The first participants in the Veterans Surfing Program have hit the waves.
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The initial pilot program with 10 participants took to Seven Mile Beach at Gerroa on Wednesday, marking the start of a 10-week program,
The Australia-first initiative aims to help heal the wounds of defence personnel suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through surfing.
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The program is the brainchild of former big wave professional surfer and Gerringong Surf School owner, Rusty Moran, who has partnered with former Gerringong RSL sub-branch president and former army officer Glenn Kolomeitz.
The Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group, run out of Nowra, is providing the governance of the program.
The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded the program a $280,686 grant under the 2019-20 Supporting Younger Veterans (SYV) grants program.
The program will also provide data for a clinical study by the Western Sydney University, analysing the scientific benefits from surfing on those suffering from PTSD and depression.
A special guest at Wednesday morning's inaugural event was Keith Payne VC AM, who spoke on the importance of battling PTSD.
Mr Moran said the aim is to develop and run a tailored surf therapy program for younger veterans with mental health issues.
"Simply the idea is to use surfing as a mental health therapy for veterans," he said.
"In my early days I surfed professionally as a big wave surfer, then I got into property development and had a few big hits and ended up with PTSD and going through a couple of years of depression myself.
"Getting back into the surf helped with my healing journey.
"Running the surf school I've noticed over the years just the general health and well-being from participants, particularly those who been suffering with mental health issues,"
Simply the idea is to use surfing as a mental health therapy for veterans.
- Veterans Surfing Program co-ordinator Rusty Moran
A chance meeting with Rick Meehan and Fred Campbell from the Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group led to the suggestion of teaching veterans how to surf.
"I thought it was a fabulous idea, to help other people with depression or PTSD," he said.
"The ocean is the elixir for healing your soul."
He said he is proud to see the program up and running.
"It's been a two year gestation period," he said.
"From the the initial concept idea, to where do we get the money from, getting the grant application to DVA which was successful, then all the paperwork, ethics approvals, getting the university involved and we have four researchers from WSU involved.
The ocean is the elixir for healing your soul.
- Veterans Surfing Program co-ordinator Rusty Moran
"It's all in place now and we're ready to start taking these good people surfing!"
An earlier planned start to the program was interrupted by COVID.
He said there were no expectations on the participants.
"I always say to everyone I teach, 'give yourself permission to fail'," he said.
"There are no expectations just come and enjoy it. We've got 10 weeks of the program to develop their skills.
"They'll be right after 10 weeks, they'll be competent.
"We start by having a laugh and making it very social, allowing the vets to make a few connections with each other.
"They can watch each other go through wipe outs and the struggles and you feel the resilience and after a number of weeks you realise you can do it."
And if the hoots and hollers coming from the water was anything to go from, it has already been a success.