Donations

Our nation is in the midst of its longest period of sustained military conflict in its history – almost 20 years. This has involved the deployment of more than 75,000 Australian Defence personnel across the globe, primarily in the Middle East region.

Mental well-being may be affected by military service in the Australian Defence Force and it is estimated that about 48,000 veterans have a service-related mental health condition. One of the biggest single accepted health issue among Afghanistan veterans is PTSD.

Don't forget you can Volunteer if donating is not possible.

DefenceCare is a charity and not-for-profit organisation helping current and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force and their families in times of injury, illness or crisis. DefenceCare is proudly part of the Returned Services League. Serving in the Army, Navy or Air Force can have a significant impact on health, well-being and quality of life.

DefenceCare is a leader in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression treatment.

www.defencecare.org.au

St John of God Trauma and Mental Health Research Initiative

St John of God Richmond Hospital is a private psychiatric hospital northwest of Sydney providing comprehensive and holistic mental health care services.

Treating veterans with anxiety, depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders. Working with Veteran for over 20 years we created the Xavier Unit in 2005 dedicated for veterans with PTSD and first responders.

They support and collaboration with organisations including; Australian Defence Forces, Veterans and Veterans Family Counselling Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Vietnam Veterans Association, NSW Police Service and NSW Ambulance.

www.sjog.org.au/hospitals/richmond_hospital.aspx

Bravery Trust formerly known as the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Assistance Trust, provides financial support to veterans, current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, and their families, who have suffered injury or illness as a result of their service. The inaugural Chairman, Dr Ken Michael AC, former Governor of WA and Chancellor of the University of WA, established a dedicated and influential group of Board of Director trustees.

"For many, arriving home can signal the beginning of a longer, more isolated journey for personnel and their families." - Bravery Trust Patron-in-Chief Sir Peter Cosgrove

https://braverytrust.org.au

Donors

The team at the Long Ride Home would like to thank the following donors:

A WINES

ADAGOLD AVIATION

ADAM WEIR & JOHN HARRIS

ADC

ADC ANTHONY BOYD (2ND DONATION)

ALAN BENNETT

ALBERT HELLWEG

ALICE

ALLAN GALLEGOS

ALPHA SCREENS

AME SYSTEMS

ANASINA GRAY-BARBERIO

ANDREW MULHOLLAND

ANDY BARATON

ANTHONY BARBER

ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATION COUNCIL VETERANS SA

APAC ASSISTANCE

ARARAT RSL VIC

ATHOL SNEDDEN

AUDETTE EXEL

BAD SHEPHERD BREWING

BALSARINI MARK

BARRY RONALD

BELINDA MASTERS

BERESFORD-PEIRSE FAMILY DONATION

BERIS & PAUL BIDGOOD

BEVAN AND KOA JAENSCH

BILL GLENWRIGHT

BINDING NOMINE ES VIC BINDING

BORDERTOWN SUB BRANCH RSL

BRENTON LEWIS - MAYOR

BRIAN BRODERICK

BRIAN KELLY

BRIAN NORTHEAST

BRIAN RICHARDSON

BRIDGETTE - PORT AUGUSTA

C PALMER

CAE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

CAMERON GRANT

CARMEL SHERVINGTON & JOCK ANDERSON

CARNES SISTER

CAROLINE & JUDD

CASTLE HILL RSL

CBT

CHRIS & USCHI JOHNSON

CHRIS BOUNSALL

CHRISTOPHER BRAMHILL

CRAIGE BOWSHIER - PORT AUGUSTA

CUSTOMS AGENCY SERVICES (MARK CALLUS)

DARREL NELSON

DARYL SMITHWICK

DAVE MCLELLAND

DAVE STANFORD

DAVID MCCAMLEY

DAVID PROCOPIS

DAVID WEYMOUTH

DAVID WISKAR

DENNIS ELLIOT DIMBOOLA

DESLEY LAING

DI RUTLEDGE

DI WHITE

DIEDRE AND ROY SMITH

DIRECT CREDIT POLICE BANK LT D

DISTRICT COUNCIL OF KIMBA

DOUG KNOWLES

DUTCHY - REUNION GROUP

EDITH ROBERTSON

ELIZABETH LAYT

EX 2 CDO COY

FAYE COX

FIONA BROWN

FLEET AIR ARM (W FLEET AIR ARM(W.A)

