Heart 2 Heart Walk Podcast Heart 2 Heart Walk

EP25 - The Final H2H Walk Podcast: Life after the walk with Billy, Bats, Greg and Matt.
The podcast wrap-up.  We've been back for a while, and a few walkers have had a chat!I'll say sorry up front for the delay in doing this podcast.  Even after getting it recorded, it has taken a while to edit it for the platform.  To be honest, I've not been going too well for a long time since we got home and sometimes things are just a bit harder than they should be.  I'll talk about that when I'm ready, but let's just get on with it hey!
In this episode we talk openly about what it's like to walk over 2600km, the highs and lows and if it was worth it.  Everyone had a common purpose on the walk through the objectives of the Heart 2 Heart Walk, but most of us had our own journey too.  
It gets deep.  All the way to Greg (yes of course it was Greg) going back to the Emergency Services Memorial in Canberra, looking at the 26 words that sum up the virtues of Emergency Service Workers.  On reflection, he talks about 4 of them, and how they related to the walk: Community, Hope, Resilience and Spirit.   We were invested in all of these during the walk, and getting to see these virtues first hand on the walk really took us to the purpose of the walk.  Making sure we can maintain our capabilities in Australia, and looking after those who serve the country.
Sadly, one of the main focusses of the walk was the unacceptable rate of suicide in First Responders both serving and veteran.   There were 5 serving member suicides during the walk, and one soon after we finished that we heard about.  Sadly, there were probably more that we didn't know about, and remember we do not have a way of tracking suicides of former first responders in Australia - so that figure is unknown.  It really hit us hard on the walk, but was certainly motivation to keep pushing on.
To quote our Ambassador Allan Sparkes CV OAM VA:"It's not about the walk, it is about the building of the path for others to follow.  You have laid the foundations with your blood sweat and tears that now joins the blood sweat and tears in the Earth of those who are fallen before you and who will be forever grateful for caring about them in the way you have “
_______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.
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Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

Sergeant Greg Corin APM - Australian Federal Police 36 years.  Such a diverse career from General Duties Policing, Specialist Response Group (SRG) - Discreet Operations Team through to Team Leader, Close Personal Protection team for the Governor-General and Prime Minister.
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Listener discretion is advised; this episode raises issues such as child abuse, suicide and other emotive issues that might not be suitable for all listeners.
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In this Hot Debrief episode, Matt talks to Sgt Greg Corin APM during the Heart 2 Heart Walk.  Greg has led an amazing career within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) since commencing in 1987 currently in his 36th year of service that has taken him all around the world.  A service that has taken a huge toll on both him and his family with a level of resilience that you need to hear to believe.

Greg has specialised in various operational roles including Tactical Operations within the Specialist Response Group, Surveillance Operations, Close Personal Protection, Witness Protection, Police Rescue and even Water Police.  This unique array of capabilities has seen Greg also an operational member of the ‘Discreet Operations Team’ - conducting both domestic and international operations.

If hunting Columbian Drug importers in remote parts of Australia’s west coast sounds intense, you need to hear the stories of being held at gunpoint during UN operations in East Timor, surviving a massive Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) attack just 300 metres away in Afghanistan and being shot at by Russian separatists while deployed to Ukraine soon after the downing of flight MH17.  Greg’s role as a Ceremonial and Protocol Officer saw him involved in the ramp ceremonies for the repatriation of 24 Australians killed in the crash on his return.

It is quite hard to believe that this high risk, high tempo diverse service was given despite personal adversities that you need to hear to believe.

This episode goes for over 2 hours, and only scratches the surface of this spectacular career, and so much of it he is not able to reveal due to the extreme sensitivity of the operations he has been involved in.  So hard to believe we have the privilege of walking along side this amazing Australian First Responder during the Heart 2 Heart Walk.  Thank you Greg for sharing this powerful story.

