I S S U E 04, 2015
HORSES
THAT
HEAL:
HOW EQUINE THERAPY
IS CHANGING LIVES
www.mates4mates.org
ONE MATE’S ROAD TO RECOVERY REVEALED IN
THE FIGHTER \\ CYCLISTS RETURN WITH A NEW
OUTLOOK ON LIFE \\ MEN’S HEALTH WEEK HOBART
CEO
Update
Supporter
thanks
ON JUNE 9, 2015 I
started as the new
Chief Executive
Officer of
Mates4Mates and
since then, life has
been one fantastic
blur. This year we
have welcomed
a number of new
staff and are
recruiting more as
I write.
Physical resourcing in order to meet the needs
and expectations of our Mates is one of my initial
priorities as we consolidate where Mates4Mates is
at and plan the way ahead. While there has been
significant staff turnover, we have continued to
meet the needs of our Mates through the regular
activities in the three Family Recovery Centres
(Townsville, Albion and Hobart) and through our
Adventure Challenge Program. Highlights of this
program include Kokoda, sailing, kayaking and bike
riding in particular. The very successful Equine
Therapy Program has continued, and this has
included our first ‘couple’s session’.
Over the next few months, the executive team
of Wendy Presneill (Operations Manager), Suzanne
Desailly (Manager Service Delivery) and I will be
reviewing the organisational structure, programs
(major events and challenges), and processes
and procedures to ensure we can best place
Mates4Mates to meet the needs of the future.
Mates4Mates has grown (both Mates and staff)
significantly over the past 12 months. Our first two
years have been extremely successful. The test
now is to ensure we continue to provide support
to current serving and former members of the
ADF who are wounded, injured or ill, along with
their families.
UBET
Thank you to
everyone for
Mates4Mates CEO Simon Sauer
your support
with UBET Chief Operating
Officer Barrie Fletton.
throughout Mates
Month, especially
campaign corporate partner UBET, who delivered
a cheque for $50,000 to Mates4Mates to help
change the lives of physically and psychologically
wounded Defence Force personnel. M4M
Bulimba
Fashion
Festival
Thank you to
organisers and
everyone who
attended the 7th
annual Bulimba
Fashion Festival
on Friday, June
19. The festival
Mates4Mates CEO Simon Sauer
was a huge
with Ambassador Dan Keighran
VC at the Fashion Festival.
success, with
approximately
$30,000 raised. The wonderful event showcased
the most stylish winter fashions for 2015 from
local boutiques and established designers. Thank
you to everyone who came along to enjoy the
event and to support Mates in need. M4M
1300 4 MATES (1300 462 837)
www.mates4mates.org
[email protected]
Simon Sauer
Chief Executive Officer
Mates4Mates M4M
facebook.com/Mates4Mates
www.mates4mates.org
CYCLISTS RETURN WITH A
NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE
FOUR WOUNDED, injured and ill Mates who
represented Mates4Mates on the 2015 Big Battlefield
Bike Ride have returned from their life-changing
cycling journey. The cycling route followed a WWII
theme, leading participants on an emotional and
challenging journey from Paris to Cherbourg, taking
in the Normandy D-Day beaches.
The Mates4Mates team returned after forging
new friendships with other veterans from around
the world, including the Help for Heroes Band of
Brothers. Mate Darlene Brown said it was a once-ina-lifetime experience.
“We had a life-changing week with some of the
most generous, caring people on this planet – all
there to help us,” Darlene said.
One of our Mates, Jason McNulty, received the
International Hero Award for his efforts throughout
the ride. The award went to the international
participant who other riders felt both benefited and
contributed most to the ride.
On the journey, Jason stopped at one of the sites
to share his story with other riders.
“Five days ago I wouldn’t have been able to stand
here and talk to you guys. I wouldn’t be able to talk
like this – I’d have been hiding out the back,” Jason
told them. “Talking to you guys on the ride… I take a
lot out of that.”
The Mates said they were inspired on the ride by
their fellow veterans, but also by civilians who pushed
themselves to their limits in the cycling challenge.
