Greg Warren jumped at the chance to take part in a campaign to raise awareness about veterans and the challenges they face.
After all the Campbelltown MP is a veteran himself so wasn’t daunted that he would have to walk more than three kilometres every day during March, a total of almost 100 kilometres.
“I spent six months transitioning from civilian life to military life when I was 17 to prepare me adequately for the Army,’’ says Mr Warren, who is also Labor’s veterans spokesman in the NSW parliament.
“However when I left the Army I was expected to make the transition back to civilian life in a day.
“It was a challenge for me and I know it is a major hurdle for many other veterans.
“Post military life can be problematic for many veterans and that is where organisations like Soldier On make an enormous difference through the support and services they offer.
“I was more than happy to help raise awareness for the March on with Soldier On campaign,” he said.
Soldier On focus on helping veterans and their families through services that focus on employment, learning, participation, health and wellbeing.
The March on with Soldier On 96km total is the same length of the Kokoda Track, which is a journey Mr Warren has made twice.
“I have been fortunate enough to walk the Kokoda Track twice – the last time being in 2017 with students and staff from Lomandra School,” he said this week as he laced up the sneakers for another 3.1km for this great cause.
“The journey along Kokoda Track is challenging both mentally and physically, yet at the same time extremely rewarding and enlightening.
“It is an experience I couldn’t recommend highly enough.’’
