For many Australians, ANZAC Day is a day of reflection and pride for those who have served our nation. From Dawn Services across the country, to parades and a game of two-up, the nation takes the time to stop and say thank you to so many.
For Robert ‘Robbie’ Thompson, it is a day of mixed emotions. It represents honour and respect, mateship, sacrifice and sadly loss. Robbie joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1993 as a Physical Training Instructor. During his military service, he was posted to numerous shore establishments and deployed to the Solomon Islands during a period of unrest on HMAS Manoora for Operation Trek. In 2002, after discharge, Robbie continued to serve our nation with the ACT Fire and Rescue Service. Over his 14 years, he served in the 2003 Canberra bushfires, 2009 Victorian bushfires and attended numerous road vehicle accidents, house fires and cardiac arrest incidents. All “life changing events,” for Robbie.
ANZAC Day is also about reflecting on his family, as his father and grandfather both served in Vietnam and WWII respectively. While Robbie feels extremely lucky to have not lost his life during his service careers, he has witnessed firsthand the physical and psychological injuries so many deal with daily due to their service.
In 2013, Soldier On Service Ambassador Liam Haven was undertaking his One Foot Forward March, a 350km trek from Sydney to Canberra to raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and funds for Soldier On. Having been diagnosed with PTSD in 2009, Robbie was walking his own journey at this time and realised that by making a difference like Liam, he would be able to help others while helping himself.
This prompted Robbie to contact Soldier On and he’s been involved ever since. He is a regular at coffee catch ups at the Robert Poate Reintegration Centre in Canberra, and a keen volunteer for many of Soldier On’s activities.
In 2014, the St Kilda Football Club played North Melbourne in Tasmania and, as a National Partner of Soldier On, offered participants the opportunity to meet the team, share experiences and talk about their road to recovery.
“I had the privilege of being a guest of the Saints [in 2014] in Hobart…during this time I was asked to chat with the team on my service and journey with PTSD and depression. I was extremely anxious in the lead up, but with the compassion, support and professionalism of this AFL club, I immediately felt at east and part of the team and St Kilda family,” Robbie said.
Robbie and his wife, Tania meeting St Kilda Captain Nick Riewoldt in Tasmania, 2014
The most powerful part of Robbie’s ongoing recovery, and so many others’, is to be heard and respected, “which this fine bunch of young men provided,” Robbie recalls.
St Kilda continue to support Soldier On participants and families each year, by offering opportunities to engage with the team at games, at the Captain’s Clinic and through the recently launched Junction Studio. Their support has a profound effect on participant recovery and reintegration into the community.
Robbie will always remember and remain grateful for his experience with the team, “This can be an extremely dark place, but with the support and help from Soldier On and St Kilda we receive the hand up, not hand out, we need.”
Round 5: GWS GIANTS Game Day Information
To donate to Solider on, visit soldieron.org.au and don’t miss St Kilda take on GWS Giant this Sunday 24 April at Etihad Stadium in support of Solider On and our veterans this ANZAC Day.
