Invictus stars return home
V I C T OR I OUS T o w n s v i l l e competitors have returned home following the end of the Invictus Games 2018 in Sydney.
Nine Townsville and former serving personnel competed.
Stepping off the plane at Townsville Airport, Davin Bretherton affectionately known serving Defence as “Bear” was wearing an Australian jersey with his medals proudly on display.
“Sport is just so really good for the healing of the mind and body,” he said.
“The team did exceptionally well down there and we had a couple of goals to tick and we definitely came through with a couple of big ones there … the team came together well.
“I managed to pick up a sil- ver so I’m my efforts.”
Mr Bretherton said the Australians were training cohesively throughout the year in the leadup to the event.
“We were confident but always thought the US and the UK were going to be the ones to beat in the rugby so it was a very special win,” he said.
Mr Bretherton said the spirit of Invictus was more than quite happy with about winning competitions.
“There were some really special moments down there … you don’t have to win every game to wins the hearts and minds,” he said.
“I shared quite a moment with a New Zealand guy down there, and he and I are going to be lifelong friends now.”
Mr Bretherton said he was happy the games were embraced by the wider commun- ity. “That was a great feeling and hopefully now we can get awareness out there for adaptive sports and especially the mental health side of the house, it’s still a work in progress to get people to reach out,” he said.
The Townsville athletes who competed were:
Jeff Wright: captain of the wheelchair rugby team; wheelchair basketball. Trudi Lines: wheelchair rugby. Beau King: athletics and power lifting. Damien Irish: athletics, power lifting and indoor rowing. Michael Lyddiard: cycling. Tim Grover: cycling. Peter Brown: discus, shot put and rowing. Peter Arbuckle: wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and sailing. Davin Bretherton: wheelchair rugby, basketball and sailing.