Saved by his mates
A FORMER army medic says Mates 4 Mates saved his life.
The ex- service organisation is credited for pulling former army corporal Luke Ardill out of the deep dark hole of depression and anxiety.
“Mates4Mates saved my life and my sanity,” he said. “I never got to the suicidal point and I never have been there yet but if it were not for Mates 4 Mates, I would have been there. I was going down that path,” he said.
Mates4Mates supports exADF members and their families who are wounded, injured or ill as a result of their service.
The father of Roman, 11 months, is one of many veterans who are singing the praises of the Townsville organisation.
Vietnam veteran Russ Priestley is a regular at the Mates 4 Mates centre in Anne St, Aitkenvale.
“It’s a great facility, and it’s great that it’s not only for the young Diggers but the old blokes like me,” he said.
“It’s a place that I feel good coming to.”
Former soldier Adam Fowles, who has been diagnosed with PTSD, said he had embraced Mates 4 Mates in his life. “Everyone seems to understand each other,” he said. “There are a lot of different personalities here, but there is a lot of compassion as well. I like coming here.”
Mates 4 Mates hold therapy courses, events and gatherings where ex- soldiers can talk, get support and recover from their demons often alongside their families.
Mates 4 Mates general manager of operations Suzanne Desailly said the organisation was developed four years ago as an initiative of RSL Queensland.
“The RSL developed Mates 4 Mates to specifically provide support services to current exservice personnel who have experienced a physical or psychological injury related to their services.”
The organisation was established in Brisbane four years ago, and in Townsville three years ago. Ms Desailly said the organisation had 680 registered members or “mates” in Townsville.
Ms Desailly said all the services Mates 4 Mates provided was to the immediate family members as well, in recognition if they had a veteran struggling with PTSD or a physical injury that would have a big impact on the family unit.
“We acknowledge that we need to put support around that whole family,” she said.
Ms Desailly said the organisation also acknowledged the importance of creating positive social connections between veterans.
“Social connection is vital,” she said. “Many vets struggle when they leave that military family because they feel like they have lost their sense of community.
“They go from this very highly structured life surrounded by people who understand them to a new civilian environment where they don’t have that same connection.”