Warrnambool to Walk Off The War Within in memory of Nathan Shanahan

The Warrnambool couple are staunch advocates of speaking out and raising awareness for post traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues.

Mr Poduska's battle started during his time as an Australian Defence Force (ADF) sniper and continued as he transitioned back into civilian life.

This weekend the pair will tackle a 20-kilometre walk at Lake Pertobe in honour of army veteran and firefighter Nathan Shanahan.

Nathan was another fierce mental health advocate who returned home from his deployment to the Solomon Islands with demons that his family say weren't properly addressed by the ADF.

It was a hard-fought battle for Nathan, who walked over 400 kilometres from Mildura to Adelaide in April 2015 with a 28-kilogram pack to raise awareness and funds for PTSD and depression.

He sadly took his own life in December the following year.

Mr Poduska said he went through basic training in the same platoon as Nathan.

"We got along quite well as we were both mature-age recruits," he said.

"He was always professional and would push himself in all training exercises, holding himself to a very high standard."

Mr Poduska said it was a "massive shock" when he heard Nathan had taken his life.

"It is often the people you least expect," he said.

Mr Poduska and Ms Pascoe are this weekend attending Warrnambool's Walking Off The War Within, an event created in Nathan's legacy following his death.

The couple will tackle the 20 kilometres carrying 20 kilogram packs, which represent the heavy burden of mental illness.

"(Nathan) will definitely be in my thoughts as I participate in the event," Mr Poduska said.

"Particularly as the body starts to hurt, I'll draw strength from him and the reason why we are all doing this."

Ms Pascoe knows the walk will be a challenge, given the 20-kilogram pack is two-fifths of her body weight.

"But I want to do justice to the memories of those that are no longer here, for those that fight every day to be here and everyone within our veteran and first responder community," she said.

"They give up so much in the name of service so I feel the least I can do is have a decent crack at getting it done."

Ms Pascoe said being a small part of the planning and to participate in the event was humbling.

"Events such as this help to raise awareness and normalise PTSD and mental health and in turn that may give someone else strength to reach out, seek assistance and keep on fighting," she said.

"Our veterans in particular are trained in heavily regimented environments, they are programmed to be hyper aware of their surroundings and robotic in their responses regardless of whatever that response may need to be. They have faced death and destruction on a scale that is unimaginable and that invisible scar of what they have seen, done and trained to be is with them forever."

Ms Pascoe said that given the current climate, it was more important than ever to speak out and continue to raise awareness of mental health.

"The pandemic has isolated so many from loved ones and their support networks," she said.

"The more, as a society, we are open, understanding and supportive of each other, the less confronting asking for help becomes and hopefully that will translate to a decrease in the instances of self-destructive behaviour and suicide."

Nathan's dad John Shanahan said his son had very little help transitioning back to civilian life, on one occasion grabbing his father in a supermarket and saying: "They're watching me, Dad. We have to get out."

He said their family thought Nathan's walk from Mildura to Adelaide was his road to recovery.

"He felt he had a war going on within himself and and he believed doing that walk would rid himself of his demons. He achieved that walk, during pouring rain and in all sorts of weather conditions, in 10 days. It was just phenomenal," Mr Shanahan said.

"But he relapsed again and unfortunately the inevitable happened."

In the months after Nathan's death, his firefighting friends rallied together with the Shanahan family to continue Nathan's legacy - Walking Off The War Within.

The event, which replicates Nathan's walk in 2015, was first held in Ballarat and saw about 2000 people in attendance.

Since its inception, Walking Off The War Within has been held all over the nation, including in Warrnambool and interstate in Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory.

Mr Shanahan said Warrnambool RSL Active's Adam Kent had done an incredible job getting the event up and running in the south-west.

"I'm very proud of what Adam is doing down there in Warrnambool and the way that the Warrnambool people, sponsors, council, RSL and everyone is getting behind it," he said.

Mr Shanahan has made it his life mission to help stamp out mental health stigma.

"Nath was such a big powerful guy, he was very physically fit and to see him succumb to that was just devastating," he said.

Earlier this year, the Shanahans attended Brisbane's inaugural walk.

Mr Shanahan said the event, held in March, was organised by one of Nathan's "great army mates" Lee Dukes. He said he and his wife were so proud to meet with Nathan's friends and their partners, and hear them "speak so highly of Nath as a person and a leader".

Warrnambool RSL Active's Adam Kent said the city's inaugural Walking Off The War Within saw over 100 people attend Lake Pertobe in 2019.

He said $1000 was raised and donated to Standing Tall and Headspace. It's a number he's hoping to beat at Sunday's event.

"It's a really good cause and we just want the best moving forward for veterans and families," Mr Kent said.

He said it was Warrnambool veteran Chris Rantall's idea to bring Walking Off The War Within to the city in 2019.

Mr Rantall will take part in this year's event just months after suffering serious injuries in a freak skydiving accident at Torquay. He will walk 10 kilometres aided by two walking sticks and supported by his wife Berni and their family.

Mr Rantall said he first heard about Walking Off The War Within on the news in 2019 and he and Mr Kent launched the inaugural event in Warrnambool just six weeks later.

"I did the 20 kilometres two years ago and it was really good. Everyone was smiling, offering encouragement and just had each other's back," he said.

"It's a really good feeling to be part of a community that cares about mental health issues."

RSL Active thanked the Warrnambool community, council and businesses for their support, including Allens Freight which offered a free stage truck at the last minute.

Walking Off The War Within will kick off at Lake Pertobe at 7.30am Sunday with free yoga at 9am, followed by a smoking ceremony, live music and kids activities.

Registrations are open online and on the day.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: