Diggers Rest - 'A Soldiers Retreat' 3.48

A Non-Profit Organization Opening Statement:-

Due to Australia’s involvement in overseas military operations over the last 15 years, our country is witnessing more and more soldiers struggling to cope with the return to normal roles in civilian life.

Many of our troops are aware that they are in need of help at some level, but continue the mental struggle in private. We are seeing more and more of these scenarios as time passes, as this is taking its toll on our soldiers and their families.

Diggers Rest – ‘A Soldiers Retreat’ has been born by the desperate need to reconnect with our soldiers past and present. No soldier needs to struggle alone.

The sad truth is that we are losing roughly one Digger a week to suicide.

Our Mission:-
To create a friendly, relaxed environment on 22 acres with activities for any soldier, past and present, and his/her family who feels the need to reset their minds.
Self-catering accommodation for these soldiers and their families will be free for periods of two to three days at a time. However, any soldiers in need of additional help will be encouraged to return on a regular basis.

In addition Diggers Rest will provide supplementary support to the QLD RSL Emergency Short Term Accommodation Policy

To provide adventure and programs designed to give the soldier a mission or task to work towards.

Our Objectives:-
To bring any serving, or ex member of the Army to a friendly bush setting environment to recoup and reinvigorate which will help them to be reintroduced back into society .

To give soldiers good old fashioned ‘bush time’ around an open fire with their families in an eco-friendly lodge environment.

To organize adventure trips into Southern Africa on a yearly basis.

To incorporate a Diggers Rest unofficial dive club where soldiers and their families can become dive certified (PADI) allowing them the option to join a social dive club with their families. Alternatively, they will have the opportunity to give back to their community by participating in the Great Barrier Reef Sea Urchin Project, currently under discussion, on a yearly basis.

Activities to be offered at Diggers Rest:-

Bush walking, swimming, fishing, horse riding, quad bike riding, mountain bike riding, gym work outs

Family day passes into Australia Zoo and Aussie World (on request)

Scuba diving and deep sea fishing and leisure boat trips will also be arranged.

These leisure activities will add to the therapeutic rehabilitation of our soldiers and help strengthen family bonds.


Accommodation and activities provided by Diggers Rest – ‘A Soldiers Retreat’ will be free of charge but any donations from participating families will be accepted.

To date, all current funding has been through my (Nick Forster-Jones) private company.

"Come on out, sit around a fire in the bush under the stars and detox your head"

Healing does not mean that the damage never existed – it means it no longer controls our lives!

Diggers Rest is registered as an NPO. (Non-Profit Organization)