MARCHING ON FOR KOKODA
Beverly Fearne would one day love to walk the Kokoda Track but, for now, she’s doing the next best thing.
Bev is one of hundreds of Australians replicating the distance of the famous route by Australian troops who held the might of the Japanese Imperial Army at bay during World War II, for a cause close to her heart.
“March On” involves committed Australians completing the distance of the famous trail this month, to raise awareness for the debilitating condition – Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – suffered by many of our veterans. Having been a Lieutenant in the local Army Cadet Unit, ACU 235, Beverly wanted to achieve something tangible for the thousands who served their country, but who now pay a terrible personal cost. “I have a very good friend who was in the Army for 10 years, and they did it, and then I read it about in Dubbo,” Beverly said. “I’m the most unfit person in the world, and I thought, ‘you know what? I’m going to do this!’,” she laughed.
He commitment, she reveals, also has a personal element to it; one very near to home.
“My daughter, Harmony, is also in the Cadets as a Lance-corporal; she wants to join the Army as a psychologist, so that she can treat conditions like PTSD,” Beverly explained.
“it’s such a good cause, I pretty much just signed-up and started a bit of walking and health work to get me prepared.”
Now approaching midmonth, she has been surprised at how much she has enjoyed the challenge.
“Initially, I signed-up for just the outward trek, which is 96km, but now I think I might be able to do the return journey as well, about 192km.
“I do mornings and afternoons, more than 70km so far, so we’ll see how I go… my goal is to raise about $1000; I’m at about $300 already,” Beverley added.
Her aim, she adds, is to one day complete the journey that covers the 2500-metre mountain range in Papua New Guinea through which the Australians, many part-time militiamen, beat back the until-then undefeated Japanese Army.
“I would love the do the Kokoda Track itself, that would be really cool, inspiring; we had planned to do it, but Harmony got a bung knee, so we won’t be doing it this year.
“This is the first time I’ve done something like this, and I’m loving it, it’s been great,” she enthused.
Local RSL Sub-branch President, Shaun Graham, who himself served, said that the Dubbo office also does important work locally for veterans.
“We provide a fair bit in regards for mental well-being; for mental health support in this area,” Shaun said.
“We do some important work at the coal-face for many veterans, non-professionally and non-clinically, we also facilitate applications to Veterans Affairs, to make sure the outcome is beneficial,” he added.
With veterans in the region covering from World War II, through to Korea and Vietnam, to the two Gulf Wars and Afghanistan, they’re plenty busy at the Sub-branch.
“There are close to a thousand veterans in the local government area, including the oldest living Spitfire pilot, Ray Winslow,” Shaun said.
“They can just drop-in to the Sub-branch at 79 Bultje Street, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm, we’ll be there,” he concluded.
For more information, contact Shaun on 0447 272 230.