Veteran Lifesaving team heads to Italy
A message from Invictus Australia
Yesterday at South Coogee Beach, Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minster for Veterans' Affairs, farewelled the first ever military veteran team to compete at the Lifesaving World Championships in Italy. Mr Thistlethwaite is also Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Surf Life Saving.
‘The Albanese Government is committed to supporting our serving personnel, veterans and families,’ said Mr Thistlethwaite. ‘And we are proud to see a team of current and former-serving military personnel from surf clubs across Australia competing now for the first time under a single cap. Team Veteran Australia is showing how sport at all levels of competition can benefit our nation’s veterans during and post military service.’
Invictus Australia, with the support of Surf Life Saving Australia, was granted permission by the International Life Saving Federation to enter a combined military veteran team into the Riccione 2022 Lifesaving World Championship that runs from 18 September to 3 October 2022.
Michael Hartung, CEO of Invictus Australia, says the inclusion of Team Veteran Australia in this year’s Surf Lifesaving World Championships is another example of the positive impact sport can have in the lives of veterans and their families.
‘The power of sport has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families,’ he said. ‘To see this team of veterans compete at the Surf Lifesaving World Championships provides another amazing example of how sport is providing aspiration, purpose, community and opportunity during and post service to connect.
‘Both competitive and community sport provide a range of opportunities and substantial physical and mental health benefits. Getting involved as a competitor, a social participant or a volunteer can help individuals and their families to tackle physical or mental health challenges they are facing or be a proactive way to prevent them in the first place. We hope this team of veterans serve as inspiration for others to get involved in sport.”
‘We are thrilled to be able to support Team Veteran Australia on their journey to Riccione and wish them all the best.’
See the full story on the Invictus Australia website.
Team Veteran Australia members with Assistant Minister for Veterans' Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite (fourth from left) and Michael Hartung OAM, CEO of Invictus Australia (fourth from right)