On Thursday morning, as the sun came up over Canberra, 150 people pulled on a Bravery Trek shirt and set off together towards Parliament House.
Veterans and serving Defence personnel joined Bravery Trust ambassadors, sponsors, volunteers, supporters and friends, sharing stories along the way and coming together with one purpose: supporting veterans and their families.
That sense of people moving together and choosing to stand behind something they care about is exactly what we know Bravery Trek will continue to grow into.
The aim is simple.
Follow their path. Understand their journey. Support our veterans.
During Bravery Trek, participants step outside their everyday routines and take on a challenge inspired by the resilience, sacrifice and determination shown by those who have served our country.
Along the way, they raise funds for Bravery Trust, helping us provide practical financial assistance to veterans and families facing hardship. The support raised through Bravery Trek helps families keep the lights on, put food on the table, cover essential bills and navigate difficult periods when life takes an unexpected turn.
What makes Bravery Trek special is that it’s not reserved for runners, elite athletes or people with military experience. It’s for teams, workplaces, families, friends and communities who want to do something meaningful together.
We loved having our Bravery Trek sponsors Leidos Australia, Wilson Security, Defence Health, Birdon and Defence Bank there with us, pulling on the shirts, joining the Trek and being part of the community they’re helping us build. We were also so grateful to have Omni and MMS, valued Bravery Trust partners, there to share the morning.
We were privileged to be joined by The Hon Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence; The Hon Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel; Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN, Chief of the Defence Force; Air Marshal Robert Chipman AO, CSC, Vice Chief of the Defence Force; and many members of Parliament.
A special thank you to our Bravery Trust ambassadors Wing Commander WGCDR Adon Lumley, Meg Teasdell and Baljit Singh Talwar. We’re incredibly grateful for the time, experience and advocacy they bring to Bravery Trust, and for the way they continue to champion veterans and families in their communities.
Our heartfelt thanks also go to our wonderful volunteers who gave their time to help make the morning possible.
Thank you, too, to The Jetty for looking after us and Drew Baker for keeping our team moving around Canberra.
Most importantly, thank you to every person who showed up and took that first step with us.
Thursday was just the beginning. We’d love you to join us for what comes next: braverytrek.com.au
