Sir Peter Cosgrove proud to support Hub for our Heroes Kinchant Dam wellness centre, Mackay veterans club

‘When Peter Wirth and that great man Keith Payne approached me to tell me about the ideas they were working on, it was easy to say, ‘Well I’m in full support’.’

Heidi Petith and Heidi.Petith@news.com.au

2 min read

March 25, 2021 - 5:00AM

Former Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove in his Sydney office. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

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Australia's former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove says he is proud to support developing a "leading edge" first responders and veterans wellness centre in Mackay.

Together with Australia's oldest surviving Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne, Sir Peter is a co-patron of PTSD Frontline - the organisation behind the project to build a treatment hub at Kinchant Dam.

The project is part of the Daily Mercury's Hub for our Heroes campaign which is also asking Mackay to back reviving the RSL club in the city.

Sir Peter said while Australia did a "world-class" job of looking after its first responders' and veterans' mental health, there was always much more to be done.

"Our ambition is limitless," the former Australian Defence Force chief said.

"When Peter Wirth and that great man Keith Payne approached me to tell me about the ideas they were working on, it was easy to say, 'Well I'm in full support".

Sir Peter said a Mackay office could discover veterans and first responders in need - who had been through "very hazardous" and "stressful" experiences intruding on their wellbeing - and then refer them for discrete and therapeutic treatment at Kinchant Dam.

Sir Peter Cosgrove and Lady Cosgrove with Keith and Florence Payne and Ray Martin at Admiralty House in Sydney. Picture: SBS-TV.

"A couple of (police) officers knocking on the door of where a reported domestic disturbance is occurring would have their heart in their mouth every time at what they see, at what they might have to cope with, how they might have to protect people's safety," he said.

"In some ways, military veterans will go through the most outlandish situations of hazards and experiences but they'll do that in a compressed time frame.

"They'll hopefully be able to get home in one piece then try and rehabilitate their own psyche but that's a journey."

More Hub for our Heroes stories:

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HUB FOR OUR HEROES: Kinchant Dam hub will draw tourists

Hub for our Heroes: Number of veterans may never be known

Surf lifesavers to benefit from trauma help at Kinchant Dam

Sir Peter said he was "very keen" to see how the centre's approach would cater to veterans and first responders needs through mental health, social support and other services.

The former Governor-general of Australia Sir Peter Cosgrove salutes during the Consecration and Presentation of Colours Parade for the Australian Army 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment at the Cenotaph, Bicentennial Park, the Esplanade, Saturday, June 1, 2019. Picture: Keri Megelus

He said Australia had other "moderately successful" veteran hubs but they were isolated and did not offer professional services on site.

"(Kinchant Dam) is, if you like, the next step but it's a very large step," Sir Peter said.

"This first set of steps may well be broadcast around the continent.

"I think that would be fantastic because while we have a lot of support from the Defence Force who as veterans may well be looking for this support, we have many, many thousands of first responders and we want to open the arms of this care to them as well."