1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: A team of Darwin veterans is going to join hundreds 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: of current and former Defense Force personnel from across the 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: country competing in the Veteran Games Finals on the Gold 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: Coast this weekend. Now. The Games involved team based challenges 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: featuring military inspired activities like obstacle courses, stretcher carries, rope climbs, 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 1: and tug of war. It was founded by retired Special 7 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: Forces officer Heston Russell to improve the physical and mental 8 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: health of veterans in response to the Royal Commission into 9 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,960 Speaker 1: Defense and Veterans Suicide. And I'm pleased to say Heston 10 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: joins me on the line. Good morning to you. Heston. 11 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 2: Hey, gooday Katie, how are you? 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 1: Yeah? Really good? Wonderful to have you on the show 13 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: now mate. Last time we spoke, the Darwin leg of 14 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:49,959 Speaker 1: the Veteran Games was happening. How did it go? 15 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 2: Hey? That was Glynn. It was so good being back 16 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 2: up in the Northern Territory in Darwin and we had 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 2: a really great turnout, especially of the current serving teams, 18 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: with the team from five seven Riar taking out the trophy. 19 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: And thanks to the Northern Territory Government, they're joining us 20 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: this weekend on the Gold Coast. 21 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: Oh, how wonderful. So from five to seven, riar. 22 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: Did you say that's the one? 23 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: Oh? How good? So what's happening on the Gold Coast 24 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: this weekend? It sounds like it is going to be massive. 25 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. So this is our third annual Veteran Games. We've 26 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 2: got over one hundred and forty veterans coming in to compete, 27 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 2: and like you said before, very different to what people 28 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 2: might think of like an obstacle course race. The teams 29 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: will turn up and they'll be given a mission briefing, 30 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:33,479 Speaker 2: so they have a task to complete and it will 31 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: involve things like an obstacle course, you know, recovering the casualty, 32 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 2: stuff like that. But they'll be assessed on their time, 33 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 2: technique and teamwork and throughout the day, throughout both days 34 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: to complete a series of events to accrue some points, 35 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 2: and then the championship team will be crowned on a 36 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: Sunday afternoon. 37 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: Well, of course I'll be cheering for the Northern Territory team. 38 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: How many territories have you got taking part in the 39 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: finals on the Gold Coast as part of that team. 40 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: So this is our first team, first team from the NT. 41 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 2: I mean, as you can appreciate. We're on the gold 42 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: coach and one of the big factors is conventions to 43 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 2: be able to afford to travel down and so again 44 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: just massive shout out to the Northern Territory Government and 45 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: One Brigade for supporting us to do this. But you know, 46 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:18,560 Speaker 2: in years to come we want to keep expanding it 47 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 2: and opening it up and it's only through fantastic sponsors 48 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 2: like Veterans first consulting in others this year that we 49 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 2: can afford to do it. But yeah, we plan on 50 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 2: bringing more of it and this weekend is going to 51 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: be very big. 52 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 1: As you said, oh how good, Well, no doubt our 53 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: Northern Territory team are going to be absolutely pumped. Tell 54 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: me a bit more about some of the other teams 55 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: that they're going to be competing against. 56 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: Well, the amazing part is since we had the original 57 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: games in twenty twenty three and nine of the teams 58 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: so have continued to compete year after year. So we've 59 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 2: got a team coming up from Melbourne, a team coming 60 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 2: from Canberra, actually two teams come from New South Wales 61 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: and the rest are all coming from in and around Queensland, 62 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 2: including one from Townsville. So from all over. Yeah, all 63 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: walks of life in that high risk demographic. The Royal 64 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 2: Commission identified primarily under the age of forty, but all 65 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,680 Speaker 2: been working and training up the last year to come 66 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 2: and compete, and we look forward to putting them through 67 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 2: their paces. 68 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: Well. Mate, as a girl who lived in Townsville and 69 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: now lives here, I'm telling you how you're going to 70 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: have to watch out for the Townsville team and the 71 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: Northern Territory team. I reckon they'll be tough. 72 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: I'm with you. I spent my first three years in 73 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 2: the military in Townsville, and it's the weather, it's the distances, 74 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: it's something in the water. But they're good competitors and 75 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 2: the tough individuals. So I definitely have high expectations of 76 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: your your Darwin team there. 