Mackay Army Cadets Step Up For Veteran Homelessness Awareness

Last Sunday, the Mackay Army Cadets once again laced up their boots and marched with purpose – this time around the Bluewater Trail – as part of a growing movement to raise awareness and support for veteran homelessness.

Twelve months on from the extraordinary 382km trek in 2024, the cadets returned to action, completing a symbolic circuit of Mackay’s scenic Bluewater Trail. The event served as both a show of continued solidarity and a powerful reminder that, for many veterans, the battle doesn’t end when they hang up the uniform.

Mackay Army Cadet and organiser of the Just Keep Marching movement, Murray Macgroarty said, “It was wholeheartedly the cadets who decided they were going to do this memorial lap around the Bluewater Trail to kick up more conversation around veteran homelessness.”

“We’ve raised awareness and we’ve done the fundraising – now we’re really looking for something to put that money towards.”

While the cadets' steps echoed with purpose, the underlying message is to keep the conversations going. Veteran homelessness remains a largely invisible crisis, with many former servicemen and women sleeping rough, couch-surfing with family, or sheltering in cars and bushland. The cadets’ march was a call to community in remembrance of those who once served.

“Something that really jumps out to me is working in collaboration with local or larger businesses.

“We’re aiming for temporary housing solutions – like setting up miners’ houses on a semi-temporary basis.”

“We’ve got about $27,000, which isn’t a small sum, but it also puts us in an in-between space when it comes to building infrastructure that homeless veterans could use long-term.”

“Overall, what we’re looking at now is collaboration, with businesses and organisations, so we can invest this money into something worthwhile that’ll hopefully make a difference in homelessness and veteran support.”

The Mackay RSL generously provided use of their Community Wellness Hub at Illawong Beach Drive as a base for the day’s activities. Their ongoing support for local veterans has proven invaluable, not just in advocacy but in tangible aid.

The event was not only a success in raising awareness but also served as a meaningful opportunity for younger generations to understand the ongoing struggles some veterans face after service. It also reaffirmed that Mackay remains a community willing to march together in support of its own.

“We’ve had some real progress since we started the Just Keep Marching movement. We had a few homeless veterans come to the RSL seeking help – some didn’t even know that kind of support was available before.”

“It shows that the awareness campaign has worked. Now we just need to translate that awareness into action.”

With boots on the ground, compassion in their hearts, and the message loud and clear, the Mackay Army Cadets proved once again that no one should be left behind — and that every step counts when it comes to honouring those who served.

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Last Sunday, the Mackay Army Cadets completed a symbolic march around the Bluewater Trail to raise awareness and funds for veteran homelessness, highlighting ongoing community support and the urgent need for collaborative solutions. Photo source: Just Keep Marching

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