South East photographer Jacqui Bateman has a drive to help Australia’s struggling defence force veterans.
Knowing of the high rates of depression and suicide in returning soldiers, Jacqui founded innovative program Robe to Recovery, which is helping veterans transition back into civilian life.
“I was frustrated that we hear all the time that we should be helping our veterans, and the suicide rate particularly, and how once discharged they were left to their own devices,” she says.
“It was near the centenary of Anzac Day and there was a lot more media and I thought ‘how do you as an individual help?’, you can give to a charity but how do you know where the money is going?”
Jacqui Bateman founded Robe to Recovery, helping veterans find their feet in civilian life.
With the backing of the local community, Robe to Recovery provides defence force veterans with much-needed breathing space from their day to day lives.
“I first approached my co-founder and veteran coordinator Justin Brown, who now works for the Jamie Larcombe Centre in Adelaide, while he was working with [veteran support organisation] Soldier On,” says Jacqui.
“I had already emailed Soldier On with my brilliant idea and had, had no response, so I marched right up to him.
“He thought the idea was great, we got together to discuss the concept and came up with a program I could bring back to the community.”
Local shop fronts show their support for the program.
Jacqui says Justin, who is a returned veteran, shared her vision for the program.
Justin’s role at the Jamie Larcombe Centre means he coordinates various veteran groups and stays in touch with them to see where they are at with their transitions.
“He really was born for this role, he is brilliant at it,” says Jacqui.
Jacqui took the initial idea to local businesses and the Robe Tourism Association, and says their support has been phenomenal.
To start the program, Jacqui donated her beach house for accommodation, and asked local businesses to include vouchers for coffee or meals, offering veterans respite without financial worry.
A veteran on his visit to Robe, where he was given a tour around the town from Tracx Mountain Bike Tours.
“Everyone has really got on board, we now have most hospitality businesses involved and 24 accommodation providers,” says Jacqui.
“We’ve had 19 veterans visit Robe since the respite program’s inception, who have been blown away with the support from our community.
“Some of these veterans are really struggling and for them to be welcomed so warmly into the community can make such a difference.”
In January ABC’s Back Roads program aired a segment on Robe and Robe to Recovery, taking the program to the next level.
“It’s really exploded,” Jacqui says.
“We now have four other towns nationally who have taken the model and adapted it to their town. It is such a simple concept that can be implemented anywhere.”
For Jacqui it’s Robe’s offering of peace, beauty and community that make the town perfectly positioned for the program.
“There is so much on offer in this tourist town and many levels of experiences that can make a person’s stay memorable,” she says.
“From Charlie’s Surf School to Tracx Mountain Bike Tours, from the many cafes and restaurants, the quality shopping and walking trails.
“We want to keep it a real seaside, country feel going forward so veterans can come here and just be part of the community for a weekend.
“I really didn’t comprehend the difference it would make. It will be great to someday see it implemented all over the country.”
Top image: Robe to Recovery founder Jacqui Bateman
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