First, we have been named finalists in the PM’s Employment Awards for Small Businesses. Operation Navigator is booming thanks to support from commanders. The medical community is seeing the opportunity to support veterans through transition by collaborating with veterans’ and families’ hubs. Last month, 4Regiment made us proud by raising funds for our hub operations in support of veterans and families. We had a most outstanding Trick or Treat Twighlight Market. RSL Queensland supported partners of veterans from Homebase. Cooking was a hit – again! Next month will be the busiest month ever, including laying the first paver for the ‘Path of Remembrance’ and an ‘Everything Housing Expo’. Defence will hold the second Transition Seminar in Townsville for the year at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre. We have Commonwealth Superannuation visiting again to talk about simplifying super. And we’ll host the last ESO Leaders Forum for the year to keep us all on the same page. Our collaboration with the Queensland Government on Our Thriving Digital Future is one to look out for early next year.

We are proud to have been selected as finalists in the PM’s Employer of the Year Award—Small Business. We will find out the winner on 26 November at a ceremony in Canberra. Either way, we recognise our core staff's magnificent teamwork, which is important to establishing and maintaining relationships that support the great work we do in the veteran community in NQ.

It has taken a little while, but the impact of Operation NAVIGATOR is being felt. We have on record serving soldiers, sailors, and aviators who believe they are better prepared for a worthwhile ADF career and know where to seek information or support for life’s challenges. We owe this all to the support of many of the commanders in Townsville. We hope to convince the rest that we support retention by empowering veterans with information about their future in and ultimately out of service.

We have been impressed by the emerging efforts of the medical community to help ex-serving veterans specifically. We are now exploring opportunities to achieve the same effect earlier in the transition journey. We have a long relationship with AVHS and recently visited a new dedicated veteran hub set up by Dr Clements. We have also been discussing opportunities with the very successful practice in Brisbane established by Go2Health. All of this is very promising in complementing the service provided by The Oasis Townsville with a clinical dimension. We’d love to see this referral pathway develop to improve veteran care.

Last month was a bumper month, and November is even bigger. We are very grateful for the support provided directly by 4Regiment of 3rd Brigade. They have been in close support since our early days with fundraising and workforce. As usual, our Trick or Treat Twighlight Markets were a great success. We share the stallholder joy around, especially where we can support veterans and partners in small businesses. RSL Queensland held employment workshops for partners, which were well received. Alliance Rehab conducted another cooking class at the Homebase kitchen. The demand for these is overwhelming, and we hope to be able to expand them next year.

It looks like we are trying to pack everything left on the schedule for the year into November. The biggest event will be the ‘Everything Housing Expo’. We have much to cover, given the significance of housing and homes in the community today. 2024 has seen a big effort by The Oasis Townsville into housing from homelessness to applying for funding support for renovations. Our longstanding relationship with Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation brings them back to Townsville to present at Homebase. This is such an important component of transition and post-ADF service that CSC adapt the presentation to the community's needs based on previous attendees' feedback.

Our big news is that Phil Thompson OAM, MP will lay the first paver for our Path of Remembrance. This has been a year-long campaign to allow members of our community to recognise the sacrifice of a family member in support of our veteran community. The Path is an intergenerational symbol of respect and recognition for our veteran community's value to civil society.

The last Forum for the year of our regular Townsville ESO Leadership Forums will be held this month. We will focus on the potential impacts on ESOs and the veteran community of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and hear from the Defence Force Welfare Association on the work they do improving legislation such that it affords our veteran community the respect and fairness deserved for the sacrifices made.

Buckle up, December is just around the corner.