Empowering success: Mackay RSL Sub Branch champions local Cadet helping veterans

Ken Higgins OAM President of Mackay RSL Sub Branch says the group is very passionate about honouring the past, present and future when it comes to how they support veterans.  

With that mission as their guiding principle for their activities, Ken says he didn’t hesitate to help local 16-year-old Cadet Sergeant Murray Macgroarty when he approached him with the goal of walking 382 kilometres, the equivalent distance of Mackay to Townsville, to raise funds and awareness for veteran homelessness.  

“We had our first meeting with Murray a few years ago at his Cadet Unit and I was so proud to talk to him about what he wanted to accomplish alongside his dad Scott and Army Cadet Staff Major John Zimmerman,” Ken says.

Ken was excited to support Murray’s idea, especially since the Vietnam veteran undertook a similar challenge 26 years ago to support veteran welfare. Ken walked just under 400 kilometres from Kitchen Dam to the City Square in Townsville ahead of the 25th anniversary of Vietnam Veterans’ Day in 1998. 

“It’s one of those achievements that definitely isn’t easy, but gets the word out there,” Ken says. 

“I think Murray has become a catalyst for the next generation in being aware that some veterans may be floundering. He’s also a link between the old and the young because we’ve got to remember that our veteran community is a big demographic.” 

Murray Macgroarty with his mum Cynthy

Murray originally thought of doing such a walk just for fun, but after learning about a line of inquiry on Defence and veterans’ homelessness through the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, he had a specific purpose and motivator to pursue it.  

“I wanted to spike awareness for problems that aren't always talked about or aren't dealt with a lot, even though they're discussed within the veteran community,” Murray says. 

Over the course of just nine days during the June-July school holidays this year, Murray achieved his goal in an event he named Just Keep Marching. Walking 22 laps around Mackay’s Blue Water Trail, he connected with homeless veterans along the way and has raised $21,000 to date. 

“Some days it felt like I couldn't really stand at all, but I knew that for every step, for every ache, every pain that I had, it would hopefully someday, somehow take away a little bit of pain, a little bit of ache, or a little bit of a problem from a veteran in need,” Murray says.

Murray’s mother Cynthy Macgroarty says she admires how Mackay RSL Sub Branch, particularly Ken, had a can-do attitude from the start in relation to her son's ambitions. 

“They echo the same drive that Murray has, and I couldn't ask for a better role model in the RSL as a service,” Cynthy says.  

“The RSL just said ‘Yes we will do this’, and that’s such a lovely permission for a young man who really believes he can change the world.” 

Cadet Sergeant Murray Macgroarty

Along with helping Murray and his parents plan the event, during the nine-day walk Mackay RSL Sub Branch set up a meeting spot at the end of the trail so people could stop by, have a chat or donate to the cause.  And after the event finished, the Sub Branch raised an additional $5,000 by selling raffle tickets at their local shopping centre.  

“Since the walk has finished, we've had people come back saying they want to be involved in the RSL as a non-League member which has been great and we have encouraged them to become social members,” Ken says. 

Ken says it was also special to organise all three cadet units and local veterans to come on the second last day to walk alongside Murray. Among the local veterans, Ken was thrilled to have Victorian Cross recipient Keith Payne VC AM in attendance too. 

“There was a lot of people that joined Murray on portions of his walk including his mates from school, his family and the community, but we wanted to give him some additional motivation on those final days,” Ken says. 

“He has been massively supported and I think we, as an RSL Sub Branch, were so proud to be part of that journey and the conversations its sparked among the community and beyond.” 

Keith Payne VC AM speaks with the gathered crowds.

The funds raised by Just Keep Marching will be thoughtfully distributed by Murray and Mackay RSL Sub Branch to local veterans in need of housing support 

“You don't have to be in the city to do these things. You can be in the regional areas, people will stop and take notice if they can see you’re doing something positive,” Ken says. 

“The more that we connect with our mates, our comrades that served as well as their families, the better the RSL will be for years to come.”