Overcoming trauma: Andrew Atkinson’s journey to purpose, community, and a new lease on life
Photography: Miranda Mayle
The RSL in Victoria is known for many things, but aside from the well-known and well-loved ‘pots and parmas’, the core work of providing a support network and community for veterans and their families is the most important.
The RSL delivers a range of programs, services and initiatives to help improve the lives of veterans, ranging from financial support to advocacy work and facilitating social connection.
But for some, like former police officer Andrew Atkinson, being involved in his local Sub-Branch provides the solace he craves.
Andrew grew up in Warrnambool, along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.
“I worked as a lifeguard down there and I just really enjoyed helping and contributing, and that drew me into law enforcement. It sounds a bit naïve I suppose, but I wanted to make a difference.”
Andrew joined Victoria Police in 1991 and spent the first nine years of his career in general duties.
“Typical things: car accidents, domestics and all the ‘fun stuff’.”
An unexpected opportunity
Andrew progressed to the Technical Support Unit, where he was primarily involved in covert technical surveillance. It was through that work that an unexpected opportunity presented in 2001, when he was seconded to the Australian Federal Police and then seconded again to the
United Nations to work as a peacekeeper in East Timor for six months.
For someone who had never heard of East Timor before, Andrew did his research and was, as he said, “Quite excited about going there and helping out”.
He never realised it or wanted to recognise it at the time, but his deployment – combined with other prior tragic policing incidents – was the slow start to his significant physical and mental health battles to come.
Arriving in East Timor, Andrew was not only confronted with poverty, violence and high infant mortality rates, but his initial role was adrenalin-fuelled and highly reactive.
“We would deploy quickly to any civil unrest or any violent situations. We’d have three or four cars and about 12 or 14 of us would respond to those events.”
Just three weeks in while off-duty, Andrew was stabbed in his abdomen by a local during an attempted robbery. He required surgery, but also unfortunately contracted septicaemia.
Despite this, Andrew was adamant to complete his deployment following his recovery. He transferred from the capital Dili to Gleno, southwest of the capital, where he assisted with the repatriation of displaced people who had lost their homes during the main conflict in 1999.
“It was really rewarding. It was far better than being in Dili and responding to violent outbreaks. It was so much more rewarding seeing people welcomed back into their village, so it was a lot more beneficial from my perspective.”
ANDREW ATKINSON
Mental trauma
It wasn’t until Andrew was home and settled that he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“But like a true policeman, I was in denial; did nothing about it. I threw away the script the doctor gave me and just forged ahead.”
When 2004 came around, Andrew was deployed to Iraq in what he described as a challenging but rewarding secondment as a peacekeeper.
He worked as a bodyguard for United Nations personnel for most of his time there.
Upon returning home four months later, he resumed his normal work duties, but his PTSD remained and Andrew continued to suffer in silence.
“I had a lot of trouble sleeping; I had a lot of anxiety. I was in denial about my own mental health and like any true policeman of the day, you sort of had to hide it.”
ANDREW ATKINSON
He pushed through it all and in 2006 returned to East Timor for what was initially a couple of weeks but ended up being six months.
Andrew said it was different the second time around, with heightened tension in the country between the east and west, and deployed troops being met with hostility.
“There was more risk and this time around the locals were more against us. Not a lot had changed for them since our first deployment – they still faced high unemployment, infant mortality and a lot of poverty. You know, they probably felt that we were just a hindrance to their lifestyle and their ability to move on.”
By the end of his six months, Andrew was tired and ready to come home. Just like previous times, he picked up from where he left off prior to his deployment and returned to work for several years.
Further health challenges
In 2012, Andrew was diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma, a type of cancer he was told originated from the stabbing, septicaemia and resulting stress.
His prognosis at the time was not good.
Chemotherapy and radiation wreaked havoc on Andrew’s body and resulted in both of his knees and hips being replaced.
Such was his headspace at the time that, in what now appears to be a bit of twisted humour, Andrew said his cancer diagnosis and treatment were almost fortunate.
“It gave me somewhere to hide my PTSD. When I couldn’t go to work and whatever else, people would think it was because of the cancer, but it was actually because of my anxiety and PTSD.”
ANDREW ATKINSON
After finally acknowledging his mental health difficulties in 2018, Andrew called it quits and retired from Victoria Police.
As a way of channelling his strengths and dealing with what he described as his demons, Andrew completed multiple bachelor degrees in counterterrorism, public safety and research.
A special lady
During the peak of his battle, Andrew struggled with his outlook on life, until a special lady joined him.
“I can honestly say I had an uncertain future. I had issues with my cancer, and I had mental health issues around my life in general. I was worried about that, but Sophie has been a real reality check and has brought me back down to earth.”
Assistance dog Sophie, funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, joined Andrew full-time when she was two years old.
“I’ve been in shopping centres and stuff before where I’ve had anxiety, and Sophie has been aware of it, and she’s literally dragged me out. She’s aware when I have nightmares, and she comes in and wakes me.”
The RSL connection
Much like Sophie has breathed new life into Andrew, so too has the RSL.
He said it’s given him a sense of belonging, identity and purpose.
“You become institutionalised when you’re in organisations like the military or policing and you develop a very specific and unique way of dealing with things. A lot of people, even family, don’t understand that, but the RSL gives you that and that’s the main thing I’ve benefitted from, and it’s really helped me.”
As a member of the Seaford RSL Sub-Branch and a long-term fan of the RSL and its work, Andrew’s passion and involvement have continued to grow.
The 55-year-old is now on the Committee, working to attract a younger demographic and more first responders to the RSL.
One of Andrew’s biggest supporters is Brent Clyne JP, Secretary at the Sub-Branch.
Brent has seen the change in Andrew since his involvement with the Sub-Branch began.
“He was a little bit reserved to start off with, but he’s opened up and become easy to talk to. Nothing is too much trouble; he advocates for the RSL, for mental health, and was even a guest speaker for ANZAC Day this year – something he wouldn’t have previously done!”
In what may be a first for any RSL Sub-Branch, Sophie was presented with an honorary Affiliate Member bandana.
“It’s just great that she’s accepted along with me and that she’s acknowledged as more than just a dog because she’s very much more than a dog to me.”
Brent agrees.
“She’s a family member, and we wanted to acknowledge her as a member of our RSL family, too. She’s so supportive and non-judgemental.”
With Andrew’s renewed perspective on life and with the ongoing support of the Seaford RSL Sub-Branch community, Andrew now once again lives with purpose and meaning.