Mates4Mates Team from L-R: Denis Devantier, David
Neagle, Darlene Brown, Gary Waddell and Jason McNulty.
The Mates4Mates team used the event to raise
money to support Mates in Australia by auctioning
off some of their cycling kit, with funds to go
towards a new Mates4Mates cycling program.
Congratulations to the team for a great ride. M4M
MEN’S HEALTH
WEEK HOBART
THE HOBART FAMILY RECOVERY CENTRE had a
packed program during Men’s Health Week celebrations.
Aimed at highlighting the state of male health and
wellbeing, activities for Mates included yoga, health
talks, physio information sessions, ex-military speakers,
lunches and Mates Talks.
It was great to see so many Mates involved with the
sessions. Thank you to everyone who was involved,
specifically our Mates Josh, Phil and Mark for sharing
their stories so honestly and passionately. M4M
www.mates4mates.org
Horses that heal:
HOW EQUINE THERAPY IS HELPING COUPLES
ONE OF THE MOST talked about programs at
Mates4Mates is the Equine Therapy Program,
which uses horses to help heal Mates’ physical or
psychological wounds. The program has proved to be
so successful that this June Mates4Mates ran its first
Equine Therapy Program exclusively for couples, with
astonishing results.
John Oakes and his wife of 23 years, Angelia
(opposite page, top left), were one couple who
attended the program. John said it’s one of the best
things they’ve ever done for themselves.
“We found the program helped us rediscover things
that have just become the norm. After you’ve
been married for 23 years things get routine and
a lot of time is focused on children, so it was
nice to go away and be able to focus on each
other,” John said.
“It was great to learn new strategies on how
we can progress our relationship and rediscover
what we’ve taken for granted,” he said. “We’ve
reintroduced date nights and we make sure that
we spend quality time together as opposed to
just time – taking the dogs for a walk or getting
a coffee from up the street – just spending 20
to 30 minutes being close and chatting.”
There is a growing body of scientific research
coming out of the United States proving the
benefits of working with animals, particularly
horses, in therapy. And John agrees that the
horses add a unique element to the program.
“I was a bit apprehensive at first – not so much
about the horses, but about the whole program.
I went in with a bit of anxiety and that sort of
thing, but the horses are great. You form a bond
with the horse, and it’s true when they say the
horse chooses you. At one stage I was patting
my horse while he rested his head over my
shoulder – and I was so calm and relaxed it was
the closest I’ve ever been to sleeping while standing.”
Mates4Mates Senior Psychologist Janice Johnston
said the program is based on the principles of natural
horsemanship, and contrary to popular belief, is not
about learning to ride a horse, but about building
trust and understanding with the horse to feel alive,
connected and motivated again.
“It’s about
teaching people
in a different
kind of
environment
how to manage
their Subjective
Units of
Distress. They
learn how to
measure what’s
happening
inside their
body as
mirrored back
to them by an
animal.”
Participant Corryn
cares for her horse
with the help of
Brian Johnston.
The horses select
which participant to
work with throughout
the program.
www.mates4mates.org
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
John and Angelia Oakes; Over the
week participants slowly built a
close, trusting relationship with
their horses; Activities include
learning basic horsemanship skills
like handling and leading of horses;
Mates4Mates Psychologist Heath
Chrisitie with his horse.
“Equine Therapy for couples isn’t your traditional
marriage intervention, but a chance to spend time away
together where the focus is on the well-documented,
therapeutic gains of working with animals,” Janice
said. “The program was modified for couples so it
included time working on elements individually and
time together. Participants also did a lot of
activities like working on Love Languages with
their partner, creating artwork and practising
mindfulness.”
The power of equine therapy lies in horses.
Horses respond to subtleties in body language,
and these non-verbals are particularly revealing,
especially for Mates who experience Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
“It’s about teaching people in a different kind
of environment how to manage their Subjective
Units of Distress (SUDS),” Janice said. “They
learn how to measure what’s happening inside
their body as mirrored back to them by an
animal,” she said.