FRANK BONHAM

FUNG RODGERS

GARY

GARY MYORS

GEORGE OESCH

GLEN POWER

GLEN WEIR

GRAEME COLEMAN

GRAHAM & SHIRLEY SNOOK

GREG JACK

GREG MCLEAN

GREG TATUM

HAULMARK TRAILERS

HAYDEN FISHER

HENRY FUEL CARD

HENRY NHILL CALTEX

HOOLEY

IAIN LOCKYER

IAN SWINBOURNE

IAN YOUNG

INVERELL RSL SUB BRANCH

J W & E M MATTEN

JACKIE WENNER

JACQUI ABBOTT

JADE

JAMES SMITHERS

JANINE HAYES

JEFF BEACH

JEFF LEITH

JENNIFER

JENNY & ROB HORSTMAN

JILL WYLIE

JOH PERRY

JOHN & JAN TRACEY

JOHN (KUMARACHA)

JOHN BREMNER

JOHN DUPEROUZEL

JOHN GODWIN

JOHN KELLS-SANDERS

JOHN LAWTON

JOHN MCLAINE

JOHN TRACEY

JOHN/ANNE ESPERANCE

JUDY GALLEGOS

JULES WHITEWAY

JULIE DRIVER (MAINSTREET BAKHOUSE CLARE)

KAREN BERG

KAREN TOFT

KAYE MCCLURE-L EC N LECKIE BALLARAT

KERRY & TONY VELLA

KERRY & TRISH LAMPARD (CLARE)

KERRY PORTER

KEVIN & DIANNA HEWITT

KIM HARDWICK

KONSTANTIN KVATCH

KURTIS POLUME

LAURIE & HEATHER

LEANNE POTTER

LEIGH COLLINS

LEN

LEN EX NAVY

LIONS OF TININTARA

LIZ JONES & TOM

LOCKFORCE

LORRAINE LARMENT

LOU RYAN

LOUISE KENT

LOWEN LODGE FREEMASONS

LOZZ HOLDING

LUKE THOMAS - BEYOND BLUE

LYN AUSTIN

LYNE & GLENN FRASER

LYNN AUSTIN

M J FLIGHT & S F DONATION MJ FLIGHT

M PUDNEY

M S HARDY

M WASSENARA

MALCOLM HENMAN

MARGARET

MARGARET & MICK

MARGARET AND MICK

MARGARET MACKENZIE

MARIE BROADFORD

MARK & STEPH SAYER

MARK HARDY

MARY ANNE FEBER

MARYKE

MATT NORCOTT

MAXINE SANTICH

MAYOR OF MURRAY BRIDGE

MERE-HAM RSL

MERLE OATES

MICHAEL JEFFERY

MICHAEL WASSENAAR

MICHAEL/CODY BUNBURY

MICHELLE PICKERING

MICK MALONE

MIKE DEAKIN

MIKE DYER

MIKE NOTTINGHAM

MIRANDA SUB BRANCH RSL

MJ MALONE

MR HAYDEN FISHER

MRS BRIDLE

MT EVELYN RSL

NANNA & TED WILSON

NEIL & CAROL POWLEY

NEVILLE DICK

NHILL LIONS

NHILL ROTARY

NHILL RSL

NIGEL REID

NOEL RATH

NOLA OHALORAN

NORM MOROWSKI

ORBIT

PATSY CALLAN

PAUL ALGIE

PAULA RAWORTH

PENTARCH

PETE RALPH

PETER FROM FERNTREE GULLY

PETER INGRAM

PETER JENKINS

PETER TINLEY MLA

PETRA & MARK HAY

PORT PIRIE RSL

RACQUEL RAE

RAFFLE

RALPH DENTON CEDUNA

RAY HUNT

RAY PEARCE

RAYDIANE OYSTER BAY

RAYMOND GALVIN

RED ACB!

