Current, former Australian servicemen and women and their families, are set to benefit from a foundation sponsorship between Lockheed Martin Australia and Yass Valley-based not-for-profit organisation, Remount.
The horsemanship program is designed to assist returned servicemen and women, and their families, to manage the impacts of loss, work-related stress, combat stress or PTSD, to re-establish their lives and develop new career paths post-service.
The sponsorship will support a further eight programs in 2018, providing the opportunity for an additional 30 returned servicemen and women, and their families, to reconnect through horsemanship.
CEO Lockheed Martin ANZ Vince Di Pietro made the announcement in Canberra on 11th September at an event attended by Australian War Memorial Director, Dr Brendan Nelson, and senior Defence Personnel at the Australian War Memorial.
“It is very clear that the program makes a significant and tangible difference to the health and well-being of the participants.”
Remount founders, Ben and Marina Maguire, the Board of Directors and volunteers, all welcomed the funding support from Lockheed Martin Australia, which will provide much needed equipment and resources to sustain the horse program with a difference.
“With our 2017 programs fully booked, we can now deliver a further eight programs for the 30 people on our 2018 wait list,” he said.
“Program participants learn to ride a horse and muster up to 300-head of cattle by day, while in the evening they can sit around a campfire and share stories of their military experience.
“Our approach is different, it pushes our ‘Drovers’ outside their comfort zone and uses the power of the horse to heal. This is real work experience, challenging them in areas they never imagined.”
Remount is delivered at no cost to current or former serving members of the ADF. The two, three and four-day Remount programs include onsite accommodation, catering, tuition and workshirts.