John agreed that, for him and his wife, the
program was invaluable.
“It was great for me to do the program with my wife
and to see her in that situation as well. She’s never
been around horses, and to see her grow in confidence
and ability was amazing. Our marriage is rock solid, but
all those things we learnt we’ve taken home and they’re
all little steps to making a better relationship.” M4M
www.mates4mates.org
“Our marriage
is rock solid,
but all those
things we
learnt we’ve
taken home
and they’re all
little steps to
making a better
relationship.”
The Fighter
ONE MATE’S ROAD TO RECOVERY REVEALED IN
TOWNSVILLE’S
PAUL WARREN has
an incredible story to
tell. From an Australian
Muay Thai kickboxing
champion known as
‘Warlord’, to a young
soldier eager to serve
his country, and now a
wounded Mate inspiring
others in need, Paul has
finally put pen to paper
to share his story in his
book The Fighter.
Since he arrived
at Mates4Mates in
Townsville, Paul Warren’s
drive, determination and
quiet passion have been
infectious. It’s Paul’s
friendly face, warm smile
and listening ability that
have made him vital to
the team as a Liaison
Officer, supporting
Mates in need and their families.
Paul spends his days mentoring other wounded Mates,
chatting with their families and helping them heal their
physical and psychological wounds. But his
journey has been far from easy, as he explains in
his new book.
“I didn’t write this book for money or for fame
or anything like that. If I can share my story and
just help one other person, then it’s all been
worth it,” Paul explained.
“To be honest, I was really concerned about
seeing so many young blokes who can’t see
a way out,” he said. “It was my mates who
really pushed me to write – I probably would never
have written a book, except my mates and my wife
encouraged me to share my story.”
“If I can share
my story and
just help one
other person,
then it’s all
been worth it.”
And what a story it is. Just six weeks
into his first tour of duty in Afghanistan,
Private Paul Warren suffered a horrific
injury. He was patrolling when an improvised explosive
device (IED) triggered an enormous explosion
underneath him.
Paul describes the incident in The Fighter: “Everything
was silent. Then suddenly – BOOM! I was launched
like a rag doll and thrown about three metres in the air.
There was dust flying in all directions and a ringing in
my ears like I’d never experienced before.”
Tragically, the explosion killed his mate, Private
Ben Ranaudo. It was July 18, 2009, and Ben was the
campaign’s 11th fatality. While the former Australian
Muay Thai champion was lucky to survive the blast,
his injuries meant his leg had to be amputated above
the knee.
For this powerful young soldier, who spent 10 years
as a professional fighter before joining the army, Paul’s
world was turned on its head.
“I can tell you now, the worst moment of my life was
waking up from that first surgery and looking to see
my mate on a bed beside me, and people telling me that
he had been killed,” Paul revealed in one of his
early interviews.
Paul’s life was saved by the quick work of his
battalion, who got him to a helicopter within 16 minutes
for surgery. He was flown back to Australia, where he
received treatment for his injuries in Brisbane. Although
he had only known his partner, Dearne, for four months
before his deployment, she moved from Townsville to
Brisbane to assist his recovery.
It was a slow and at times incredibly painful
process, but the couple worked together through his
rehabilitation. As with many seriously wounded and
injured personnel, the psychological challenges were as
complex as the physical.
“Within my story, my wife has her own story. The
women (and partners) who support us all have their
own challenges; they’re amazing,” Paul said.
Today, the couple is married with two children, and
www.mates4mates.org
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Dearne and Paul with their
children on their wedding day;
Paul was an Australian Muay
Thai Kickboxing Champion,
known as “Warlord”; Paul
today, in Townsville; Paul,
before he lost his leg in an
IED blast in Afghanistan.
Paul plays a vital role as
Liaison Officer in the
Townsville Mates4Mates
Family Recovery
Centre.
“Paul is
inspirational because
he is a great example
for our Mates of how
you can turn your
life around, and how
good your life can be
after a serious injury,”
Townsville Manager
Denis Devantier
explained.
