RSL going bush to connect with veterans from Afghanistan

In a bid to connect Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, a Mid North Coast RSL sub-branch is hosting a retreat. This initiative comes 25 years after Australian soldiers entered the longest conflict in the nation's history. The Bellinger River RSL sub-branch, located in New South Wales, aims to reach out to younger veterans who may have felt isolated.

Josh Donnelly, a 39-year-old Afghanistan war veteran, exemplifies this need. A father of six and a former soldier who served from 2006 to 2013, Donnelly was medically discharged due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being deployed to Afghanistan from 2012. His PTSD makes it difficult for him to work, but he finds solace in spending time with his youngest children.

The Royal Commission into Veteran and Defence Suicide emphasized the need for ongoing support for members transitioning out of Defence to rebuild their civilian identities. With approximately 30,000 Australians deployed to the Middle East from 2001 to 2021, the youngest veteran from the first deployment to Afghanistan in 2001 would now be just 43 years old.

Emma Palmer, president of the Bellinger River RSL sub-branch, works to attract younger veterans to her branch to foster camaraderie and connectivity among those who served. Ms Palmer, who served as a nurse in Afghanistan, herself experienced PTSD and now recognizes the importance of a space for veterans to share their experiences without the need for explanation.

This weekend, veterans like Matt Foster, who served in Afghanistan in 2009, will camp and fish together with their families on a property in the Bellinger Valley. For Donnelly, the trip offers a chance to commemorate and connect in an informal setting, while Ms Palmer emphasizes the significance of including veterans' families in these activities, as their experiences differ from those of other families.