REN & SYLVIA

RETRAVISIONNARROGIN

RICHARD STONE

ROBIN & SPENCERFAULKNER

ROBIN MCBRIDE

RODUS ADAM

RON

RON FOSSEN

ROSANNA HOSKIN

ROSIE HENDERSON

ROY PERRON

RSL MURRAY BRIDGE

RSL BALGOWLAH-SEAFORTH-CLONTARF

RSL BATEMANS BAY

RSL BEGA

RSL FINLEY SUB BRANCH

RSL NARROMINE

RSL NOWRA

RSL NYNGAN

RSL SMITHFIELD SU B DONATION

RUPERT HORN

RUTH CONNORS

RYAN SMITH

S&G SNOOK

SALLY KING

SAS ASSOCIATION (SA BRANCH)

SCOTT BUCHANAN

SCOTT MARDEN

SEND OFF SOUTH PERTH

SLAM DUNCAN

STEVE JOY

STEVE UHRANE

STEVEN SINGER

SUA AND JESS

SUE & BERNIE KELLY

SUE (CLARE)

SUE WALKER

TED EDWARD G MCEVOY

TERENCE BARKER

TERRY BARKER

THE SAVAGES

THE SMITHS

THEO THOMAS

THOMAS GOLDER

TIM FOOTER

TIM STEVENS

TINTINARA LIONS CLUB

TOM & NAOMI GALLAGHER

TONY DALE

TONY LOVE-LINAY

TONY SHEP

TOUKLEY RSL

TRACEY CULLEN

TREV/LEE CASTLEMAINE

TWO WELLS RSL

VIC BALFOUR

VIC BINDING

VICKI SIMPSON

VICTORIA QUINTON

WA ASASA

WALKERS

WARREN WARD

WARWICK CARNES

WENDY AVERY

WILLIAM TH CROWE

WIMMERA VIETNM VETERANS

WORDS CEDUNA

DR BRUCE HORSFIELD

BOWRAL RSL CLUB

... and many more anonymous donors, thank you.

Messages

An outstanding achievement from a dedicated veteran,who has done us all proud. If there was one deserved nomination for Australian of the Year 2017,someone should nominate this Fine,Selfless Veteran, Achiever and Ambassador for All Defence Force Veterans who struggle everyday to "see the next SunRise"!

Lionel Raines

Men like Truck inspire RSL's all over Oz to keep supporting causes like this! You are doing a great job Truck. Keep it up.

Murray Bridge RSL SA.

Congratulations Truck on completion of your ride.

And thank you for all that have done and are doing to raise awareness of PTSD.

It was an honour and privilege to have met you on your journey and my wife Ruby & l hope to meet you again one day.

Ralph Blewitt

Good on you Truck. It was an honour to meet you on Friday at Government House. Your story and commitment to your fellow servicemen is truly inspirational. All the best for your final leg. See you in Sydney.

Mate, what a bloody legend, very proud to call you a friend.

Gary Myors

So proud to a friend of such a legend, very well done Truck on reaching Canberra. I listened to Jeff Kennett's speech and agreed with everything he said. All the best for the final stage to Sydney.

Kim Taylor

Well done Truck, an absolute legend. Stay safe.

Mark Myers

Trucker... Many thanks for taking the time to send HB messages, it means a lot that so many people have taken the time especially you. I trust all is going well and that 'the band of brothers' are still supporting you in your epic adventure - you're a true 'Blade' mate. Take care.

Nick Martin UK

Well done and congratulations.

Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur

Congratulaions Truck. You're a true veteran and friend of veterans.