“Paul is a modern-day, contemporary soldier
who really understands where our Mates and
their families are coming from, and it’s his
understanding that’s making a real difference to
the lives of these men and women.”
Paul Warren’s book, The Fighter, published
by Allen & Unwin, will be available for purchase from
September 2015. Read an extract from the book in
Queensland RSL News on page 53 and head to page 87
for your chance to win a copy. M4M
www.mates4mates.org
“Paul is
inspirational
because he is a
great example
for our Mates
of how you
can turn your
life around,
and how good
your life can be
after a serious
injury.”
YOGA AT
MATES4MATES.
Quieten your mind, master your emotions and
improve your physical wellbeing with yoga.
Mates4Mates yoga classes are specifically designed to assist
Wounded, Injured and Ill Mates with their unique needs. All ages
and abilities are welcome to attend.
Classes are available at Mates4Mates Family Recovery Centres
in Townsville, Brisbane and Hobart.
www.mates4mates.org
Learn more at
 THE FIGHTER
THE
FIGHTER
In this extract from his book, The Fighter, Muay
Thai champion and Mates4Mates Liaison Officer
Paul Warren details the moment his life changed
forever on the battlefield in Afghanistan.
Paul Warren and Jeff Apter
THE
events of July 18, 2009 will be
etched in my memory until the
day I die and get the chance to meet my mate
Benny again. Our section, 12A, was to set off
to join ‘2 Shop’, the Intel cell whose mission we
were assisting, to locate a Taliban bomb-maker
in the Uruzgan province.
We were all glad that we were about to be on
the ground; we were so new in-country that we
craved all the experience we could possibly get.
And nobody, especially me, wanted to be sitting
in some patrol base while their mates were out
there engaging the enemy.
EDITION 04 2015 RSLQLD.ORG 53
THE FIGHTER

Basically we were
in an assistance role,
looking after our mates.
We were pretty excited,
but I could say with all
certainty that none of
us was fearful.”
As we were a late addition to the
mission, our immediate plan was
pretty straightforward: we were to be
at the rear of the group, dealing with
any persons of interest in an area that
was known to have a Taliban-affliated
bomb-maker on the ground. I didn’t
know his name; still don’t.
Basically we were in an assistance
role, looking after our mates. We were
54 EDITION 04 2015 RSLQLD.ORG
pretty excited, but I could say with all
certainty that none of us was fearful.
There was no bullshit bravado, either.
We’d trained for this kind of situation
and were good to go.
It was a similar-sized patrol to our
first, and we were to cover pretty much
the same area in the Baluchi Valley.
I wasn’t quite sure who was leading
the patrol, but what I did know was
ABOVE:
Paul in position
as rear
shooter on the
Bushmaster.
ABOVE LEFT:
Paul in
Afghanistan
before the
explosion that
would change
his life (July
2009).
that those in charge thought we could
be useful in handling the persons of
interest they expected to encounter
during the patrol.
We moved out at 0100 hours under
the cover of darkness. The plan was
to surprise our target with a search as
soon as first light came up. The walk in
was hard; I seemed to lose all my depth
perception when working with nightvision equipment, as good as it was.
We walked for about five kilometres
and I reckon I fell on loose rocks five
or six times, swearing each time – not
unusual for me.
After a few hours, now in daylight,
we reached an aqueduct and were
put in position. It was about six in
 THE FIGHTER
Then suddenly
– BOOM! I was
launched like a rag
doll and thrown
about three metres
in the air. There
was dust fying in
all directions and
a ringing in my
ears like I’d never
experienced before.”
the morning. A crop of corn
had recently been planted
nearby. The qala, the mudwalled Afghan home where
we believed the bombmaker to be, was about 200
metres away, part of a larger
residential compound. We
were last in the order of march, and
were to follow all the other soldiers
into the camp. Ben was nearby; halfa-dozen locals – civilians, not Afghan
National Army – had been removed
from the qalas and were instructed
to sit; they were positioned between
him and me. The others in my section,
about eight of us in all, were spread
out across an area of maybe 20 metres.
