Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips has wished three Shoalhaven-based competitors well as they prepare to take part in the Invictus Games to be held in Vancouver, Canada, in February.
Doug Griffiths, Colin McCallum and Justin Brown are among 33 former and current serving Defence Force members that will make up Team Australia.
Invictus Australia and The Australian Defence Force have partnered to support the team members as they compete in Canada from February 8-16 at the seventh Invictus Games.
Mrs Phillips said she was thrilled the local trio was representing their nation in such an important event.
“I wish them well and know they will make themselves, their families and our country proud,” she said.
“This will be a life-changing event for people that have sacrificed for their country.
“The Invictus Games are a testament to the strength and spirit of participants and an amazing opportunity for them to harness the power of sport in their recovery journey.”
For the first time, the games will feature both summer and winter adaptive sports including alpine skiing, snowboarding, indoor rowing, biathlon, Nordic skiing, sitting volleyball, skeleton, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair curling and wheelchair rugby.
The Invictus Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for wounded, injured and ill Servicemen and women.
Meet the team:
COLIN MCCALLUM
(former serving)
ADF service: I joined the Royal Australian Navy in May 1995 as a Boatswain’s Mate. As a Patrol Boat Sailor, I spent much of my time being deployed on Operation Cranberry (border protection operations in the country's northern approaches to prevent illegal fishing operations). In August 2002, I transferred to Aircrewman. As an Aircrewman, I was deployed to the Middle East, Timor-Leste and the South Pacific. A highlight of my career was being part of the crew that conducted a long-range search and rescue of 2 French sailors, 485 nautical miles off the NSW coast in October 2013.
Other information: Retired. Stay at home dad to my 2 children, Stephanie (13) and Josh (11).
Age: 47
Hometown: My father was in the Navy, so I lived in many places including Frankston, Punchbowl, Greystanes, East Fremantle and Nowra, before finally ending up in Burpengary East, QLD
Current town: Nowra, NSW
Competing in: Indoor rowing, skeleton, snowboarding, and wheelchair rugby.
What is the nature of your injury or illness? I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression and multiple musculoskeletal injuries, including cervical and lumbar spondylosis, all as a result of my service.
Sport background: I played rugby union from the age of 8 until I joined the Navy at 18. During the summer I competitively sailed in many classes up to and including state level. I have played many sports during my service including rugby union, Aussie rules, water skiing, sailing and snowboarding. I have always enjoyed being part of a team.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? I have always relied on physical activity to manage my mental health. Being an aircrewman required you to have a higher-than-normal level of fitness. With my current physical injuries, I was unsure what I was able to do. I began training with an exercise physiologist who pushed me to go back to training with heavy weights and I have not looked back. I also participated in a program called the Veteran Surf Project where I learnt to surf and find the wonderful benefits of saltwater therapy. If it wasn’t for the coaches and the crew at the Veteran Surf Project, I am not sure I would be still here.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? I was over the moon; it reignited a spark inside me that I hadn’t felt for many years. When I read the email notifying me that I had been selected, it brought a tear to my eye - not in a bad way, but a good way.
What is your greatest achievement to date? Marrying my wife, Kerryn, and having my 2 kids, Stephanie and Joshua.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? I had participated in a few of the ‘come and try’ days that Invictus Australia holds around NSW and the ACT, and I regularly participated in a weekly Invictus indoor rowing group in Nowra. The support and inclusion shown by these groups was infectious and I wanted more. I had a helping push from an old friend who thought it would be a great challenge that I would like to tackle. I learned that the Invictus Games offered an opportunity to form new social connections, learn new skills and have fun while competing on the international stage.
What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? I have already won. Just being selected to attend the Games is a win and an absolute honour for me. The example I am setting for my children means a lot to me after struggling with my mental health and being medically separated from the Navy.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My family – my wife, Kerryn, and my kids, Stephanie and Joshua – will be there at the Games to support me. I will have my parents and my sister, Angela, and her 2 boys, Locky and Brodie, supporting me from back in Australia.
DOUG GRIFFITHS
(former serving)
ADF service: I joined in 1988 as a Sailor in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve before joining the regular Navy as a Seaman Officer in 1989 and graduating from ADFA in 1991. My early career was spent at sea as an Officer of the Watch on a variety of ships. I qualified as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer in 1995 and served in clearance diving roles, including Australian Clearance Diving Team One, Australian and UK Mine Hunters, and staff positions (including Sea Command, Task Group and Task Force Command postings). Other postings include Executive Officer Australian Defence Force Academy, Assistant Defence Advisor Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Defence Attaché Amman, Jordan with accreditations to Beirut, Cairo and Doha. Operational deployments include Operation Dirk (Southern Ocean 1997), Operation Slipper (Northern Arabian Gulf 2001/2 and Afghanistan 2009), Operation Catalyst (Iraq 2006), Operation Render Safe (Solomon Islands 2013) and Operation Highroad (Afghanistan 2016).
