1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Now there are some wonderful events happening at the moment, 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: and a special walk is happening in Darwin this weekend 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: to on a firefighter at Australian soldier Nathan Shanahan, who 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: took his life in twenty sixteen. The event, as I 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: know you've heard about in previous years as well, is 6 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: called walking off the War Within, and it's all about 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: building connections with others and represents the journey of overcoming 8 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: the internal battles at many face after serving in the 9 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: military or experiencing traumatic events. Joining us on the line 10 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: to talk more about this is the Northern Territory coordinator, 11 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,520 Speaker 1: Danny Everly. Good morning to you, Danny. 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: How are you Yeah, really well Danny, this is such 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: a wonderful event. How many years are we at now 15 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: for the Northern Territory, Katie? 16 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: This year's number seven. So obviously, as you've mentioned before, 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 2: Nathan had Losey's Battle in twenty sixteen, so we kicked 18 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 2: off in twenty seventeen with really just a walk in 19 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: his honor and his memory, and we didn't I think 20 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 2: at that point in time expect the amount of people 21 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: that did come out till have come out so and 22 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: it really did connect with so many, you know, that 23 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: messaging of walking off the wall within and particularly with 24 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: how you know we encourage people with or without a 25 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: pack to do the walk, so the pack being representative 26 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 2: of that weight of what mental illness can do to 27 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 2: a person. 28 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: Now, you know, for those out there who didn't know Nathan, 29 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: what kind of bloke was he? 30 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: Oh? My goodness. So one of Nate's nicknames was the 31 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 2: Mule because he was just that big meal of a man. 32 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 2: He was a gentle giant, just a softly spoken, really humble, wonderful, 33 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: wonderful human being, and we none of us realized what 34 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 2: he was going through. Naith was that he did a 35 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 2: walk himself, which is where walking off the war cape, 36 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,959 Speaker 2: but what war within came from. So he actually walked 37 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: four hundred kilometers between mil Dura and Adelaide in twenty 38 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 2: fifteen and was the face of soldier on for that 39 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: and that really, I guess surprised a lot of us 40 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 2: at that point in time, but for him, who have 41 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 2: then lost his battle of the year after we were flowed, 42 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 2: we really were. So Nate was my husband's loader in 43 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 2: the army, and you know, we were quite close family friends. 44 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 2: So Ma's beautiful wife Kosher was a good friend of 45 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,679 Speaker 2: mine as well. And you know, it is one of 46 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 2: those things when you know, big big early blokes or 47 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: you know, the army guys or our police and our fieries, 48 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 2: and they experienced these and on a on an often 49 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: regular basis and really do just have to put on 50 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 2: a brave face and go at it again. And unfortunately, 51 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: I think if they have had to continue to put 52 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 2: on those brave faces at times that it is as 53 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: those situations we then we take for granted and you 54 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 2: know we haven't we don't look into as much or 55 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 2: we don't delve into and and that was the situation 56 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 2: with Nate, like we just you know, we didn't expect 57 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 2: it because we had never spoken about it. You know, 58 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: things just just kept we just kept moving forward. 59 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, Oh, it's so bloody sad, and it's you know, 60 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: and I think it's it's what's even sad? Or is 61 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 1: I you know, he's he's not alone. I know that 62 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: a lot of people, you know, face this battle and 63 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: and quite often feel like, you know, like maybe they 64 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: can't talk about it as openly as as as what 65 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: we should. And I guess that's that's sort of the 66 00:03:58,560 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: aim of the walk as well. 67 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: As nice Yeah, absolutely, Katie. And so we are about 68 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 2: awareness and about bringing you know, different organizations together that 69 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: bringing people together. You know, trauma and mental illness it is, 70 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: it is very individual, but the impact of it is 71 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:24,160 Speaker 2: widespread and it has a real ripple effects. So what 72 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 2: we aim to do is have you know, the more 73 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: more provided, the more different organizations that want to be 74 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 2: a part of our event to be a part of it, 75 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: because we want everyone to know as well that there 76 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 2: is more than one option available to you. So like 77 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: for example, my husband when when he got back from 78 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: Afghanistan and he was very very impacted by PTSD and 79 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 2: still is today, but the health and the services that 80 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 2: are available at that point in time were very very limited, 81 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 2: and so he went to university. We were in that 82 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 2: position that he went to and study psychology things. He 83 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: was able to take that step. Not everybody can, and 84 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 2: not everybody has those different avenues or you know, has 85 00:05:11,880 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: the I guess support to look at those different avenues. 86 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: And so that's where we really want to try and 87 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: have as many organizations available so that you know, people 88 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: can go and see different and see you, look and 89 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 2: feel and connect because you really do. When it comes 90 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 2: to your health and your well being, and particularly something 91 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 2: that is so personal as your mental illness and something 92 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 2: that is often really difficult to speak about, you need 93 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 2: to be able to connect with the person that you 94 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 2: are going to go down that pathway with. 95 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: Now, tell me when's the event happening? How can people 96 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: get involved? Tell us a little bit more about it, Daddy, of. 97 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 2: Course, So this Saturday is the event. So seven am 98 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: is the first round of walkers, so it is the 99 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: ultimate challenge. Is a twenty kilometer walk with a twenty 100 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: kilogram pack. But it's a whole family event, so we 101 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 2: really want as many people and as much of the 102 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 2: community down there. So it's the East Point five kilometer loop, 103 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 2: so it's a beautiful walk around. So you can complete five, ten, 104 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 2: fifteen or twenty kilometers on either our Facebook page Walking 105 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: Off the Wall within an annual event, or our website 106 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 2: walkoffww dot com and follow the links there to register. 107 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 2: Now it is a free event. People can make a 108 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 2: donation if they choose, but the walk, as I mentioned, 109 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: is an awareness event, so all money that we do 110 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 2: raise that as part of the event, I donate back 111 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 2: into services that are working in the space of mental illness, 112 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: particularly for our frontline servicemen and women and our veterans 113 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: on adaily basis locally in Darwin. So I made all 114 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 2: of that back at the end of the event, so 115 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: once we've paid out all of our you know for 116 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: the jumping castle and so forth. Yeah, So East Point 117 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 2: Reserve Saturday morning. If you're wanting to do the twenty 118 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 2: kilometer or the fifteen kilometer, please come down by about 119 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: six forty five am. And if you're coming to do 120 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: the five or the ten kilometer, about seven forty five 121 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: am for an eight am kickoff would be great. The 122 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: reason that we do the two different start times is 123 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 2: so that everyone then finishes roughly the same time and 124 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: it will then be a real community space, shifting around, 125 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: catch up with people, meet people that you haven't met before, 126 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: speak to the different services that are there, take advantage 127 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 2: of the delicious food that will be on offer. We'll 128 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 2: have water, we'll have some gatorade, fit things like that. 129 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 2: Everything's provided for all the participants. There be I a 130 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 2: zooper doopers and yeah, so good stuff, really family community 131 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: event and we want everyone there. 132 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: Good stuff. Well NT coordinator of Walking Off the War 133 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: Within Danny Evely really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks 134 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 1: very much for chatting with us. 135 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 2: Thanks so much, Katie, I really appreciate it. 136 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: Thank you.