On the first weekend of November 2025, The Veterans’ & Families’ Centre was proud to help bring The Younger Heroes program to Mawbanna, Tasmania, on a rural property owned by a veteran and the perfect backdrop for a weekend of reconnection, teamwork, and shared resilience.

Nine veteran families from across the North West and West Coast came together for three days of adventure, challenge, and reflection. Though the Tasmanian weather offered its usual mix of sunshine, rain, and wind, the changing conditions only added to the spirit of the experience. Beneath grey skies and bursts of sunlight, families trekked through the bush, shared stories by the fire, and rediscovered what it means to work and grow together as a team.

The Younger Heroes program is built around one simple but powerful idea, to reconnect veterans with their children through shared experiences that strengthen communication, trust, and understanding. For many, these weekends offer a rare chance to step away from the routines of daily life, disconnect from technology, and focus entirely on family.

Thanks to the Centre’s outreach funding, the Younger Heroes program had been made accessible to Tasmanian families without the added strain of long-distance travel or significant costs for the first time in years. The goal was simple: make it affordable and achievable for local veterans to attend, while ensuring the experience remained true to the values of resilience, service, and family that define the veteran community.

Throughout the weekend, participants took part in a variety of hands-on activities designed to challenge both body and mind. Families learned fire making using flint and steel, built shelters together, and tested their observation skills with Kim’s games and other problem-solving exercises. They also experienced ice baths and breathing sessions, learning techniques for staying calm and grounded through discomfort, a symbolic and practical lesson in perseverance that parents and children shared side by side.

Other moments brought out laughter and joy: egg-throwing games, frisbee challenges, and late-night rounds of spotlight that reminded everyone how simple fun can spark connection. Between the activities, nutritious meals and small group discussions gave families space to reflect on what they were learning and how these lessons carried over into everyday life.

For many, the weekend highlighted the parallels between teamwork in the field and teamwork at home. The simple act of throwing an egg gently, learning not to drop it or throw too hard, became a metaphor for communication itself. The exercise served as a reminder that connection relies on handling moments carefully, with attention, patience, and understanding. Those lessons carried through each challenge, from problem-solving tasks to moments of quiet reflection around the campfire.

The bond between parents and children was evident throughout. Whether working together to build a shelter or braving a cold-water plunge, families encouraged each other to push past comfort zones and celebrate every small victory. Even when the weather turned wild, the group’s sense of humour and camaraderie never wavered. The changing skies became a symbol of resilience, a reminder that connection often grows strongest when things don’t go as planned.

The Veterans’ & Families’ Centre worked closely with The Younger Heroes team to make the event possible, assisting with funding, logistics and coordination across Tasmania. While the unpredictable weather and the challenge of transporting equipment to the rural site tested everyone’s adaptability, those hurdles only deepened the sense of teamwork and shared purpose that defines programs like this one.

By the end of the weekend, a genuine sense of community had formed among the families and facilitators. Parents spoke about reconnecting with their children in new ways, learning to listen more deeply, communicate more clearly, and recognise that “a problem shared is a problem halved.” Children left with new confidence and a better understanding of the resilience that defines their parents’ service.

The weekend also served as a reminder of the importance of mental health and wellbeing within the veteran community. By combining physical activity, outdoor challenges, and moments of emotional openness, The Younger Heroes program helps families strengthen not just their relationships but their ability to manage stress and maintain perspective. Programs like this show how simple, shared experiences can support lasting mental health benefits for veterans and their loved ones.

The Veterans’ & Families’ Centre is deeply grateful to The Younger Heroes team for bringing this unique and impactful program to Tasmania, and to the families who took part with such openness and enthusiasm. It was inspiring to see veterans and their children reconnect, not through formal sessions or lectures, but through mud, laughter, campfires, and honest conversation.

At the heart of it all, the message of The Younger Heroes program echoes the Centre’s own mission: that resilience begins with connection, and that through shared experiences, families can rediscover their strength and unity.

The weekend at Mawbanna was more than an event, it was a reminder of what’s possible when community, service, and family come together. The lessons shared and the memories created will continue to inspire, long after the fires have gone out and the stories of the weekend become part of something larger: a growing culture of connection, understanding, and support among veteran families in Tasmania.