellbeing Team in a private conference room for guided workshops about shared experiences. Eating together at the onsite restaurants for each meal was a chance for further connections. The Families In Transition Vet Connect was supported by the Victorian Government.

Vet Connect – Transitioning with Soldier On and BAE Systems

A weekend program focusing on skills needed for a successful transition, opportunities for social connection and improve overall wellbeing.

Perth – July 2023

Adelaide – August 2023

Canberra – August 2023

Newcastle – October 2023

Scan the QR code to register your expression of interest. This program has been generously funded by BAE Systems Australia

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Brisbane Social Connections

Swim-Fit

February 2023 saw us kick-start both our regular and larger-scale programs with our weekly circuit and veteran swim-fit squad at Albany Creek Leisure Centre. Although numbers are not huge, for those that come and train under coach Pete Farmer (a veteran himself) in the coaching zone and 50m outdoor pool, it’s a ritual that always leaves us feeling energised and refreshed.

Maritime Warrior

We have committed to the Maritime Warrior Project and sailing off the Gold Coast monthly this year. It is always different and amazing being on the water and we have been blessed by the weather and wildlife each time, seeing giant stingrays, dolphins and wallabies at South Stradbroke Island where we stop for lunch. Our evolving chats around ‘Blue Minds’ and the health benefits of being near the ocean are therapeutic.

SeaWorld

We were lucky enough to take 12 families to SeaWorld for a night’s escape. The positive feedback from these trips confirms that this event has a profound effect on our veterans’ families and makes us want to visit regularly, to get as many of our participants as possible to this mini escape.

NRL

April saw us visit the Brisbane Broncos captains run and their clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, which has become an annual event. We have a great relationship with the club, and the access we gain to players and their high-performance centre is second to none. We look forward to continuing this relationship and building on it, especially in the NRLW space, as this aligns strongly with our female veterans and children who participate in the sport.

Coming Up…

The next few months will hopefully see some larger-scale Social Connections projects come to fruition. We have some exciting grant submissions awaiting approval, which will see our participants learn some amazing and valuable skills, while developing strong bonds and connection with our veteran ‘tribe’. We are super excited for these programs and the positive effect they will have on our Queensland participants.

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Created by experienced Firefighters and Exercise Physiologists – Turnout Fitness Programs are the trusted choice for those looking to make Firefighting their career or improve performance while serving. It is also suited for people in the private sector wanting to improve their fitness, regardless of their current level, as well as people who want to join the SES or other volunteer fire and rescue organisations.

We have over 15 years’ experience as first responders. This also includes operational experience in the Australian Defence Force, working as professional lifeguards, strength and conditioning training for professional athletes and providing rehabilitation for injuries.

We’ve created many programs (with more on the way) to align with your individual needs. These range from preparing you for physical entry tests to maintaining your fitness whilst performing your role in the emergency services. Whether you’re looking to improve your beep test score, gain strength, agility or increased cardiovascular fitness – we have a solution for you.

All returning veterans are warmly welcomed. Individual tailored programs are available for persons with diverse needs.

Central Coast Social Connections

Tunnel Tours

Since 1828, Fort Scratchley has guarded the Port of Newcastle. In June 1942 it fired on a Japanese submarine, making it the only coastal fortification to fire on an enemy naval vessel. Eight participants from the Newcastle area were given the rare treat of seeing the guns fire twice before we were taken on a special tunnel tour by the head guide, Bob. For an hour, participants were guided under the fort, learning about its history and how important the Fort has been since its construction. To top the tour off, we witnessed the firing of the gun right on 1pm. To be honest, we were spoilt by our guide and could not have asked for a better experience.

Coffee Catch up

With a Newcastle Programs Officer recently appointed, our Central Coast Senior Programs Officer, James, was able attend the Fortnightly coffee catch-up held at the Heritage Gardens cafe near Newcastle. The activity saw a large number of participants enjoy a coffee and a catch-up. The Veterans come from a wide range of backgrounds and for James, he personally loves hearing the stories and thoughts that come about from this activity. It may seem like a simple coffee but the social connection offered is just what the doctor ordered.