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Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

Living alongside PTSD- a family perspective with Janine Hopkin and Sarah U'Brien. 
In this episode, Matt takes a step back from the microphone and lets two of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, Sarah and Janine have a 'self interview' by the waters edge not far from our camp at Urana, NSW.  After setting up the recording equipment and hitting the red button it was over to them.
However this is no ordinary chat between these ladies.  Both Sarah and Janine were 'Police wives' and everything that goes along with it.  From living in small communities with the local Policeman to now looking after their partners that both suffer PTSD.
We hear all too often about the action packed, drama filled lives Police and emergency services workers lead however what is often left out is the 'behind the scenes' part of those stories; the partners, the children and the consequences.
In this episode, we are changing that.  You will hear about the tragic effects on both them as partners, but even more devastating, their children who are just so innocently involved in not only the chaos of service, but the effects of having a parent suffer a mental health condition as a result of that service.
You can also watch this waterside chat between Sarah and Janine on YouTube. https://youtu.be/ZojBgZ0-HTw
_______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.
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Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk

Nicky Skinner - Paramedic - London Ambulance Service to the ACT Ambulance Service. 
In this episode, Matt talks to Nicky Skinner, a Heart 2 Heart Walker who joined us on a short break from her role as a Paramedic with the ACT Ambulance Service. 
Nicky talks all about what it is like to join as an Ambulance Paramedic, both here in Australia and with the London Ambulance Service where she started her career.  As a 23 year old Paramedic, Nicky was a single unit responder in the rough streets of Romford in London's East, where stabbings were the favourite tool used by the gangs of the area and being surrounded by a group of men with no backup in an ambush-setup response call.
As you can imagine, as a newly qualified paramedic thrown into the deep end in East London, Nicky tells of the daily pressures learning her craft as the clinical lead responding to emergencies throughout the area.  She also reflects on how poor management practices and organisational pressures can sometimes be more difficult to deal with than responding to traumatic scenes - and just how important positive, supportive organisational culture can be in the emergency services.
So enjoy this small insight into one of the Heart 2 Heart Walkers, as we mention, these humble people rarely tell their stories so enjoy this chat with another one of Australia's fantastic first responders!
_______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.
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Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk
 
www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist
#H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd

Steve Watson - Served in both the Royal Australian Army - 6RAR and Royal Australian Air Force - Airfield Defence Guard roles with multiple deployments to East Timor, Afghanistan and more.
Steve talks about the highs and lows of service, and the challenges of adjusting to life out of uniform.
This is such a fantastic, raw chat with Steve, talking through his life and careers.  From starting out as a typical young bloke tearing up the town starting out with Army Reserve moving to full time service then changing services to the RAAF and the challenges of leaving military life.  All this followed by buying a pub he used to frequent as a young guy living the South Australian outback aside the Flinders Ranges.
Deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan left a mark, with challenges still to this day.  Despite all of this, Steve talks about giving back to his local community with the only local emergency service, the Country Fire Service.
It was a lucky connection with some of our mates at 3 Zeros Coffee that made this podcast happen, amazing to think this came together in the middle of the South Australian Outback through our mutual friend.
So many parts of this story will resonate with many, so listen in to this amazing Australians' story.
_______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.  If you need support check out our support page here.
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Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk
 
www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist
#army #raaf #H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness

Senator Jacqui Lambie - Talking all things from military service, thoughts on broken support systems for first responders and so much more! 
In this episode, Matt has an open chat to Senator Jacqui Lambie while on the Heart 2 Heart Walk from the shores of Lake Popiltah in western NSW.  Jacqui talks openly about her service in the Australian Army - including a rough time in the Military Police and how that has affected her but given an opportunity to influence her real life experience in various government portfolios to improve systems for veterans.
Equally, Jacqui talks through her thoughts on obstructions to making meaningful improvements for the Australian Police and Emergency Services workers, and her support for the Heart 2 Heart Walk and its objectives. 
We had a great time recording this one, so please settle in for some serious issues dealt with in a way only Senator Lambie could do!
_______Listener discretion is advised; some episodes raise issues regarding mental health, suicide and other matters that might not be suitable for all listeners.  If you need support check out our support page here.
____________________________

Get it now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others: https://linktr.ee/h2hwalk
 
www.heart2heartwalk.orgSpotify Walk Song Playlist
#H2hwalkpodcast #heart2heartwalk2023 #triplezeroalliance #heart2heartwalk #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #firstrespondersaustralia #firstresponder #firstresponderfamily #FirstResponderPTSD #firstrespondersuicide #ptsd #mentalhealthawareness