![\"Veterans\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/ce739d06-a871-4959-9f20-95097eb8e95f.jpeg\")
There’s one story that’s polarised us all – the arrest of one of our most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith. And nowhere is that divide felt more than within our veteran community. The consensus? It’s complicated. (A Current Affair)<\/p>\nThere’s one story that’s polarised us all – the arrest of one of our most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith.<\/p>\n
And nowhere is that divide felt more than within our veteran community.<\/p>\n
The consensus? It’s complicated.<\/p>\n
There’s one story that’s polarised us all – the arrest of one of our most decorated soldiers, Ben Roberts-Smith. And nowhere is that divide felt more than within our veteran community. The consensus? It’s complicated. (A Current Affair)<\/p>\n
That’s certainly the feeling across the defence community in Townsville – Australia’s biggest military community.<\/p>\n
One in 10 citizens either currently serve in the ADF or are veterans.<\/p>\n
And in town, you’ll find a quite unique coffee shop run by charity Wounded Heroes.<\/p>\n
It’s a refuge for those who’ve served – and the families who know the toll it’s taken.<\/p>\n
“We have found that there’s a lot of veterans (who are) gravitating towards us because we have created a safe place here at our Veterans Centre,” president Martin Shaw said.<\/p>\n
“A lot of them are just coming here because they really can’t talk to civilians about how they’re feeling.”<\/p>\n
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Whatever the outcome, veterans want the focus to return where they believe it belongs – on those who have or are still serving. (A Current Affair)<\/p>\n
Wounded Heroes also runs a 24-hour crisis support hotline.<\/p>\n
“Generally our calls would be around about that 18 a day … now (it’s) sitting around about that 26 or 28.”<\/p>\n
“And that’s a combination of Bondi, of the triggers for the veteran community, as well as then, of course, the war in the Middle East. And then to top it all off, we’ve got the triple whammy with the situation with BRS”<\/p>\n
Earlier this month Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of war crime murder. He categorially denies the allegations.<\/p>\n
The charges stem from the decorated soldier’s time with the SAS serving in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Like many veterans, Wounded Heroes’ Dave McHenry has been following the case developments, and has strong feelings.<\/p>\n
“They’re (veterans are) starting to believe that the public are questioning everything they’ve done,” McHenry said.<\/p>\n
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Earlier this month Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of war crime murder. He categorially denies the allegations. (A Current Affair)<\/p>\n
“I went overseas with an amazing bunch of people and everyone that went over there, went over there with the intent of doing good … So then to basically feel attacked about what they did really throws a lot of conflict into them.”<\/p>\n
Phillip Thompson is the Member for Herbert in Townsville.<\/p>\n
He enlisted in the Australian Army at 17 and was deployed to East Timor and later Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
“There isn’t a veteran group in Townsville that I haven’t been to that isn’t talking about Ben Roberts-Smith,” Thompson said.<\/p>\n
“One thing is clear, they’re all like, you are innocent until proven guilty. That is the Australian way, that is law here.<\/p>\n
“We want our special forces to do their job well and go kick ass. And the people that want to sign up and join the ADF, I want them to look in and see the awesome career … and not have this as a cloud, a burden, and, you know, something that would slow them down.”<\/p>\n
There has been speculation in the community the case may impact recruitment, and Thompson agrees.<\/p>\n
“So recruitment will take a hit. Retention will take a hit and readiness – that’s a massive issue we already face because if we don’t have our operators ready to fight … they can’t deploy.”<\/p>\n
Veterans Gordon Monro and Wayne Lampard are questioning why they served.<\/p>\n
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And with Anzac Day approaching, they say it’s a reminder – service is bigger than one story. (A Current Affair)<\/p>\n
“Our value and what we stood for has been degraded. And I think young people look at that and they go, do I really want to be part of that? Do I want to expose myself to that?” Monro said.<\/p>\n
“If this is the way we see ourselves being treated … has it been worth it? I’ve done every posting of the army sent me to, every job that they want me to do. Always put the army first and then my family second,” Lampard said.<\/p>\n
“It makes you question. You know, you look at all the shiny bits and go, yeah?”<\/p>\n
For Phil Thompson, he feels like veterans have been let down.<\/p>\n
“The people that are looking at this go, ‘Well, we’ve got politicians, we’ve got senior leadership in the ADF – where’s all the people that made the decisions to deploy people overseas? Where’s the accountability on operations? Why wasn’t the command either aware or if they were aware, why aren’t they in trouble?'” he said.<\/p>\n
Driven by desperation and mounting confusion, some veterans have been pushed towards a choice they once considered unthinkable.<\/p>\n
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There has been speculation in the community the case may impact recruitment, and Thompson agrees. (A Current Affair)<\/p>\n
“I have veterans come in and give me medals that they’re awarded for their service, for their dad’s service, for something that should be passed down and worn on Anzac Day … they should be so proud of it and they don’t feel that. That breaks my heart,” Thompson said.<\/p>\n
But not everyone is willing to part ways with their medals – including Hagar Quirke and Tyrone Gee.<\/p>\n
Both served in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
“They’re gonna be my kids one day and stuff. And I’m proud of that. And I know they’re proud to wear them on Anzac Day,” Quirke said.<\/p>\n
But there’s still anger.<\/p>\n
“I certainly am proud of my service. But if you ask a question as to whether I would join now under this existing government, absolutely not,” Gee said.<\/p>\n
Whatever the outcome, veterans want the focus to return where they believe it belongs – on those who have or are still serving.<\/p>\n
![\"Veterans\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/https:\/\/prod.static9.net.au\/fs\/50c8b1f6-d658-4a45-a296-bbc0dea02d4b.jpeg\")
That’s certainly the feeling across the defence community in Townsville – Australia’s biggest military community. (A Current Affair)<\/p>\n
And with Anzac Day approaching, they say it’s a reminder – service is bigger than one story.<\/p>\n
“There are various operations that are happening all the time in order to protect this country … I thank God every day that there’s someone like me, that now mans that post … It’s a hard post to man – especially for our families – so here’s cheers guys i’m thinking of yas,” Quirke said.<\/p>\n
Wounded Heroes has veteran centres in Townsville and Ipswich.<\/p>\n