Veterans Motorcycle Club, Julie-Ann Finney honour victims of military suicide

Julie-Ann Finney has helped honour names like Fitzy, Luke, James, Brad, Andrew, Jarrod with veterans at the Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk in remembrance of military suicide victims.

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Veteran motorcyclists joined mourning mothers in the heart of Adelaide today to tie yellow ribbons with the names of 600 Australian military men and women who have suicided since 1919.

Fitzy, Luke, James, Brad, Andrew, Jarrod were among the names honoured on ribbons tied to trees lining Kintore Ave’s Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk.

The event was organised by SA mum Julie-Ann Finney on national post-traumatic stress disorder day, in Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney.

Julie-Ann Finney with Jonny Spicer, President Adelaide chapter Veterans Motorcycle Club with other veterans in front of the war memorial. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Ms Finney has been relentlessly lobbying the federal government for a Royal Commission into military suicide since her son David, a navy mechanic, took his own life aged 38 last year after a battle with PTSD.

“I’m a mother, not a politician, but this has to stop,” she said.

“We need a full investigation.”

Julie-Ann Finney rides with the Adelaide Chapter of the Veterans Motorcycle club. Picture: Kelly Barnes

More than 200 people attended over several hours, including some of the families of the 600 fallen and a former Army man in his 40s whose fellow veteran suicided on Friday night.

Twenty members of the Veterans Motorcycle Club processed along North Tce to the War Memorial in salute of the 600 dead, with Ms Finney a pillion passenger on the lead bike (see video).

Jo Quinn ties a yellow ribbon for her son Mark Quinn. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Yellow ribbons placed on trees on Kintore Ave by the National War Memorial. Picture: Kelly Barnes

VMC Adelaide president Jonny Spicer tied two ribbons for mates Luke Bray, 30, and Nathan Barker, 23, who took his own life this year.

“We need a Royal Commission – 100 per cent,” said VMC Adelaide vice-president Tyson Potter. “It’s the only way things will change.”

SA Labor Senator Penny Wong said: “I know the stories of so many families who have lost someone they love and I think we should do better.”

Those affected by military suicide and the public are invited to tie a yellow ribbon to trees along the Anzac Centenary Memorial Walk on Kintore Ave this week.

Defence family Helpline: 1800 624 608.

Originally published as Veterans Motorcycle Club, Julie-Ann Finney honour victims of military suicide