Julie-Ann Finney’s campaign continues for a royal commission into military suicide – including her son David Finney
Julie-Ann Finney has become the recognisable face of a growing campaign to investigate military suicides – and people at high levels are starting to listen.
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On Remembrance Day last year, Julie-Ann Finney was an anonymous, hardworking, proud South Australian mother of two children.
Now she is the face and determined organiser of a growing campaign demanding a royal commission into the national tragedy of military suicides.
But the brave mother of David Finney, a former Royal Australian Navy sailor, who died by suicide in February, is steadfastly refusing to break down and truly begin grieving for her son, because she fears that will be the end of her campaign.
Ms Finney hit the headlines on Anzac Day, April 25, when she went on the record about David’s death and its impact on her and her family, in an exclusive interview with The Advertiser .
The former marine technician had been fighting post-traumatic stress for a decade, and had twice been admitted to hospital while battling his mental demons after previous suicide attempts.
“People would look at me as just a hysterical mother looking for justice for her son and, of course, I want that but also I want changes for all our veterans,” Ms Finney said from Canberra, where she will attend a Remembrance ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on Monday.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride but I’ve never lost focus and never lost hope. I’m amazed by the support of the Australian people.”
More than 250,000 people have signed Ms Finney’s online petition calling for the royal commission. Finally, people at the highest levels are beginning to listen.
Ms Finney, from Blair Athol, is calling for significant improvements in the way the military deals with those with mental health issues to address the epidemic that is seeing more than one veteran a week committ suicide.
She has received support from other grieving relatives, colleagues of those who have lost their life, veterans’ organisations and high-profile former soldiers including Ben Roberts-Smith, VC.
Last week, she was one of six mothers who have lost a child in the military to suicide who met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“Having other mums there that I’m tragically connected with was so powerful,” she said.
“We are all looking for the same response of a royal commission and raising the names of those who no one wants to talk about.
“We have to keep up the momentum. We don’t want another mother to have to start this all over again a few years down the track – because there will be many other mothers if we don’t do anything.
“This can be the Government that calls a royal commission – or it can be known as the one that fought it.”
Ms Finney has organised “Vets We Forget”, a silent and respectful gathering in nine cities for Remembrance Day to support her campaign for a royal commission.
Support last week from the NSW Government and NSW RSL was another large step on that mission.
“This journey for me has just been amazing for me and all along I remain the mother of two children,” she said.
“I need to continue my son’s story – and I’ll never stop shouting David’s name.”
But fighting for her son has taken its toll on Ms Finney, who has been subjected to a relentless social media campaign.
She has been accused of only being interested in a payout over the death of her son.
Other social media posters blame her directly for the fate of her son and even blame the victim himself, saying his marriage breakdown was the cause, rather than a casualty, of his issues.
“People can be so cruel and I’ve had really horrible abuse,” she said.
“This has been an amazing rollercoaster journey and those terrible posts are the worst aspect.
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to say those things to a mum.”
But they have been making Ms Finney’s life a living hell, chipping away at her fragile confidence.
“One regular poster claims that I’m in litigation with DVA and Commonwealth Government and that the Ombudsman fully investigated David’s case and found no fault,’’ she said.
“ But it’s all lies. David’s investigation will take three or four years.
“People tell me not to read it but I can’t help it as I need to read the ones from veterans and family members who are reaching out.”
There have been hundreds of those.
“The number of stories I have received are just terrible – it’s a lot to cope with emotionally,” she said.
“We have so many soldiers living with suicidal ideation (thinking about the act) – that’s just terrifying and we have to have better processes to stop the damage.
“Whenever we lose someone the authorities say, well, why didn’t they ask for help?
“But what we know is they do (ask for help) and they don’t get help. We need to stop breaking our heroes and start looking after them from the very beginning of their issues and not when they’re broken.
“If we can break down a hero like Ben Roberts-Smith then what hope does anyone else have?”
Mr Roberts-Smith has denied allegations he instigated the execution of Afghan farmer Ali Jan in 2012 during an operation in Afghanistan.