Engineers with detection wands had
already gone over the area and hadn’t
detected any IEDs. Even then we were
careful when we went to ground,
checking the dirt for signs of digging
or any other disturbance. Everything
seemed OK. There were no obvious
indications of danger.
I settled myself on the ground, lying
in position behind a MAG 58. This was
a weapon with a serious kick, so I lay
down on the ground, the MAG pulled
into my shoulder. I looked around and
saw the locals who’d been removed
from the qalas were willing to sit in our
location, which had to be a good sign.
Locals were usually the first people to
know the whereabouts of IEDS and
avoid them at all costs.
I had a clear view of the compound.
My job was to provide cover support
for our guys in and around the area.
We’d patted down the locals, so there
was no chance of a suicide bombing.
Birds were flying overhead, it was
pretty quiet, the boys didn’t seem too
threatened by the situation. All seemed
to be going as planned.
I stayed in that position for about
two hours, moving ever so slightly now
and again. At one point I raised myself
up on one knee in order to take a piss.
It was impossible to lie absolutely still
for that long, despite my best efforts.
Everything was silent.
Then suddenly – BOOM! I was
launched like a rag doll and thrown
about three metres in the air. There
was dust flying in all directions and
a ringing in my ears like I’d never
experienced before.
ABOVE:
Paul recovering
from surgery
following the
loss of his leg
from the IED
explosion.
EDITION 04 2015 RSLQLD.ORG 55
THE FIGHTER

ABOVE:
Private Ben
Ranaudo’s body
was transported
back to Australia
for burial (July
2009).
“Where’s
Benny?” I
asked, as
they did their
best to get
me stabilised.
“Where’s
Benny?”
No-one would
answer me.”
I thought we’d been hit with
a Taliban RPG (rocket-propelled
grenade). But I was wrong. As it turned
out, there had been an undetected IED,
buried deep in the ground beneath
me, which the sweepers hadn’t been
able to detect. The Taliban knew that
under the Geneva Convention we
couldn’t use landmines, but that didn’t
stop these murderous bastards. Such a
cowardly act.
The force of the impact had smashed
me full in the face. I’d landed hard on
my right elbow, wrecking it. A Marine
in Afghan had described the impact
of an IED as “like being kicked by a
horse; a horse with a foot that could
cover your entire body”. That was
exactly what it felt like to me.
My first instinct was to find the
bloke closest to me, in this case Benny,
who I knew had been only a couple of
metres away. I tried to crawl towards
where I thought he was, but my
movement felt strange; I wasn’t making
any progress at all. What was going on?
Through the dust and constant ringing
in my ears, I managed to look down.
56 EDITION 04 2015 RSLQLD.ORG
My right leg was gone. Just gone.
There was no time for screaming or
any of that bullshit. If I did, it could
have made a bad situation much
worse. Setting off an IED wasn’t always
the end of an attack; sometimes the
Taliban would open up with fire after
an explosion. I didn’t yell because I
didn’t want my guys to get fired upon.
Instead I looked up and saw Thorney.
There were others there, too; their
mouths were moving, but I couldn’t
hear what they were saying.
“I need help, mate,” I groaned.
I also saw Duse, who was talking
to me, but his words didn’t register.
Luckily, we had Australian medics with
us, including Jacqui de Gelder, who
was a tower of strength. (Amazingly,
Jacqui’s brother was Paul de Gelder, a
fellow amputee I’d get to know soon
enough.) I was in incredible pain and
my veins had collapsed, but nobody
seemed to panic. They just got on with
the job. Because of the problem with
my veins, in order to sedate me they
had to drill into my right arm until
they hit the bone, injecting meds and
fluids directly into my marrow. This is
known as intraosseous cannulation, a
risky procedure. They had to do two
cannulations, both in my left shoulder.
