Invictus Australia: Veterans group looking to establish in Townsville

Invictus Australia is making a push for a full-time staffer in Australia’s garrison city.

Giru woman Ainsley Hooker, with her daughter Issy, 6, husband Jayson and son Luke, 13. Picture: Blair Jackson

Invictus Australia is making a push for a full-time staffer in Australia’s garrison city.

The not-for-profit agency carries on the Invictus Games spirit across the country, and were in Townsville this weekend holding community sporting events.

On Friday night the Jubilee Bowls Club in Mundingburra hosted festivities, and on Saturday pickleball (modified tennis) at Townsville Tennis brought the community together.

Before the event an Invictus Australia staffer said the organisation was looking to establish a full-time role in Australia’s largest garrison city.

Giru woman Ainsley Hooker competed in three sports at the Invictus Games in Germany last September, and on Friday hit the rink in Mundingburra with her family.

“I’m very excited there are going to be more of these events.”

Giru woman Ainsley Hooker with her Australian and Invictus-themed prosthetic leg.

More Invictus Australia events in North Queensland would be great for supporting veterans and their families, she said.

At Dusseldorf Ms Ainsley competed in athletics, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby; now she’s preparing for Warrior Games in the U.S. with an eye to the Canadian Invictus Games next year.

She had just been offered a spot at selection camp for the American event.

Ms Hooker medically discharged in 2013 as a Private in the Transport Corp.

After years of issues after an ankle injury, she became a below-knee amputee in 2020.

Based in Sydney, Invictus Australia support veterans and their families in the community.

The organisation organised the 2018 Invictus Games Sydney.

Originally published as Invictus Australia: Veterans group looking to establish in Townsville