Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well. In a major show of support for local veterans
and troops, Darwin is set to host the Defense of
Veteran Games at Robertson Barracks this weekend. We're expecting more
than two hundred veterans, current serving members and spectators are
going to be attending, with teams of Army, Navy and
Air Force personnel competing in a range of challenges. Now
(00:22):
joining me on the line is the events creator and
Managing Director of Veteran Support Force, Heston Russell. Good morning again, Sorry, Heston,
that phone seems to have dropped out of I got
you there. Let's try one more time, Heston, can you
hear me?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I certainly can.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, goodbye, Good to have you on the show. Thanks
so much for your time. Now, is this the first
time that we've held this event to in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Darwin, Yeah, the first time. And what's even more exciting
is it's actually on base and a huge part of
what we're trying to do is get the veteran community
reconnected with the current service community. So thanks for the
Normanitary Government and one Brigade. It's here on Robertson Barracks
tomorrow Friday.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
How awesome and how wonderful to be able to have
it there on at Robertson Barracks.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah, it's brilliant. It really is trying to get that integration,
reconnecting that community and getting back out here, you know,
helping people to reconnect with that military identity. And again,
I just really can't praise the one Brigade team out
here as well, even though pump the base so that
people can come along and spectate.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
That's so good. I think it's a wonderful thing to
have the wider community part of it as well. Hairston,
tell me what kind of challenges are participants going to
be taking part in.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, it's a bit of a secret, but I'll let
you win. There's at least going to be there's an
obstacle course. There's a water obstacle that they're going to
have to navigate as well. So the key thing with
the Veteran Games is so it's a team's event eight
to ten and they have to participate in military style activity. So,
like I said, it's going to be an obstacle course,
but there's going to be an extra element to it.
While they'll be assessed on technique and teamwork to like
(02:00):
navigate this water obstacle and there's going to be four
or five other events throughout the day, commencing at around
eight thirty in the morning.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
And how important is it, you know that this event
happens in a defense town like Darwin. You know, when
you look at the number of veterans that we've got here,
when you look at the you know, the number of
people we've got here, Like, how important is it to
hold an event like this indo? And then you know,
to see some of these participants potentially go on to
(02:30):
compete at the national finals.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, yeah, massive. I mean, we developed the Veteran Games
three years ago parallel to the Royal Commission into Defense
and Veteran Suicide to identify that loss of purpose, loss
of community, and loss of identity were the key factors
leading to mental ill health and suicidality. So that's exactly
what we design for this to form a team, train
it with purpose, reconnect with the community, reconnect with part
(02:52):
of that military identity. And even better, as you said,
the Northern Territory Government's actually going to sponsor the winning
team from this heat tomorrow to travel down to our
national final on the Gold Coast in October.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Oh that is fantastic, mate. How many people do you
get to the national finals or is it a bit
select because you only have the winners from the other states.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
No, well, again, so this is the first heat. So
the last two years, the Gold Coast event's been our
only event with people traveling from across the country. Oh
wow this year. Yeah, So this year we're looking at
about I think we've got about two hundred veterans that
we're planning for this year, so twenty teams, and we
can definitely take more. So it actually started off with
fifty the first year, one hundred the second year, so
we're doubling as we go, and especially being a charity
(03:36):
and sort of community supported initiative, it's really brilliant to
see the impact it's having and the growth it's having
and being here in Darwin. Hopefully we can do it
again next year.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It sounds like such a fantastic initiative to me. I
mean we've spoken on numerous occasions on this show to
veterans you know, who've really struggled after leaving the service.
As you touched on a moment to go and then
you know, you look at the way that that physical
activity and an event like this can give someone purpose,
(04:06):
to give someone something to train for and to really
be part of something.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Absolutely one hundred percent. And look, if people go online
to Veteran Games dot Com, you'll see the last two
years we've film documentary's got testimonials to some of the
testimonials from you know, veterans, you know only thirty years old,
who haven't left their houses, suffered from anxiety, depression, all
the rest, and just to see how it's impacted them,
how it's impacted their families, their kids, given them a
(04:34):
sense of purpose, reconnected with that community. It's all there,
and it's and it's growing, and we're just really privileged
about a one continue to do it, but to doing
it here again on base with full support of the
Army base here and also the Northern Territory government. It's
absolutely brilliant and so enjoyable to be here and be
able to do it tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So you said this right from the get go. Members
of the community can go along to watch, can't they.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, absolutely so again thanks to the team here at
the first Brigade on Robertson Barracks. People can turn up
tomorrow from eight o'clock from eight o'clock till four o'clock
is when we're running. They can come and spectate. Mates
and mates are running a barbecue out here. We've got
Marquee set up. The front gate staff are being worded up.
You just have to tell them you're here to watch
the veteran games and they'll be able to shovel you
(05:19):
in and come and watch what the veterans are up to.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Heston, we're pretty territory proud here, mate. Do you reckon
that our games are going to be better than everywhere else?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Well, I tell you the unique part again is about
doing it here on base so we actually can throw
a few more things. We got a lot of stores
and equipment and a few little curlies that they're going
to have to deal with. So again I don't want
to give away too much in case any competitors are listening,
but yeah, it's definitely going to be quite different to
what we do on the Gold Coast, but for all
the better for it.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Oh, good on you. Thank you so much for having
a chat with us this morning and letting us know
more about it. I reckon you'll get a great crowd
down there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Now, Legend, thanks for for helping us raise the awareness
and again, anyone who wants to get involved heat the
Veteran Games dot com. You can register as a spectator.
