Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Invictus Games—invictus is Latin for unconquered—is the international sporting event for wounded and injured servicemen and women. The 2017 Invictus Games are being held in Canada next month, and I am very proud to inform the House that there are three members of my community representing our country. Twenty-one year old Lismore man Nathan Parker was a trainee pilot with the Air Force when he lost his arm after a bus carrying 50 academy personnel rolled over, injuring 30. Nathan had a prosthetic arm fitted last year. Nathan set himself two goals: to fly again and to represent his country in the Invictus Games. Last year, he returned to the air and he will fulfil his second goal next month when he represents Australia.

Thirty-four year-old Jamie Tanner from Lismore is a former infantry soldier. He served our country proudly in East Timor and Iraq, and completed two tours in Afghanistan before he was discharged in 2011. He has numerous musculoskeletal injuries and, like many returned servicemen and women, suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. He says his greatest achievement in life so far was recognising he needed help to manage his PTSD.

Sean Lawler, from Nana Glen, is also competing in his second in Victoria Games. Sean joined the Army in 2004 as a rifleman but suffered an injury in training. He was deployed three times in Afghanistan, Iraq and Timor Leste. Gentleman, we are proud of you and good luck.