Australian Army veteran and Beerwah local Michael Chapman has finally found what he was looking for.
A simple chat with his partner Dani Pares not only led to a meaningful way to commemorate the life of a dear cousin killed in action in Afghanistan.
It also uncovered a worthy Sunshine Coast charity they can support financially to help men and women get back on track and move forward with their lives on returning home from military service.
The Ride4Vets motorcycle event and community afterparty on April 30 will honour the memory of Ashley Birt: the first Gympie soldier to be killed in action since the Vietnam War.
If you have a photo from any of the local ANZAC Day services you’d like to share with Sunshine Coast News readers, email photo@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. SCN will publish a gallery of photos on April 25 to commemorate the day.
Visitors to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra will find his name on the Roll of Honour – one of 41 killed as a result of their service in Australia’s longest war.
Ashley had followed his brother Dale into the army, enlisting on June 6, 2007, and being allocated to the Royal Australian Engineers as a geospatial technician.
He went on to become a highly skilled Corporal in the 1st Topographical Survey Squadron and one of more than 39,000 Australian soldiers sent to Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.
Our troops were committed to supporting the US in containing the threat of international terrorism in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by Al Qaeda, which had sought sanctuary in the country.
Australian War Memorial Military History Section historian Aaron Pegram notes in the script of The Last Post ceremony, commemorating Ashley’s service, that he was deployed to Afghanistan in May 2011 as part of Combined Team Uruzgan to help bring peace and stability to the province and improve the lives of the local population.
The mission also included mentoring the Afghan National Army to take a more active role in maintaining peace and security against the Taliban insurgents.
“In October 2011, he left the multinational base at Tarin Kot for the remote Forward Operating Base at Sorkh Bed in neighbouring Kandahar province,” the videotaped ceremony on November 12, 2015, reports.
“Four days later, on the morning of 29 October, 2011, Birt was dismissed from a routine parade when a rogue Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on a cluster of Australian soldiers, wounding 10 before being killed by Australian troops.
“Ashley Birt was one of three soldiers killed. He died instantly, aged just 22.
“Dale Birt was serving in Afghanistan at the time and escorted his brother’s body back to Australia, where the loss of such a well-liked and respected member of their community devastated the people of Gympie.
“A memorial service was held at the local pavilion, attended by more than 2000 people, and Birt was buried with full military honours at the Gympie Cemetery.”
It wasn’t just Ashley’s ultimate sacrifice that came as a savage blow to his family and community.
‘Birty’ was a larrikin who lived life to the fullest, excelling at representative hockey, also enjoying mountain biking, sky diving, touch football, and loving nothing better than sharing time with his mates over a few beers.
Cousin Michael hopes to tap into that celebration of life and camaraderie in the Ride4Vets initiative.
The inaugural motorcycle ride will cover 150 kilometres in a round trip from Beerwah to Kenilworth, raising funds for Young Veterans Sunshine Coast.
“The whole idea stems from having such a strong military presence around here [on the Sunshine Coast],” the Ray White Mooloolaba sales and marketing representative says.
“I didn’t realise how many veterans there are on the Coast and how many are in business.
“I was actually on the bus into the military two days after my 17th birthday – straight out of high school and straight in. I was just in Enoggera. I wasn’t deployed anywhere.
“I was just in and out in between the first Gulf War and East Timor. Dani’s parents spent 20-plus years in the Navy.
“Being in real estate, I want to be able to give back to the community as much as possible.
“I’ve always been looking for something that, for me, held a lot of value – that out of every [property] sale, I could donate $500 towards a decent charity of some form.
“Young Veterans Sunshine Coast has actually fulfilled that commitment I’ve been looking for.”
Michael only met Young Veterans Sunshine Coast president Peter (‘PK’) Kennedy and Steph Shipman, who run The Local Beerwah Cafe and Bar a month ago.
But from little things, big things grow.
The Local was offered as the start and finish point for the 8am ride and venue for the afterparty.
Ray White Mooloolaba came on board as the primary sponsor and Michael has since been overwhelmed by the generosity of Sunshine Coast businesses big and small.
