Elaine Gallagher Born in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), Elaine grew up in Perth, Western Australia, and joined the Australian Defence Force after an epiphany that she needed to turn her life around when she finished high school. Elaine started her 13-year journey in the Army as a Clerk Technical with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and later transferred to the Australian Intelligence. She deployed in East Timor and Bougainville then was medically discharged after being diagnosed with Stage 5 Cervical Cancer. Elaine went on to study her Masters of Occupational Health, Safety & Hygiene and had a successful career in the resource industry, working in oil and gas and mining. Elaine is passionate about giving back and helping the veteran community. She now works with various ex-service organisations and was a Level 2 Welfare and Advocate within her RSL sub Branch. Elaine is an Enterprise Alumnus of The Prince’s Trust, a not-for-profit that inspires veterans and ADF families with the confidence, enterprise capabilities and the networks they need to explore entrepreneurship and prepare for the future of work. Elaine is passionate about bringing communities together.
My name is Elaine Gallagher; I wrote this on Saturday 5th June 2021 after spending one week with Kapani Warrior in Aurukun. I was born in Myanmar, formally known as Burma. I arrived in Australia when I was three years old. I have seen what war and poverty has done to my parents. I grew up in a household where my father drank to drown his sorrows from loosing his parents at a young age. My father was in the Burmese army and there was no counseling support in Myanmar to help these servicemen. My mother had to support seven children whilst working as a mental health nurse and trying hard to keep her husband alive from alcohol abuse and depression. I witnessed a lot of domestic violence in my culture from relatives and Aurukun reminded me of my upbringing. I write this, as I want you, the reader to know what it is like to sense sadness, happiness and most of all pride and hope for self, country and culture. I served in the Australian army for 13 years. I enlisted when I was 17 years old and was allocated to the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC). I then corps transferred to AUST Intelligence as an operator. At the age of 29, I was diagnosed with stage 5 cervical cancer after my deployments to East Timor and Bougainville. I medically discharged after 13 years of service. The army was not going to release me however back in those days of transition; there was not much support, assistance or empathy resulting my decision to leave on a medical discharge. I successfully went on to have a career in the resource industry in oil and gas and mining. I was fortunate to have worked with some credible organisations and grateful that Rio Tinto paid for my Masters in OHS. My passion is working beside people and communities in mental health. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I replace the
D with a G, as I see growth instead of a disorder. I am always striving for education and growth within myself. Brisbane: Before arriving in Aurukun, I had lost some hope. I am a well being advocate for our veterans and families and I believe that to be in this role you have to be thick skinned, have leadership qualities, be able to walk the talk and be a role model. We must have these qualities so that we can spread hope and reduce the numbers in suicide. With the Royal Commission (RC) into veterans’ suicide being underway, I believe that there will be people who will be re-traumatised and maybe a rise in suicides. I reached out to Dr Timothy White from Kapani Warrior via LinkedIn. There were telephone calls and a promise to bring me to Aurukun. That promise was made on Friday 28th May 2021 and I know that from day one, I actually belonged. Aurukun: Culture to me is such an individual thing as we all identify with various aspects of society and pick elements that we can relate with and we understand from our own unique experiences. It really varies how much each partakes and involves them within the culture that represents us and we are our only benchmark. Culture, like language and faith keeps evolving together with the people who live by it an in it. We create it and is there to serve us. There are no two people of the same culture who are identical with each other no matter how many common things we may share. My week here in Aurukun has been challenging, rewarding, exciting and fulfilling. I am extremely happy here as I found purpose. I came here to observe and learn. I also came here to add to solutions to reduce veterans’ suicide as well as learn about culture and country. I am learning everyday from this community. The people have shared their stories with me and as well
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shared their hopes and dreams to move forward and to provide for themselves and for their families. They are hopeful about their future as I am of mine now. Conclusion: I believe that Australian Defence Force veterans and the community of Aurukun can work side by side. We all can successfully assist one another to find hope and peace again within our communities and ourselves. Through lived experience, we can all take action to prevent suicide with some understanding. We always have to give someone a reason to hope things will not stay this way; they can get better. The team at Kapani Warrior has welcomed me just like the community of Aurukun. I believe that if the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) invested in a pilot program for veterans to come and participate in the Kapani Warrior program, I firmly believe that most of the veterans’ will not think of suicide ideation whilst out in country and community. I believe that the Kapani Warrior program and the community of Aurukun will save lives. I return back to Brisbane with a different mindset and more educated on our First Nations and country. A wise man once told me that the cookie crumbs that I have been chasing were a waste of time as we are building a biscuit factory! (Thanks Dr Tim). I know that spending time in country has been a lifeline for me. I am currently waiting for DVA to approve my university studies and looking into various studies regarding mental health. I am hopeful about a psychologist degree or Aboriginal health studies. I am again hopeful and wish to invite anyone of you all to come and experience what I have in Aurkun.
ELAINE GALLAGHER Lived Experience Australian Army Veteran