There's more details on how to get to base. Otherwise,
come on out and the staff will help you out
to come and watch.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Our good stuff. Well, Heston Russell, lovely to talk to
you this morning, Thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Likewise, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Thank you
Well. In a major show of support for local veterans
and troops, Darwin is set to host the Defense of
Veteran Games at Robertson Barracks this weekend. We're expecting more
than two hundred veterans, current serving members and spectators are
going to be attending, with teams of Army, Navy and
Air Force personnel competing in a range of challenges. Now
(00:22):
joining me on the line is the events creator and
Managing Director of Veteran Support Force, Heston Russell. Good morning again, Sorry, Heston,
that phone seems to have dropped out of I got
you there. Let's try one more time, Heston, can you
hear me?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
I certainly can.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, goodbye, Good to have you on the show. Thanks
so much for your time. Now, is this the first
time that we've held this event to in.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Darwin, Yeah, the first time. And what's even more exciting
is it's actually on base and a huge part of
what we're trying to do is get the veteran community
reconnected with the current service community. So thanks for the
Normanitary Government and one Brigade. It's here on Robertson Barracks
tomorrow Friday.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
How awesome and how wonderful to be able to have
it there on at Robertson Barracks.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Yeah, it's brilliant. It really is trying to get that integration,
reconnecting that community and getting back out here, you know,
helping people to reconnect with that military identity. And again,
I just really can't praise the one Brigade team out
here as well, even though pump the base so that
people can come along and spectate.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
That's so good. I think it's a wonderful thing to
have the wider community part of it as well. Hairston,
tell me what kind of challenges are participants going to
be taking part in.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, it's a bit of a secret, but I'll let
you win. There's at least going to be there's an
obstacle course. There's a water obstacle that they're going to
have to navigate as well. So the key thing with
the Veteran Games is so it's a team's event eight
to ten and they have to participate in military style activity. So,
like I said, it's going to be an obstacle course,
but there's going to be an extra element to it.
While they'll be assessed on technique and teamwork to like
(02:00):
navigate this water obstacle and there's going to be four
or five other events throughout the day, commencing at around
eight thirty in the morning.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
And how important is it, you know that this event
happens in a defense town like Darwin. You know, when
you look at the number of veterans that we've got here,
when you look at the you know, the number of
people we've got here, Like, how important is it to
hold an event like this indo? And then you know,
to see some of these participants potentially go on to
(02:30):
compete at the national finals.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Yeah, yeah, massive. I mean, we developed the Veteran Games
three years ago parallel to the Royal Commission into Defense
and Veteran Suicide to identify that loss of purpose, loss
of community, and loss of identity were the key factors
leading to mental ill health and suicidality. So that's exactly
what we design for this to form a team, train
it with purpose, reconnect with the community, reconnect with part
(02:52):
of that military identity. And even better, as you said,
the Northern Territory Government's actually going to sponsor the winning
team from this heat tomorrow to travel down to our
national final on the Gold Coast in October.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Oh that is fantastic, mate. How many people do you
get to the national finals or is it a bit
select because you only have the winners from the other states.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
No, well, again, so this is the first heat. So
the last two years, the Gold Coast event's been our
only event with people traveling from across the country. Oh
wow this year. Yeah, So this year we're looking at
about I think we've got about two hundred veterans that
we're planning for this year, so twenty teams, and we
can definitely take more. So it actually started off with
fifty the first year, one hundred the second year, so
we're doubling as we go, and especially being a charity
(03:36):
and sort of community supported initiative, it's really brilliant to
see the impact it's having and the growth it's having
and being here in Darwin. Hopefully we can do it
again next year.
Speaker 1 (03:45):
It sounds like such a fantastic initiative to me. I
mean we've spoken on numerous occasions on this show to
veterans you know, who've really struggled after leaving the service.
As you touched on a moment to go and then
you know, you look at the way that that physical
activity and an event like this can give someone purpose,
(04:06):
to give someone something to train for and to really
be part of something.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Absolutely one hundred percent. And look, if people go online
to Veteran Games dot Com, you'll see the last two
years we've film documentary's got testimonials to some of the
testimonials from you know, veterans, you know only thirty years old,
who haven't left their houses, suffered from anxiety, depression, all
the rest, and just to see how it's impacted them,
how it's impacted their families, their kids, given them a
(04:34):
sense of purpose, reconnected with that community. It's all there,
and it's and it's growing, and we're just really privileged
about a one continue to do it, but to doing
it here again on base with full support of the
Army base here and also the Northern Territory government. It's
absolutely brilliant and so enjoyable to be here and be
able to do it tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
So you said this right from the get go. Members
of the community can go along to watch, can't they.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah, absolutely so again thanks to the team here at
the first Brigade on Robertson Barracks. People can turn up
tomorrow from eight o'clock from eight o'clock till four o'clock
is when we're running. They can come and spectate. Mates
and mates are running a barbecue out here. We've got
Marquee set up. The front gate staff are being worded up.
You just have to tell them you're here to watch
the veteran games and they'll be able to shovel you
(05:19):
in and come and watch what the veterans are up to.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
Heston, we're pretty territory proud here, mate. Do you reckon
that our games are going to be better than everywhere else?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Well, I tell you the unique part again is about
doing it here on base so we actually can throw
a few more things. We got a lot of stores
and equipment and a few little curlies that they're going
to have to deal with. So again I don't want
to give away too much in case any competitors are listening,
but yeah, it's definitely going to be quite different to
what we do on the Gold Coast, but for all
the better for it.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Oh, good on you. Thank you so much for having
a chat with us this morning and letting us know
more about it. I reckon you'll get a great crowd
down there as well.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Now, Legend, thanks for for helping us raise the awareness
and again, anyone who wants to get involved heat the
Veteran Games dot com. You can register as a spectator.
There's more details on how to get to base. Otherwise,
come on out and the staff will help you out
to come and watch.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
Our good stuff. Well, Heston Russell, lovely to talk to
you this morning, Thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Likewise, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Thank you
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