S02E19- Bruce Sloper (Young Veterans CQ / Yeppoon RSL) - Part 1
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In this episode, host Andy Fermo speaks with  ex- Navy officer and Vietnam veteran Bruce Sloper.  With quick thanks and an introduction they hop straight into it. Deciding to tell their story first about how they met,  they agreed it was a “pretty bloody good” story.   Bruce began, including the accidental counseling story of a young farmer Mum in Yeppoon.   Her life’s dream was not going very well Bruce explained and depression went with that.    He was asked by a third party would I talk with her?    As an older veteran Bruce explained he was familiar with “cashflow” problems so after getting to know the farmer Mum, Bruce went to a Veterans web page and put out the call to Young Veterans Central Queensland for help.    “Truly I was just floored by the response”  he continued enthusiastically.  Some 20-30 left me thinking  “how am I going to manage so many offers.”   Enter Andy and family with  Invisible Injuries Charity.

Fitting  well into the volunteer process and with another friend of Andy's from Toowoomba (S02E10 & 11), the generous response was reduced to two groups.  These worker/supporters spent over a week onsite and was a success.     All part of networking Andy agreed and part of our  civic duty he added.   Community mental health is for everyone, not just veterans, first responders and their supports especially during COVID and the times we are living in.  For instance fostering  a positive mindset is a big one if your on a farm on your own.

Andy asked about Bruce’s ADF service.  He joined as an apprentice in the Navy out of West Sydney and went to sea for 4 years. There was a new system of training apprentices when he joined.   So we’re in square rig, round rig and the older folk in the Navy labeled us Mobi's.  You would associate that with Whales or something like that but not in this case.   That system of training went from 1956 to 1972.    The RAF in the army and in the Navy were closed down and they went through the TAFE system.  The Mobi acronym has hung about all these years and there is pride in the name.   At  Yeppoon RSL  you mentioned the Square Rig stuff and that you were accelerated?   It  was the petty officers and chief petty officers who could see the skills coming out in the fleet Bruce explained and in those days we repaired things on the move with tradesmen on board.   “So that was  a great career!”  Contact -  Bruce SloperMember of: Young Veterans Central Queensland)Member of: Yeppoon RSL sub-branch )Help Lines Open Arms (VVCS)) | Lifeline) | RedSix app)"RESPECT, NO POLITICS, WE'RE VOLUNTEERS"Disclaimer: The accounts and stories are "Real lived experiences" of our guests some of the content may trigger Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) symptoms in some of our audience. Feedback regarding other organisations, courses and initiatives remains largely unsensored. Whether its good or bad they remain the OPINION of our guests and their experiences it is important in building an accurate statistic on what really happens. During the course of our conversations sometimes sensitive information may be accidentally mentioned, as such, Invisible Injuries respects the law and sensors any information that may breach Operational Security OPSEC

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