Sailing

We’ve moved into autumn, meaning warm days and cool nights. For sailing, April was particularly favorable, with strong south winds and sunny skies. The conditions were so good that a few of the sailing craft had to be reminded that lunch was waiting back at the clubhouse. Dillion, participant said “This was my first ever sailing day, It won’t be my last. I cannot believe that this activity is available for responders and veterans.”

Adelaide Social Connections

Belly Dancing

DanaceFit with Claire is another hugely popular activity introduced this year for the ladies. Claire specialises in belly dancing and has been teaching our South Aussie participants the art of dance. No matter their fitness level, everyone is comfortable and confident to wiggle those hips and get into the groove of the music. If you haven’t already, come along to try one of our DanceFit classes, please pop it into your calendar and join us. You will love it!

Easter Fun

Special thanks goes out to Deb Herring and the team at Barossa Fun Factory for hosting the amazing Easter Egg Heist for Soldier On participants this Easter. It was a wonderful new activity, filled with lots of mystery around who stole the Easter Eggs from the warehouse… Well done to everyone who attended, as you all smashed the clues to solve the puzzle. We’re all looking forward to the next adventure!

Dolphin Cruise

Coffee days and gaming nights

Our regular weekly Coffee Connect catch up is held at the Watershed Café, where any of our participants can come along for a chat and just relax. We have the privilege of many guests coming along to join us – even our friendly service dogs from OPK9 and Defence Community Dogs are regular special guests. If you haven’t been already, come along to the Watershed Café at Mawson Lakes between 12-2pm for a chat, and take in the amazing serenity for the wetlands right at our feet. Games nights has been popular with families to come along and unwind. It doesn’t matter if you have kids, you are part of a couple or single, everyone enjoys board and card games. While the young ones play Twister and Ludo, the adults played Up and Down the River, Phase – 10, 31’s and 7’s. Come along and bring your evening snacks for an epic night of laughter.

The amazing team at Temptation Sailing spoiled a lucky group of participants by taking them out on their 58-foot catamaran from the Marina Pier at Glenelg for a wild dolphin cruise. The entire group got to sit back, relax and enjoy the panoramic view of Adelaide’s stunning coastline on the most glorious afternoon. The dolphins this time were out exploring but did not stop by to say ‘hi’. Thanks to everyone who managed to hop along and join our group as we sailed the seas.

Kids Club

Adelaide’s Kids Club activity has been a huge success, with many families regularly coming along to relax and unwind, while the kids can burn off some energy and forge new friendships. We’re blessed to have the amazing Lollipop’s Playland in Golden Grove to host our adventurous activity where no two weeks are the same. Parents and kids have enjoyed the newly added Thursday sessions in addition to our Tuesday catch ups. During Easter we had a surprise delivery of Easter Eggs from the Easter Bunny for all our guests. We welcome any new families who’d like to come along for a morning out with plenty of fun for the kids to come and join our Soldier On Kids Club.

Movie Night

Nostalgic Gaming came back to life with The Super Mario Bro’s Movie held at the Odeon Cinema in Semaphore. It was a wonderful privilege to have Soldier On participants attend the premiere night for the biggest smash hit movie of the season. Over 80 participants attending our private screening came to see a Brooklyn plumber named Mario travel through the Mushroom Kingdom with a princess called Peach and an anthropomorphic mushroom named Toad to find Mario’s brother, Luigi, and to save the world from a ruthless firebreathing Koopa named Bowser. There were fab reviews from everyone who attended!

Archery

A special thanks to Bruce and the team at Hills Archery in Lenswood, who took a small group of participants for an afternoon out practicing archery and building friendships as part of a special Soldier On activity. The team enjoyed a full morning of training and skills building as we all learned the art of archery from the very talented Hills Archery team – and fury little offsider JoJo, who kept everyone company, with lots of pats required.

Could you be eligible for military superannuation invalidity benefits?

By Lisa Kinder • Principal Solicitor, Donaldson Law April 2023

Donaldson Law can help veterans who discharged long ago, to obtain invalidity bene ts through military superannuation.

What are military superannuation invalidity benefits?

Invalidity benefits are financial benefits provided to veterans who were discharged from service due to a medical condition or injury considered severe enough to prevent them from continuing their service.

Invalidity benefits consist of ongoing fortnightly payments in the form of a pension. Invalidity payments are backdated to the date of their

discharge, so in the case of men and women who discharged decades ago this can result in a lump sum payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars, in addition to the ongoing pension.

It’s worth noting that these benefits are separate from compensation payments through DVA, or through common law claims for damages.

What if the veteran was not discharged on grounds of invalidity?

Most of the veterans we assist were discharged on grounds other than medical invalidity, but we have nevertheless been able to assist them by firstly asking the ADF to reconsider the circumstances of their discharge. In appropriate

cases the ADF is willing to recognise that the veteran could have been eligible for a medical discharge, which in turn allows us to ask ComSuper to consider the veteran’s entitlement for invalidity benefits.

How can we help you?

Donaldson Law is a veteran-owned specialist firm with a proven track record of achieving outstanding results for veterans who never even realised that they could bring such a claim. We operate on a no win-no fee basis, and if the claim is successful, our fees (which are also tax deductible) are paid from the arrears payment that the veteran receives.

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Social Connections

KIAMA

Snorkelling – Bushrangers Bay

16 participants enjoyed a snorkelling tour of Bushrangers Bay, Shellharbour where they were able to immerse themselves in the picturesque aquatic wonderland. The water conditions were great, with visibility to around 10m and there was plenty of marine life to see including fish, stingrays, crabs and the main attraction, the grey nurse sharks.

The Shellharbour Dive shop was extremely helpful assisting us with fitting our equipment. The facilitator was great and put the kids’ minds at ease with a nice and easy demonstration – not once did the kids feel scared.

The Bay itself was spectacular, and the kids can proudly say they have snorkelled with sharks. Even the little kids were able to see fish up close in the sea grass in the shallows.

NRL

What a game to start off the NRL season on the Dragons’ home ground of WIN Stadium. Over 16,000 fans, including 57 veterans and family members, witnessed an enjoyable and hard-fought game, resulting in the Dragons being the victors over the Dolphins. The weather was great and allowed for an exciting, fast game to watch. It was a great day out for families, who were happy fans with the result.

Snorkelling – Huskisson

We had another 16 veterans and family members enjoy a guided snorkelling tour in the tranquil waters of Jervis Bay. The weather conditions were perfect, with plenty of visibility and sea life to see. The highlight was the cuttlefish and the octopus putting on a show. It was a great activity, enjoyed by all who attended.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Stand up paddle boarding on Lake Illawarra is always an enjoyable family activity. This time around, we had families travel from Canberra and Sydney to enjoy Illawarra and its beauty. The sunny day allowed for an enjoyable time with plenty of fish to see in the incoming tide.

We also travelled to Huskisson again for another day on the water with stand up paddle boarding, where Jervis Bay Sea Sports once again delivered a fun family event. The activity saw 30 participants in attendance and was well run and very professional, with an informative guided tour along Moona Moona Creek.

The day was perfect with beautiful weather and water conditions allowing visibility down to two meters and water temperatures warm enough for a dip during and afterwards. A great activity with plenty of smiles all round. Thank you to Jervis Bay Sea Sports for your time and support.

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Melbourne Social Connections

Deep Sea Fishing

Soldier On’s most notable social connection activity ‘Deep Sea Round Up’ provided more than 60 current and ex-serving veterans a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to go out on luxurious boats and try to catch Marlin. We had 20 vessels taking part in this monumental event. However, with unfortunate news received on the morning of the activity, we were unable to go out on this amazing adventure due to terrible weather conditions and our focus, of course, is on the safety of our participants. We did make the best of a bad situation and brought our BBQ forward, which still provided great social connection for those who had a shared interest in fishing.

In its tenth year running, this activity has seen considerable growth since its first year which attracted 11 participants across three vessels. It has provided many Soldier On veterans the opportunity to do deep sea fishing, with the aim to build social connections and promote good mental health and wellbeing, finding solace out on the water.

We would like to thank Tim Dean, captain of Calypso Fishing, who is

instrumental in rounding up all boats to donate their time, vessel and crew on the day. A very special mention to Brendan at the Dolphin Watch Cafe who allowed us to take over their kitchen in the morning to provide our back up Social Connections BBQ at the last minute, with Woolworths Nelson Bay donating all food, condiments and drinks to ensure all those participating were well fed. Thanks also to the Newcastle & Port Stephens

Game Fish Club and Broughtons at the Bay for once again hosting our functions, with d’Albora Marinas kindly donating fuel vouchers as a door prize and a reduced petrol cost for the boats participating. Also, a massive shout out to UNDERTOW Saltwater apparel for our new and amazing stylish, yet practical, fishing tops. We are hopeful that in 2024 the weather will be much more favourable and we will have some great fishing stories to tell!

Port Phillip Bay Fishing

The annual Melbourne fishing charter is a huge hit each year, bringing together those who have either reconnected or formed new friendships over the love of being on the water and fishing. It was a fun and competitive day, enjoyed by all. Steve, a participant on the day loves “getting out with like-minded people and having a great laugh.” In total, we managed to catch 263 fish, but due to the size restrictions we were only able to keep eight of them. Melbourne Fishing Charters are always delighted to have us onboard and this year we were recognised with a small trophy for both the biggest fish caught, and for the team with the most fish caught over the four hours. It was a great day out on the water!

Flying Fox Tour

We had a magnificent guided walking tour provided by Parks Victoria to see the 30,000 grey headed bat colony along the Yarra River, and tying it in with the Soldier On March On campaign helping add to the kilometre totals of those registered for this wellknown annual fundraising initiative. The beautiful walk started at Bellbird picnic area and progressed along the banks of the Yarra River to see the bats in their natural habitat before they make their journey back to Queensland to escape the colder months in Melbourne. This was a fantastic experience like no other!

Pasta Making

Everyone loves to learn a new skill and be able to cook something delicious in the kitchen!

Soldier On Melbourne facilitated a group class session hosted by ‘Dine with Dani’ learning the art of creating Orecchiette pasta made from semolina. This was not as easy as it looked, and thankfully there was a great supporting group of participants. It made the session fun with many smiles of support for one another, even if the pasta looked nothing like the gourmet meal made by the Italian chef. After we had created this amazing dish, we had the opportunity to eat our delicious creations and talk about how much fun we had.

Deese attended the activity and said there was “great food, great socialising and networking.”

Twilight Sailing

This is a wonderful opportunity for veterans and spouses to get involved in a very competitive twilight sailing competition and be part of a team.

The camaraderie of sailing these vessels around the beautiful Geelong waterfront made for a perfect evening. There was just enough wind for the sailboats not to use their engines, relying on skill to navigate around the buoys and back to win the prize. We’d like to thank the Royal Geelong Yacht Club for reaching out and providing this exciting activity in regional Victoria!

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Social Connections

Perth

Pottery Paint Session

Our April program had some school holiday activities for the kids with a Pottery Paint Session. This was a great opportunity for the kids to have some fun time painting and the parents could sit down and relax with other members of the veteran community over a cup of tea and just chat!

Meet and Greet Morning Tea

Coming up for May and June we have a Meet and Greet Morning Tea at the French Patisserie in Ellenbrook to get the veteran members together and

collaborate on what they would be interested in from a Soldier On event to bring them together.

Adult Cooking Class, Coffee Catch Up’s, Yoga, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Cycling and Walking Groups

We also have an adult cooking class and a tour of the famous Optus Stadium, followed by a lunch which will hopefully get over 50 participants involved! Along with our regular catch ups of coffee, yoga, Brazilian jiu jitsu, cycling and walking group held weekly.

Join in the fun free of charge

All of our Social Connections activities are free for all veterans and their family members to attend. A friendly reminder that every individual over the age of 18 attending any other activity must meet our eligibility requirements and be registered with Soldier On. This will be checked prior to the activity to ensure each adult is on our database. Registration just requires the filling out of this form –https://soldieron.org.au/supportingyou/registration-form//

Driving range

On Tuesday, 7 February, eight participants endured the hot temperatures of summer to spend the afternoon smashing 100 golf balls at the Canberra driving range. It was so enjoyable many participants have requested that this become a regular occurrence for the social connection with likeminded individuals.

Feedback from Michael was, “You and the team go to a lot of trouble so I can have something to look forward to and enjoy, it is very much and truly appreciated. Half the balls, twice as often.” With Peter agreeing that “the driving range is a good mix of activity for all sorts. Not too strenuous, but still active”.

Herbal Tea Blending Class

Tuesday, 14 February saw nine participants attending a handson workshop, where the friendly teacher shared all they needed to know to start identifying, blending and brewing their very own wellness herbal tea blends at home that same day!

They learnt the difference between creating tea blends with fresh and dry herbs, roots, seeds, leaves, flowers, and whole plants. They were also introduced to all these herbs through sight, feel, taste, and smell, to fully understand the properties and benefits of each. At the end of the class each participant had their very own personalised tea blend to take home and enjoy.

Tidbinbilla Day

In support of March On, a group of 11 participants met at Tidbinbilla to explore the nature park on Saturday, 18 March. We walked through the bush land on a trail that provided views over the valley below and the mountains of Namadgi National Park.

It was a stunning day with blue sky and 30 degrees. This did not deter our participants in exploring the grounds, while the children played on the playground at the Sheedy’s Picnic Area, and we finished the day with a BBQ cook up, cold water and soft drinks to re-hydrate ourselves.

All in all, it was a great day out exploring; one family took full benefit of the picturesque day by following a few more walking tracks throughout the afternoon.

Social Connections Port Macquarie

Sgt. Matthew Locke MG Charity Match 2023

In memory of Sgt. Matthew Locke MG, this charity event sees Army Thunder play Bellingen Magpies each year. Soldier On has been actively involved with this annual event since its inception in 2008, and each year it has grown to be bigger and better.

“It’s our responsibility to remember them, it’s our duty to care for them.” said Belinda Jolley (Locke).

Along with an incredible 800 participants, our Patrons, Their Excellencies General the Honourable David John Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Mrs Linda Hurley were also in attendance at this event.

Soldier On Port Macquarie veterans and their families attended the day, and those who travelled enjoyed accommodation at The Lodge Bellingen. Feedback from those attending was positive, with comments such as, “Had an awesome time at Bellingen. Thanks for all your support, hard work, help and planning”, and, “We appreciate all that Soldier On does for us broken, wrecked body people – thank you.”

This weekend is vital to the veteran community and the connections made at these sorts of events last a lifetime.

ANZAC Wreath Workshop

With thanks once again to Arthouse Industries, veterans and their families were invited to make a wreath in the lead up to ANZAC Day 2023 at Arthouse Industries. Thank you to Skye for your ongoing support to Soldier On Australia. This unique class gave participants the chance to do something that many hadn’t done before, using Australian natives and reed to create beautiful moments of remembrance. Participants were encouraged to lay their wreath whilst paying respects or hang their creation at home as a tribute to our veterans and their families.

March On

Soldier On Port Macquarie had a team of seven participants and raised more than $800. The team walked an additional 33kms over the combined target. Jody, Soldier On Program Officer, said, “Just a little shout out to our regular veterans and their families for engaging weekly. Also, a special mention to our new participants who have shown courage to step up and engage”.

To our veterans and their families who come and go, you are never alone and you are welcome any time. Keep on Soldiering On.

Poppy Earrings Creative Class

Arthouse Industries taught our veterans and their families all about the art of making jewellery, from the correct resin to use, how to add some colour, glitter and sparkle and how to assemble them using the correct jewellery findings. At the end of the class, participants left with two pairs of earrings and a brooch or keyring.

This class was for anyone wanting to connect, be mindful and to learn the basics of creating earrings with casting resin and moulds.

Participants had a great night. The lovely group made those attending feel welcome straight away. One participant said the activity “made it easy to ‘escape’ from a busy life for a few hours and have a laugh with like-minded people”.

Amber commented, “thank you for making this opportunity possible. Creatively joining people in their community is priceless. Thoroughly enjoyed the Poppy evening and will wear the earrings with pride for years to come.”

Our Corporate Partners

Soldier On is grateful of our corporate partners and sponsors. The below organisations provide vital funding that directly enable Soldier On to continue to provide support for veterans and their families.

Principal Partners

Associate Partners

Major Partners Partners

Foundation Partners

With special thanks

Abode Hotels

Sydney Local Health District

Count Charitable Foundation

GWS Giants

Football Club

The Good Guys

The Howarth Foundation

St Kilda Football Club

Scott Mitchell & Partners

Media partners

The Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council

Waves Carwash

Tallangandra Hills

Winery

Lendlease

Raytheon Australia

NSW Government

IA Designs

Two 14 Coffee Company

Dramatic Productions

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