“All your Christmases at once”: Everyman’s Welfare Service receives funding via RSL NSW Veteran Support Fund
For nearly 85 years, Everyman’s Welfare Service has been offering soldiers hot coffee, snacks, a comfortable space to relax, and a listening ear. Now, with assistance from the RSL NSW Veteran Support Fund, it has been able to expand its service offering in the state.
By Caroline Riches
At a glance:
- Everyman’s Welfare Service has received almost $70,000 in funding from the RSL NSW Veteran Support Fund.
- RSL NSW financial support will enable the organisation to acquire more brew trucks in NSW and extend its provision of home comforts to more current Defence personnel.
- Everyman’s holds a special place in the hearts of many soldiers and veterans, having supported thousands of individuals for over eight decades.
The Yackandandah Mountains in Victoria’s High Country is a hostile place in mid-winter, which makes it the perfect military training ground.
“There’s sometimes snow falling and it can get down to minus five degrees at night,” explains Army veteran Kristian Kemper.
It’s also the ideal place for Everyman’s Welfare Service to station a brew truck, dishing out hot coffee, treats and comfort.
RSL NSW financial support to the tune of almost $70,000 will ensure future delivery of the organisation’s services in NSW.
Now a full-time Everyman’s representative, Kemper recalls how seeing the brew truck at the end of a 10-kilometre pack march uplifted “wet, cold, and miserable” soldiers.
“As they pierced through the fog, they could see us at the top of the hill,” he says. “Suddenly they all picked up the pace, knowing that the brew truck was there at the end.”
Ben Ridley was one of the soldiers to delight at the sight of an Everyman’s brew truck during his often-gruelling years in the infantry.
“I encountered Everyman’s many times out in the field. When you’ve been out there for weeks or even months at a time, to see the truck is like all your Christmases come at once.
“When the truck’s open and everybody’s there, it’s like a pause in your training. A time for light-heartedness, a few jokes, a brief moment of normality in life. It was always a joy.”
“A very privileged position”
Everyman’s Welfare Service has served Defence for more than 80 years.
Primarily known for their four-wheel drive brew trucks that appear on bush exercises and at events, the non-profit also has permanent homes on 11 Army, Air Force and Navy bases around Australia, where their recreation centres give soldiers a place to relax and play pool, find a book or write a letter home.
They also appear on overseas deployments when invited and have served soldiers in Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Cambodia, East Timor, the Middle East and the Solomon Islands.
“We provide cold drinks when it’s hot, hot drinks when it’s cold, some chips, choccies and biscuits,” explains Everyman’s Acting Commander Phil Marshall. “But our real value comes in the form of a human comfort; someone outside Defence who’s there to listen and enjoy a chat – who’s there to care.”
From the painful experience of being away from home to relationship pressures, from living in the middle of the bush away from showers and surviving on ration packs to struggles with hierarchy, Everyman’s reps have heard it all.
With the help of chaplains, they also support soldiers’ families when needed. And if the soldier needs professional help, they assist them in finding it.
Marshall hasn’t served in Defence but has extensive experience in rehab, counselling and coaching, and he relishes the opportunity to help those serving, some for many weeks or months at a time.
“Over the years, we would’ve helped multiple thousands of people, some to maintain their careers in Defence,” he says. “It’s a very privileged position to be in.”
Money for brew trucks
Everyman’s runs purely on donations and relies on the dedication of its small team of volunteers.
The organisation received almost $70,000 in funding last financial year thanks to the RSL NSW Veteran Support Fund, enabling them to support even more people.
Marshall is immensely grateful for the support.
“Even buying a second-hand vehicle is about $150,000 by the time you put in the fridges and upgrade the suspensions,” he explains. “This funding has really helped with the maintenance and service of brew trucks.”
He would like to replace some old vehicles with newer models.
“Not all locations have the space to set up a recreation centre but they do want a brew truck. Our goal would be to allocate a new vehicle every year.”
A chance to give back
One day, Marshall would also like to remunerate reps, who for now do the job purely for the satisfaction that they’re giving back. For Ridley, becoming a rep was a “logical step”.
“Soldiers are able to relate to me because I’ve had my own share of difficult times. Being able to help the next generation is really what it’s all about.”
Kemper also finds working on the other side therapeutic.
“Veterans need to find something that gives them purpose,” he says. “We have life experience that we can use to help others.”
At the Kapooka training base near Wagga Wagga, where new recruits endure weeks of rigorous training to transition from civilians to soldiers, Everyman’s keeps a permanent presence. Soldiers often stop by at lunchtime to grab a snack or return alone in the evening.
“One night a guy came in and we spent hours going deep into his life and his problems, helping him see that these issues are temporary and there’s always hope for the future,” says Kemper.
Later, a sergeant stopped by.
“All I said was, ‘How are you doing?’ He just offloaded for two hours. Then the conversation ended as quick as it started, and he left. I didn’t really say much or give any advice. But I think he just needed an ear.
“To this day, I don’t even know what his name was.”
Whether you’ve served for a single day or decades, RSL NSW welcomes veterans of any service length and background to join the organisation. Access support services and become part of a like-minded community of peers by becoming a member of RSL NSW.
