Three veteran servicemen are paddling the length of the Murray River in their sea kayaks to raise awareness about the high rates of homeless veterans in Australia.
Vietnam Veteran Robert Kilsby along with friends, ex-infantry military police veteran Brad Grant and former Navy clearance diver Matt Hanrahan will spend two months tackling the 2,400km stretch.
"Originally it was just something that I wanted to do and to challenge myself to kayak down the Murray River a couple of years ago when I was sitting at Albury where my son lives," Mr Kilsby said.
The trio will take on the third-longest navigable river in the world without a support crew — while carrying all their gear with them.
But they said it was nothing compared to the hardship and uncertainty that so many of their fellow former serving veterans and their families face today.
"It is very topical of course now because of the Royal Commission – but this has been a problem for a long time," Mr Kilsby said.
"But I was quite shocked myself because I didn't realise the extent of the issue, I thought maybe 800 or 900 or something like that."
After starting at Biggara in Victoria's High Country, the group has been paddling in week-long stretches. This week they passed through the Yarrawonga region.
Mr Kilsby said he hoped their journey will help to continue to highlight the issue across Australia.
"It needs to be sorted because it can be part of the downward spiral to suicide for some," he said.
"It is not only about the homelessness, but also about the difficulties that military people have transitioning through, especially with all these [defence force] operations we've been going through over the past 20 years."
