Walking around Australia for veterans

Setting off from the Mates4Mates Townsville Centre today for his year-long, 17,000km trek, Garth and his service dog Max will be walking around Australia to raise money for Mates4Mates, Act for Kids, and Brain Foundation. 

Choosing Mates4Mates, Garth said it was his way to give back to an ex-service organisation that helps veterans and families that need support. 

“This is a fundraising walk, but it is also a way to work on my mental and physical health. I hope to possibly inspire others to attempt the ‘impossible’, to get out of your comfort zone and help others in the process,” Garth said. 

“Retired veterans can still achieve great things and make a difference, whether that’s through volunteering, fundraising, or just connecting with another veteran who needs some social support.” 

Garth served in the Australian Army for 15 years and was deployed in Timor Leste and Iraq. In 2015, Garth was competing in a rugby union competition at Lavarack Barracks and suffered a broken neck and was diagnosed with adjustment disorder eight months later.  

Two years later, Garth started accessing Mates4Mates services, including social connection activities and exercise physiology support. Max’s service dog training was conducted with Hounds 4 Healing at Mates4Mates Townsville, and when Garth’s children were younger, they frequently enjoyed coming along to Mates4Mates school holiday activities.  

“Mates4Mates started as a neutral meeting place when I was injured where I would see my rehabilitation consultant. It means so much more to me now that I am part of the community,” Garth said. 

Garth explained that the idea to walk around Australia was forged from seeing ‘Captain Australia’ on Facebook this year, a stage-four cancer survivor walking around Australia raising money for children’s cancer.  

“Last year I discovered that hiking was good for my mental health but hiking with Max was better. I thought doing my own lap would be win-win. Great for myself and Max, and great for the people who I could help to find support through fundraising,” Garth said. 

“Max enables me to give back to the community and the veteran community. I’m excited to start this walk and see the difference I can make for myself and for the veteran community.” 

To find out more and keep updated on Garth and Max’s travels, visit their fundraising page here.

Garth will also be doing regular updates and posts to Garth & Max’s Australia Lap Facebook page here.