Former soldier Chris Rhyss Edwards had a hi-tech dream to help vets suffering PTSD but it’s all ended in tears

A Brisbane company that aimed to produce a hi-tech tool for our returned troops struggling with mental health issues has gone into administration and will almost certainly face liquidation, despite its noble cause, owing more than $400,000 to creditors.

SOLDIERING ON

It’s a sad end for a company that aimed to produce a hi-tech tool for our returned troops struggling with mental health issues.

Brisbane bean counter Brendan Nixon from SM Solvency assumed the role of administrator this week over an outfit formerly known as Soldier.ly.

The firm was launched in late 2017 by a bloke named Chris Rhyss Edwards, a former soldier who spent a decade in the Army as a combat engineer and overseas peacekeeper.

Edwards, 48, freely acknowledged that he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder from both his time in uniform and what he described as “a fairly violent upbringing’’.

The company was working on a smartwatch app to help veterans with PTSD.

“I formed Soldier.ly as a company to develop smart apps for my fellow veterans to help them monitor and manage their anxiety, stress and PTSD,’’ he said recently.

“The sad fact is a veteran takes their life every hour. We lose about 10,000 a year in the western world. My team and I are working hard to create a smartwatch app that’s purpose-built to help veterans stay in control of their stress and PTSD, with the ultimate aim of trying to reduce the high suicide rate in the veteran community.’’

The company showed early promise and even garnered a few tech start-up awards as it became clear there was also wider demand in the community for such a diagnostic tool.

But things all went to hell last October when lenders owed just $50,000 appointed receivers over the company and it ceased trading. It went down owing just over $400,000 to creditors.

Edwards, as the sole director and majority owner, had encouraged other investors to take an equity stake in the business, including a venture capital firm.

He appointed Nixon as administrator to allow these investors a say in the company’s future, which is virtually certain to end in liquidation.

Nixon dispatched an initial report to creditors yesterday and they are expected to meet for the first time next Wednesday.

GOING BALLISTIC

The lockdown not only smashed our COVID-19 curve.

It also allowed some switched-on business owners to use the imposed quiet period as a way to recalibrate or even reinvent their products and services.

A case in point is Brisbane’s award-winning Ballistic Beer Co, which has rightly earned a reputation as one of the state’s best craft brewers just four years after launching.

Dave Kitchen

Founder and CEO Dave Kitchen revealed this week that he’s implemented a raft of changes to the brews, the cans, product names and even some of the prices.

Four of the five beers in his core range will now have lower alcohol content, meaning he’ll be taxed less and able to pass some of the savings on to thirsty consumers. Three of the brews have been rebadged with new names.

Cans have also been redesigned in lighter and brighter colours, making the different styles of beer more easily distinguishable when walking down the aisle in a bottle shop.

“While the objective of the refresh was not to change prices, we didn’t feel we could reduce the alcohol percentage and save on excise without passing this saving onto our wholesale and retail customers,” Kitchen said.

“We are banking on the new look, the tweaked recipes and the renewed marketing messages to really drive the Ballistic brand out of the current COVID-19 impacted environment and into the traditional beer buying periods of summer and Christmas.”

SIGN O’ THE TIMES

New Farm resident Ken Morris came across some street signage the other day that just made him do a double take.

“No Through Road,’’ the sign said on that section of Logan Road with the drinking and dining precinct opposite the Gabba.

Immediately below it was this gem: “Adopt A Road’’ courtesy of the ALP-Gabba Branch. Yes, really.

Morris, a 78-year-old former construction worker, couldn’t help sending us a pic. Good thing he takes a camera when he goes out for his weekend rambles around the city.