Providing community support this ANZAC Day

From a Mates4Mates community breakfast in Townsville to ANZAC biscuit baking in Darwin, and wreath making workshops across Tasmania, veterans and families have come together to honour and commemorate the ANZACs legacy. 

Mates4Mates Senior Liaison Officer, Sandie Wilson is a veteran herself and served for more than 20 years in the Australian Army before transitioning to the Reserves in 2008. For Sandie, ANZAC Day provides the opportunity to reflect on the past with pride and to look ahead and continue to build on the spirit of the ANZAC.  

“For me, it is a time that I thank those who came before me and served their country, but it is also a time to acknowledge the ongoing challenges our veterans face,” said Sandie.  

"But for many veterans and families, commemoration days can be triggering.”   

“It’s why having activities in place to support and enhance the commemoration day experience is so important. It provides veterans and families with the opportunity to engage with a supportive and respectful community and allows them to process and acknowledge their emotions however they need to manage these challenges,” Sandie said. 

Mates4Mates staff are from all areas of the Defence, both veterans and family members, and understand the importance of creating a community during commemoration days.  

Social connection activities can help both veterans and families to feel connected to others in the Defence community who may share similar experiences.  

“By coming along to Mates4Mates ANZAC Day activities and joining other veterans and family members as we reflect and commemorate, I hope that we have helped current and ex-serving Defence personnel, and family members, to find a supportive community created for them,” added Sandie.

Support at Mates4Mates during commemoration events 

At Mates4Mates, we understand that days like ANZAC Day can bring up traumatic memories, renewing feelings of anxiety, sadness and grief for members of the Defence community.  

The team at Mates4Mates are here to support veterans and family members to mentally prepare for commemoration days by delivering mental health and physical rehabilitation services, Skills for Recovery Programs, and a range of social connection activities at locations across Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory. 

For more information about Mates4Mates services and how we can help to support you, reach out to us on 1300 4 MATES (62 837) for a confidential chat.     

Mates4Mates is here to support veterans and family members in the lead up to commemoration days, however, our centres are closed on public holidays.  
 
For support outside our business hours, or for 24-hour crisis support, please contact Open Arms (1800 011 046) or Lifeline (13 11 14).