Other information: I just finished up as a Naval Officer - Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer. My nickname is Dougie and I have been married to my wife, Emma, who is also a serving Naval Officer, for 32 years. Our son, Josh, is also a serving Naval Officer.
Age: 54
Hometown: I can’t lay claim to having a hometown as I was a RAAF brat and moved constantly as a child and continued that when I joined the Australian Defence Force.
Current town: Canberra, ACT
Competing in: Indoor rowing, Nordic skiing, sitting volleyball, and swimming.
What is the nature of your injury or illness? In February 2023, I was diagnosed with Stage IV lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, a very rare non-hodgkin lymphoma variant. Complicating my cancer, I have AL amyloidosis which has been generated by the lymphoma. Neither condition is curable. I have gone through 8 months of chemo, 6 weeks in hospital, 8 blood transfusions and 2 surgeries. I am not in remission, and I know I will get sick again and require further treatment.
Sport background: I have been actively involved in triathlon since 1986. I have completed 14 ironman distance races and been privileged to represent Australia at the World Age Group Long Course Triathlon World Championships in Sweden (2004) and Denmark (2005). I was fortunate to compete at the Department of Defence (DOD) Warrior Games with the ADF Adaptive Sports team in Orlando in 2024.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Sport offers me the opportunity to regain some normality in my life. Cancer has turned my life upside down. My cancer journey is far from over - it is not going away - but being able to use sport to build up my confidence, build my fitness to combat the cancer and help my mental health has been transformational. I will never again be as fast or as fit as I once was, and that’s OK. Everything I achieve now will be a post-cancer personal best and sport gives me the motivation to get up and keep going when life seems to be at its lowest and darkest.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? It was emotional. I thought my illness would never allow me to participate as part of a team such as this again. It is very humbling to even be considered. I am full of pride at the honour and I do not underestimate the enormity of this privilege.
What is your greatest achievement to date? Being a dad and contributing to raising such an amazing son.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? Although I have an incurable, terminal cancer, I am not ready to give up. I am not ready to let cancer define who I am and I am not going to let cancer win. I am a fighter and I intend to fight to the end. I might be broken, but I am not beaten. Being part of the Invictus Games team also gives me the opportunity to be part of an amazing team of service personnel, both ADF and veterans. The power of the team for me is so important. Since being diagnosed I have missed the camaraderie, mateship and support that being part of the ADF has always offered me during my 35-year career. This team offers the opportunity to remain part of the team and support and celebrate my teammates and their journeys.
What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? I have already won. Team selection was a win. If I remain healthy enough to get to Vancouver that will be a second win. Every day I have extra is a win and I no longer take any moment or opportunity for granted.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My amazing wife, Emma, and my son, Josh, will be travelling to Canada to support me and I know I will have many people following from afar. Importantly, I know I will have the support of my teammates as we take on this challenge together.
PETTY OFFICER JUSTIN BROWN
(Current serving)
ADF service: I joined the Royal Australian Navy in August 1995 as a Boatswain’s Mate. In June 2004 I transferred to become an Imagery Specialist (photographer). In January 2013 I deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. The highlight of my career has been attending Anzac Day in France as a photographer and working on the search for Malaysian Airlines MH370. I am currently posted to Navy Imagery Unit East as the Imagery Operations Manager.
Other information: I have a wife, Gail, and together we have 2 sons, Samuel (17) and Bennet (14).
Age: 50
Hometown: Sanctuary Point, NSW
Current town: Sanctuary Point, NSW
Competing in: Alpine skiing, indoor rowing, skeleton, and sitting volleyball.
What is the nature of your injury or illness? Major depression and anxiety.
Sport background: Growing up I played a few team sports but never really succeeded. I concentrated on outdoor activities including surfing and other water sports. As an adult I have been doing more individual activities, including kiteboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, snow skiing and archery.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Sport has provided a relief mechanism to allow me to forget about all the problems I am having. It also allows me to reset.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? I was excited but also nervous.
What is your greatest achievement to date? My family.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? It was a spur of the moment decision. I wanted to meet more serving and ex-serving personnel who were undergoing their own challenges.
What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? By going to the Games and making new friends I have already won. It’s not about putting a medal around your neck, it’s about the effort applied and the new friendships made.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My family will be cheering me on from home.
Photo: The three Gilmore competitors. Photos supplied.
Media contact: Katrina Condie 0437 662 967
