This month is more packed than usual with activities and info sessions. The date for the last Twighlight Markts for the year is set and expressions of interest for stalls are coming in fast. Our sponsoring unit in 3rd Brigade, 4th Regiment, is reviving the famous Gun Push to raise money for The Oasis Townsville. We’ve closed the books on the pavers for the Path of Remembrance and the date to begin laying is set. Our first Education Expo had great representation from the best academic institutions for veterans and partners in NQ. Our Podcast has taken off and the feedback is outstanding. Last month we were very proud to be named as finalist in the Townsville Chamber of Commerce Employer of the Year. Hut 5 now has a name.

We consider NAV Sessions (named after Operation NAVIGATOR) are connections activities also, but not necessarily to people but to information – another of our specialties. The popularity of these is growing fast. We are proud to present Compensation Walk-up and Info Sessions on 25 Sep presented by our nascent Townsville Military Advocates Community of Practice. We’re hoping to empower veterans and seek some to come onboard to help others. The Alliance Cooking Workshop held last month was oversubscribed. But we are hoping to increase the rate. Next one is on 16 Oct. We’ve partnered with the Advance Driver Trainer Centre to present a 4WD Course, so start your engines for 15 Sep. We’ve got RSLQ presenting at Homebase on Defence and Veteran Partners Employment. Cubic are strongly supporting the veteran community with 30 scholarships in a new Certificate III Simulation and Interactive Technology.

Twighlight Markets are back on again. They have been very popular, and we are gathering EOIs from stall holders. If you are keen, get in fast as space is limited and it’s always full. Put 25 Oct in your diaries for a great evening featuring Halloween and the best food trucks.

4 Regiment is working hard also supporting our mission by raising donations for a Gun Push. The event will challenge the soldiers of 4 Regiment in a demanding endurance exercise, where teams will move an artillery piece weighing over 2000kg around The Strand for 24 hours. This physical and mental challenge proves solidarity between the serving and ex-serving veteran community. All funds raised will directly help The Oasis Townsville in their mission to provide a homebase for the entire veteran community (serving and ex-serving) and offer connections, employment and a well thought out future.

We’ve collected enough pavers now to get the engraving done and lay the Remembrance Path by the end of the year. The Remembrance Path laying will be started by Phil Thompson, OAM, MP on 13 Nov. We invite the whole community to be part of the ceremony. The path will be a poignant reminder of the reason we exist and who we support. And it will create a short-cut from Dirty Boots Cafe to the front door of Homebase.

Our Homebase Podcast is going exceptionally well and way exceeding expectations. The August episode interviewing Natasha Elford is especially popular. She is helping so much using her ability, experience and connections in the housing space. Our plans and linkages staff have found her work and collaboration with Oasis such a great benefit to our clients. September’s podcast is ready for upload and is also fascinating. Some great stories and food for thought in them all.

Education Expo went well. We had all the key academic institutions that have taken an interest in veterans and NQ at the event, and many veterans and partners took advantage of the information and advice. This was the first one and if it goes like our Career Connections Showcases, each event will double in the number of veterans and partners attending. Cubic is also offering scholarships for Certificate III in Simulation and Interactive Technologies. With the increase in ADF coming to Townsville and the rise in the number of jobs in this sector they have been very clever to help veterans get ahead of the curve in a job most veterans are good at and interested in, involving simulation.

Hut 5 now has a name. We were proud to have several generations related to Stan Short present on 29 Aug to unveil the nameplate on the building. Three Peewee huts are named now, and all three are sponsored by businesses supporting veterans. The names are of veterans across a range of Services, corps, and gender who served in WWI in the Southwest Pacific and went on to lead exemplary lives in our community after the War. Lastly, we did not win Townsville Chamber of Commerce Employer of the Year this year, but we were very close and are very proud we were in the final three.