Dropping a line to all ADF personnel
MUCH-DESERVED FREE ARVO OF FISHING THERAPY
AN ex-service organisation is hosting a free fishing afternoon at the Barra Fun Park on Saturday enabling current and former Veterans to find peer support and make connections.
Reeling Veterans started in Darwin in 2018 with an offshoot forming in Townsville 12 months ago and is open to current and former ADF personnel and First Responders.
Committee member Michael King was a former infantry soldier serving for eleven years with multiple deployments and said the group focused on getting Veterans out onto the water and giving peer support.
“The fishing is part of it but it is about getting Veterans out on the water and getting likeminded people together with peer support and getting them engaged.”
He said Reeling Veterans was self-funded and was about giving peer support and guiding those in need to appropriated services if needed. “We are not stepping outside our bounds, we are not trying to be psychologists, not trying to be rehab co-ordinators or advocates, we are about peer support and being there to be able to get that social connection.”
Wayne Ganderton is another committee member and said it was important for former Veterans not to isolate themselves after their military service.
“One of the big things when you leave, I suffer from PDSD, you kind of isolate yourself and getting out fishing it is just great, you can just have to sit there and it you say something you do and if you don’t, you don’t there are not dramas, no pressures.
“But it gets you out of the house instead of sitting on the couch doing nothing, watching Netflix drinking beer, it gets you out of the house and doing something.
“Even if it is four three or four hours you have been out and met some new people.”
Mr King said even if Veterans had an ongoing injury they could still go out and fish.
“A lot of us have also got a lot of physical injuries as well as the mental stuff so there are a lot of people we have that ring up and say can we come for a fish but my hands don’t really work, I can’t tie knots.
“They may have fished in the past but because of their injuries they can’t do what they used to do but they can come out in the boat we will bait their hook, we will tie the knots, there’s not stress no judgment.”
He said Reeling Veterans was open to current, ex-serving, both ADF and First Responders.
“Honestly the issues that face those occupations are very similar.”
Mr King said tickets were available from Townsville Oasis but had gone quickly for the group’s inaugural Fishing and Fun Event at the Barra Fun Park. The group plans to double the event next year.
The group has an FB page at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/312439166820139