Beerwah Village stores are providing all the food for the afterparty, while other local businesses – including major motorcycle stores AMX Superstores, Team Moto and Sunshine Coast Harley-Davidson – have donated equipment and apparel, services and other major prizes for the raffle draws.
About 40 riders registered through word of mouth alone.
But Michael is hopeful as many as 150 could now take part – making him dare to dream that Ride4Vets becomes an annual event held nation-wide on the Sunday following Anzac Day each year, raising funds for veterans.
He and Dani will take part this year aboard a 2022 white Indian Springfield Dark Horse.
“From the groups that I ride in, we’re going to have Harley Davidsons, Ducatis, all forms of sports bikes and cruisers,” Michael says.
“There will even be a couple of enduro bikes there as well. It’s actually got a lot bigger.
“It’s become a community event, not just a ride.”
Word is spreading and Michael says that from expecting to raise $1000 to $2000 initially from the event, his sights are now set on $10,000.
His charitable efforts have already been repaid on a personal level.
“From this event, just a couple of days ago, I received a message from one of guys that actually was there when my cousin got shot and killed,” Michael says.
“He provided CPR to him but unfortunately wasn’t able to save him.
“He just moved to Brisbane and has now joined the ride.”
Event details
Register for the ride at eventbrite.com.au/e/616885159117 and donate at youngveterans.com.au/donate/ (put in RIDE4VETS as the reference). All funds raised via entry fees, donations, the sausage sizzle and raffle tickets will go to Young Veterans Sunshine Coast.
The $10 donation per rider includes entry into raffle draws for hundreds of dollars’ worth of motorcycle equipment and apparel.
Ride meet-up is 8am at The Local Beerwah Café and Bar (Beerwah Village shopping centre) on Sunday, April 30.
- Ride briefing is at 8.15am.
- Stands up at 8.30am.
- The 150-kilometre route will take in bitumen roads from Beerwah to Kenilworth via Peachester and Maleny (about an hour and 20 minutes).
- A 45 to 60-minute rest stop will be taken in Kenilworth, before returning via Obi Obi Road, Mapleton and Landsborough to Beerwah (about an hour and 10 minutes).
Supporters not wishing to take part in the ride can join the afterparty with a sausage sizzle from 11am.
Live music, raffle draws and face painting will be held after the bike riders return about 12.30pm.
To donate to the raffle and other inquiries, call Michael on 0422 010 000.
Life after the military
Young Veterans Sunshine Coast president Peter Kennedy says the organisation provides everything from links to employment, upskilling, resumes and courses, to medical, social and sporting groups, financial education, and physical and mental health support.
Although concentrating on younger ex-servicemen and women, Young Veterans also helps some older clients find their feet after “falling through the cracks” of other support organisations.
Current Sunshine Coast Chapter clients range from 19 to 88, living from Caboolture to Hervey Bay, Peter says.
“Leaving the ADF can be difficult as you are leaving your tribe, leaving behind an organisation that you have committed your life to and you leave behind the social and medical supports,” he says.
“You quite often move to a community where you don’t know anyone.
Your kids start new schools, with new friends.
“You are doing the same either with no job or a new job and often no friends, no support.
“Young Veterans attempts to fill that void by providing that link to social outreach and friendships with like-minded people.
We assist with linking the veterans to medical help that they may require as well as linkages into employment opportunities.”
Peter, himself, has 32 years’ military service in the Air Force where he was a C130 Loadmaster (aircrew) with 10 tours of Iraq and Afghanistan and vast amounts of deployments in support of humanitarian and disaster relief.
He became Young Veterans Sunshine Coast president in 2019.
“We currently have a veterans-owned cafe at Beerwah called The Local and next April we are opening a second venue called the Veterans’ Coffee Hub which will be in the new Beerwah Health Hub,” he says.
“It will be a coffee shop/cafe for the whole public but will be a business hub as well as a one-stop shop for veterans and their families who require any assistance.”
Visit youngveterans.com.au or join the Facebook group.
SUBSCRIBE here now for our FREE news feed, direct to your inbox daily.
