CANBERRA, Australia, September 11, 2017 – Current, former Australian servicemen and women, and their families, are set to benefit from a foundation sponsorship between Lockheed Martin Australia and Yass Valley-based not-for-profit organisation, Remount.

Remount is a horsemanship program designed to assist returned servicemen and women, and their families, to manage the impacts of loss, work-related stress, combat stress or PTSD, to re-establish their lives and develop new career paths post-service.

The sponsorship will support a further eight programs in 2018, providing the opportunity for an additional 30 returned servicemen and women, and their families, to reconnect through horsemanship.

Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia New Zealand, Vince Di Pietro AM, made the announcement in Canberra today at an event attended by Australian War Memorial Director Dr Brendan Nelson and senior Defence Personnel at the Australian War Memorial.

“We are delighted to announce this foundation sponsorship and support for Remount, who are delivering programs that have a positive impact on our returned servicemen and women and their families through vocational, counselling and horsemanship training.”

“Lockheed Martin Australia is proud to support the Remount program, as it is very clear that the program makes a significant and tangible difference to the health and well-being of the participants,” Mr Di Pietro said.

Remount founders, Ben and Marina Maguire, the Board of Directors and volunteers, all welcomed the funding support from Lockheed Martin Australia, which will provide much needed equipment and resources to sustain the horse program with a difference.

“With our 2017 programs fully booked, we can now deliver a further eight programs for the 30 people on our 2018 wait list,” he said.

“Program participants learn to ride a horse and muster up to 300-head of cattle by day, while in the evening they can sit around a campfire and share stories of their military experience.”

“Our approach is different, it pushes our ‘Drovers’ outside their comfort zone and uses the power of the horse to heal. This is real work experience, challenging them in areas they never imagined,” said Mr Maguire.

Remount is delivered at no cost to current or former serving members of the Australian Defence Force. The two, three and four-day Remount programs include onsite accommodation, catering, tuition and workshirts.

Special note:

The historical significance of horses and horsemanship has a significant connection to the ANZAC legend and to our Australian Defence Force personnel. Today’s event marks 102 years since the arrival of the 13th Light Horse (without horses) at Gallipoli on 11 September 1915.  The 13th Light Horse subsequently remounted once they departed Gallipoli on 20 December 1915.

About Lockheed Martin Australia:  Headquartered in Canberra, Lockheed Martin Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Lockheed Martin Australia and its related entities employ more than 1000 people in Australia and New Zealand working on a wide range of major programs spanning the aerospace, defence, maritime civil sector.

About Remount: Remount is a not-for-profit organisation delivering horsemanship programs for current and former service men and women and their families, who may be experiencing stress related to their service, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or physical injury. Remounted is located in the Yass Valley NSW, approximately one hour drive from Canberra. 

www.remount.org.au