77 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I reckon in terms of the you know, the 78 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: benefits that this event has as well to you know, 79 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 1: to our personnel that are going to be involved, current 80 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: and former Defense Force personnel. I mean, what is some 81 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: of the feedback that you get as these events have 82 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: taken place place firstly around the nation, but now as 83 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 1: this this one gets underway on the Gold Coast, what 84 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: do people tell you after they have been part of us. 85 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: Well, it's brilliant and if people want to go online 86 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: to veterangames dot com. There's actually some incredible video testimonials 87 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 2: from some of the people who have competed and have 88 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: told us. You know, I'm a change person. My wife 89 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 2: says them changed, my daughter says them changed. The Royal 90 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: Commission identified loss of purpose, loss of identity, and loss 91 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 2: of community as the three key factors leading to sort 92 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: of mental ill health and suicidality. And by giving people 93 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 2: a purpose to reach out former team, train up physically 94 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 2: and come to compete in events that celebrate what you 95 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 2: can do as a part of that military identity, we're 96 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: really focusing on all the positives of physical fitness, what 97 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 2: that derives with mental fitness, community connection and celebrating the 98 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: weekend with like minded people. That camaraderie, providing that space 99 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 2: where people open up and have conversations they might not 100 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: have had before, get to remember some of what they 101 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 2: have done, but also then get out there and show 102 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 2: what they still can do year on year. That's why 103 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: we have veterans and their families and their friends all 104 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 2: coming out and enjoying that we can we put on. 105 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: Hastin what does it mean like for you as you 106 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: know as the founder of this event, and I know 107 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: it would take a lot of organization to happen for you, 108 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: and I'm sure you know probably a small team that 109 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 1: helps you out with it. What does it mean to you? Then? 110 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: You know when you hear from the children of those 111 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: taking part, from the families, the wives, the husbands of 112 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: those taking part, when they tell you the kind of 113 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,039 Speaker 1: impact that it has had on their family members. 114 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's pretty massive. Look, I come from five generations 115 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 2: in the military, including my dad and my brother, and 116 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 2: my brother even came out last year and was a 117 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,679 Speaker 2: judge with me, and the end of it, he actually 118 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: broke down and cried with me and said he didn't 119 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 2: realize how much he needed it. So it's very inspiring 120 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 2: because I formed the Veteran Games literally out of something 121 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,919 Speaker 2: that I wanted to do. It wasn't injured enough and 122 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 2: didn't want to take the place of anyone else applying 123 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 2: for Invictus, and I wanted to do something competitive and 124 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: then actually threw on some skills that I had unique 125 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 2: compared to my city mates. So seeing that vision put 126 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: in a practice is incredible for me. But seeing people 127 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 2: just the euphoria indulation at the very end of the 128 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 2: games is pretty incredible, and it's just brilliant being able 129 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 2: to be a part of that and helping people to 130 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 2: achieve that. 131 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: Good on you. Now, I understand there is also a 132 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: chin up challenge at the Games. Is that right? Is 133 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: that a first? 134 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 2: You're well brief You're well briefed. Yes. Thanks to our 135 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 2: thanks to our presenting sponsor, Veterans First Consulting, we're setting 136 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 2: up a heave beam, a chin up beam, and for 137 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: every chin up completed, they're going to donate five dollars 138 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 2: to the Veteran Game. So hopefully we can get some 139 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 2: buffloads of football players and Olympians coming out or something. 140 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: The people will be giving it. They're all mate, no 141 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: matter what I. 142 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 2: Reckon, that's it. They get to do it on Saturday 143 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: and Sunday. You get two days, two days to crack 144 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 2: at it. So yeah, if anyone anyone's listening, anyone's taking 145 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: the trip down to the Gold Coast, we'd love to 146 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 2: have you up to cheer on the team and help us, 147 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: you know, raise some money as well. 148 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: Good on you. It sounds like it's going to be wonderful. 149 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: Like I said, I will be cheering for the Northern 150 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: Territory team. You know, I don't mind if towns fill 151 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: come second because I was born in Queensland. But no, 152 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: it sounds like it's going to be absolutely wonderful. I know, 153 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: I know a huge benefit to everybody who takes part. 154 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: So Heston, thanks so much for your time this morning. 155 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: And and yeah let us know how the how the 156 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: Territorians go after the weekend. 157 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 2: Well do, thanks Hettie, and thanks so much for your 158 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: amazing positivity and really appreciate it. 159 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: No worries at all, Thank you, Thanks so much. Heston, 160 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: really appreciate your time.