A convoy of military and emergency vehicles is about to depart Brisbane for a two-week journey to raise awareness about a condition affecting more than a million Australians.
One of them is Daryl Green, a police officer who was shot in the face and shoulder while responding to a domestic violence incident in Brisbane 16 years ago.
Another is Tony Dell, a former Test cricketer and Vietnam veteran haunted by the images of mangled bodies.
Both men have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and will help launch the Stand Tall 4 PTS Lightning Bolt Convoy at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday.
The convoy aims to shine a light on PTSD and break down misconceptions around the condition.
Mr Dell said a common misunderstanding was that PTSD only affected veterans when in fact many sufferers were police officers, firefighters, paramedics and hospital staff.
‘More than five per cent of Australians live with PTSD, and it can have a profound impact on them and their family,’ he said.
‘It’s about time we gave the issue the attention it deserves.’
The Stand Tall 4 PTS founder and director said there was a need to develop new and more effective treatments and support programs, as more than a third of sufferers didn’t respond to current best treatments.
Police cars, first responder vehicles and reconditioned jeeps from WWII will take part in the convoy, which will stop in a number of towns along the east coast before finishing up in Melbourne.
