Camp lets orphans of war share grief
Those who feel it most are the ones left behind.
Ten New Zealanders from the armed forces died during the 12 years of deployments to Afghanistan, and many others through natural causes, accidents, training deaths.
The children — sons, daughters, nieces and nephews — battle on, putting on brave faces.
But they feel it, which is why Staff Sergeant Tina Grant, liaison officer for Families of the Fallen, is driven to get as many kids as she can to an annual camp in Australia for children who have lost loved ones in uniform.
Grant discovered Camp Legacy, which soldiers from the Australian SAS Regiment help to run in Busselton, about 200km south of Perth, in 2013.
Since then, she has taken groups across every year.
In January, thanks to money raised by the Fallen Heroes Trust, the NZSAS Trust, the RSA’s Poppy Fund and NZME’s 2017 Pin a Poppy campaign, she took seven kids to the camp.
Based at a stunning beach, they went swimming, pontoon diving and enjoyed boat rides, fishing, kayaking, sail boarding, and theme and skit nights.
But it’s the chance to meet children with similar experiences of loss that is most treasured.
“It’s a great chance for these children to meet, share, cry and enjoy each other’s company. It’s very special,” says Grant, whose husband, Douglas Grant, an SAS corporal, was killed in Kabul in April 2011.
Her two children, Jemma, 13, and Jaden, 11, have attended the camp, along with 13-year-old Kyla, eldest daughter of Corporal Luke Tamatea, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in August 2012.
Kyla says the camp has helped her mentally and physically. “I now know I’m not alone.” This year, the two youngest of the four children of special ops soldier Sergeant Wayne Taylor, who died during a training exercise in the Coromandel last October, were given a chance to experience Camp Legacy.
Both Beau, 17, and Rachel, 14, relished the trip.
“I know I’m not alone and other people are here to support me as I support them. Camp adds a silver lining to the darkest of clouds,” said Rachel.
Beau said the camp had shown him a way to move forward.
“I got through it, and discovered what you have given me, memories with people who are the same as me.”