Frank Benfield

Just the other day I discovered "The Long Ride Home" site. Bloody awesome, it kept me glued to the machine for more hours than ever before. We must get together sometime to compare notes on the ride as reading your blog brought back memories,mostly good,some bad,of my own time in Vietnam,both with the mob of trained soldiers,and those wonderful days of pushing pedals through the padi. So!! Seriously i admire what you are doing and wish you the best of good luck and "Selamat Jalan" for Malaysia .

Brian 'Ned' Kelly

Dear all, It was a real privilege meeting you in Saigon and VungTau.
I know many of you took lots of photos, I though I sharesome of the better shots that I have.
If you ever come to Darwin, please look us up.
Cheers

Fung

Hi Laurie. It was nice meeting you on the road today. Looks like you have been up to some epic stuff! Thanks for the inspiration. All the best with your current and future goals.

Mark Gresser

Nice one and best of wishes with the ride Truck. Cheers

Andy Mulholland

Hello and good luck for the journey. There should be a modest donation from me come through in the next few days. I spend a lot of time online talking to Paul Horner, a former policeman who wrote a book about police and PTSD. There are a great many people including police and veterans with PTSD and it's worth trying to stop more suicides.

V. Quinton

Great history, keep up good work. Safe riding chippy

Garry Chippindall

Still looking good there Truck....keep on peddlin

Peter Plonk Wines

Thanks Laurie Sams - each post is so different. Saying goodbye to such a great and supportive team-mate after 2000 km must have been quite a wrench. Helps us relate to the distance you are riding, the people who have worked with you and the friendships you have built. and had to move on from. It's an amazing journey Truck.

Di Rutledge

Its been fascinating to be involved with we have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with you all and Truck is inspirational.
Ruth Spence

I am so pleased Truck, that you visited The Kranji War cemetry for a service. It is beautifully maintained and is a very peaceful and tranquil environment, a credit to the Singaporeans for tending it as they do. I took my son and daughter in law in Nov 2014 to pay our respects to my wife's Uncle known as Little Jack, a 23 yo A/Sqn Ldr named John Marshall Pizzey, 1 Sqn RAAF out of Palembang, MIA believed shot down in a Hudson bomber, off the Banga Islands on 14 February 1942. We found his name on the Singapore Memorial within the Kranji Cemetery, and held our own service and saluted him for his sacrifice on the behalf of many others who who suffered a similar fate. Thank you, Chum, for reminding me of this as well as all else you have done and continue to do on the on this epic journey. Best wishes.

Robin McBride

Hi Laurie, been thinking of you with all this terrible weather... hopefully the worst is over and you will soon be at your destination! You are amazing taking this on and doing an awesome job.

Jacquie Early

Toughest sport in the world bike riding. Look at all the major tours.......they crash, lose skin, bad weather (even snow). Every rider has a bad day. In the end it's all about finishing. Don't let a couple of bad days define the whole journey. Eventually the wind will be at your back and away you go.........big easy miles. Keep at it Truck, every pedal stroke is closer to home. Just remember when on the bike stay hydrated and eat little and often. When off the bike never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down. Good luck.

Tony Shepherd

Truck, you are an awesome inspiration. Hope the weather improves for you....

Mark Hardy

It`s looking a tad rugged out there Truck. I do hope the wind speed and direction gives you a break soon. Awesome riding mate.

Vic Binding

Over the border into South Australia! Well done mate, you are doing great on the bike as well as bringing PTSD to peoples notice. Best regards to yourself, Juvey, Trev, and others in support.

Vic Binding

Great effort, Truck and the Team at The Long Ride Home, 165 km in 1 day, amazing, the Kangaroo tail stew put a bit of hop in your step and a bit of back blast from the rear end. Well done...

Kev Otway

Really enjoying your writeups and in absolute awe of your efforts. With your team, you're an inspiration, Truck.

Frank Benfield

Another fine read Truck. I look forward to your updates. And thank you for the awareness you and the team are raising for PTSD...

Stuart Park

Truck - still following your progress between jobs, I'm very impressed and the guys at work are now on your case. Such a great example to so many people. Continue with 'style' and 'pace' mate, we'll be watching from the top of the world...

Nick Martin UK