“You’ve gotta do something,” Duse
said, pointing at the drill the medics
were using. What he meant was that
I’d better prepare myself for some
serious pain. Seriously, this thing hurt
just as much, if not more, than losing
my leg. A medic named Greg Pride put
a tourniquet on what remained of my
damaged leg and then applied another
to stop the bleeding. It was strange – I
felt like I could account for all the
other guys on the ground by their
voices. By now my eyes were closed,
yet I could visualise who was where.
But I couldn’t hear Ben’s voice.
“Where’s Benny?” I asked, as they
did their best to get me stabilised.
“Where’s Benny?”
No-one would answer me. I knew
it, I just knew it – my mate was gone.
Suddenly I was more parched than
I’d ever been, and then I went really
cold. This weird feeling of peacefulness
swept over me, despite the pain –
 THE FIGHTER
Soon after, the chopper landed at the
base at Tarin Kot and a whole group of
American medicos came running out – it
was exactly like a scene from M*A*S*H,
with people scampering about and
ducking under the rotor blades.”
bizarre given the circumstances – and
all I wanted to do was sleep. But every
time I drifted off the medicos would
slap me back to consciousness.
I was probably going into shock;
all my adrenalin was draining away.
We were a fair way out in the Baluchi
Valley, towards Kalla Kalla, I think. I
may have been drifting in and out of
consciousness, but I was amazed by
how quickly the signaller got the nineline radio message out that we needed
a chopper.
When there’s a loss of limbs or an
amputation in the field, the first 60
minutes are what’s known in the army
as the ‘golden hour’. To maximise my
chances of survival, they needed to
get me into a hospital within that first
60 minutes. In my case, it took just 16
minutes for the helicopter to appear.
It was an American chopper, with
American medics, who swiftly joined
forces with the Aussie guys on
the ground.
They were in a hurry, too. According
to some of the guys there, who filled
me in later, the chopper hit the ground
hard, landing on an angle, screeching
to a halt, instead of the usual slow and
careful hover. As it landed, dust started
kicking up around me.
Then I heard Duse shout, “We need
another tourniquet!”
They got me on board the chopper.
I turned my head and saw that my
travelling companion was a local kid
with ‘frag’ – shrapnel – all around his
LEFT:
Paul undergoing
rehabilitation
following the
loss of his leg.
“Through
the dust
and
constant
ringing in
my ears,
I managed
to look
down. My
right leg
was gone.
Just gone.”
neck, shoulders and chest. I was told
that another local on the ground with
us had most of his foot blown off by
the same IED. He didn’t hang around
for the chopper, though: he hopped off,
somehow avoiding our guys who went
after him, trying to help. I have no idea
what happened to the kid in
the chopper.
I was starting to feel a little better,
almost peaceful. I presume they’d
pumped me full of pain medication
as well as fluids. As I lay there in the
chopper, headed for Tarin Kot, I had
a flashback to the excellent first-aid
training we’d been given in Kuwait. I
looked down at where my leg should
have been and it reminded me of
one of the life-like dummies we’d
practised on. I knew then that the
professionalism of the medics on the
ground had stopped me from bleeding
out. They’d saved my life.
Soon after, the chopper landed at the
base at Tarin Kot and a whole group
of American medicos came running
out – it was exactly like a scene from
M*A*S*H, with people scampering
about and ducking under the rotor
blades. Among them I spotted Doc
Challen (Captain Andrew Challen),
a popular captain and medic; a bloke
who spoke to us like we were his peers,
which wasn’t always the case with
officers. I have no idea how much time
had passed since leaving the site of
my accident.
“Don’t worry, Paul!” he shouted
to me over the din of the helicopter.
“You’re gonna be OK!”
I told him I was in pain;
he reassured me that they
were getting me straight into
surgery.
They laid me out on the
operating theatre table and
the world went black.
This is an edited extract
from The Fighter by Paul
Warren and Jeff Apter,
published by Allen & Unwin.
For your change to win a copy
of The Fighter, turn to
page 87. 
EDITION 04 2015 RSLQLD.ORG 57