Latest news with #CommandoWelfareTrust
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Aussie comedian to take on challenging Kokoda Track hike
Australian comedian Merrick Watts is just days away from embarking on a hike along the gruelling Kokoda Track — a 96-kilometre journey through Papua New Guinea's mountainous jungle — to raise funds for special forces veterans and their families. The SAS star will be joined by a team of Australians who will retrace the footsteps of WWII Diggers who fought against Japanese forces in one of the most pivotal campaigns in the nation's military history. For the group, it's more than a physical challenge — it's a mission to shine a light on the ongoing hardships many veterans and their families face long after their service ends. Every year, around 5,000 veterans leave the Australian Defence Force, and many struggle with the transition to civilian life. Mental health issues, financial hardship, and limited access to urgent support remain critical issues. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. According to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, more than 30% of contemporary veterans report high levels of psychological distress, and suicide rates among ex-serving personnel remain significantly higher than the national average. The funds raised from the trek will support the Commando Welfare Trust, a charity established in 2010 to provide a perpetual safety net for Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) soldiers, veterans, and their families. The Trust offers emergency relief and long-term financial assistance where government systems fall short. In the past 12 months alone, the Commando Welfare Trust has delivered more than $1 million in direct aid, covering essentials like school fees, urgent medical treatments, emergency accommodation, and mortgage payments — including support for a veteran who was left paralysed after service. Donate to Merrick's fundraiser here.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Comedian Merrick Watts reveals he will walk the Kokoda Track to raise money for Aussie commandos
Funnyman Merrick Watts has revealed he is about to take on one of the toughest challenges of his life. The SAS Australia star, 51, will tackle the arduous 96-kilometre Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea next month, all in the name of raising money for Aussie soldiers. Running through the Owen Stanley Range, the Kokoda Track is renowned for its difficult terrain and the sight of a series of fierce battles between Australian and Japanese forces in World War II. Merrick will be joining a group of former Australian commandos to tackle the Track, in an effort to raise money for the Commando Welfare Trust. The trust, established 15 years ago, aims to look after Special operations Command soldiers, veterans and their families, and Merrick told the Daily Telegraph he had been a long-time supporter. 'I've got lots of mates who are ex-commandos, and I know lots of people in Special Forces in general,' he said. 'I've seen first-hand how these funds are distributed to their families and how important they are.' Merrick added that when the opportunity arose to tackle Kokoda, it was one he just 'couldn't pass up.' 'It will be great to be on the track with people who have literally put their lives at risk in the name of defending our nation. 'It is going to be an incredible experience, and one I just couldn't pass up.' Merrick also took to Instagram, on ANZAC Day, to announce his intention to tackle Kokoda. Sharing a video that showed him carrying a backpack as he walked, Merrick was calling for donations to bolster his efforts. He also made the generous offer to do an 'ad read' for any small business that donated $500 or more to Commando Welfare Trust. Merrick should be up to the task, having passed selection in the 2020 series of SAS Australia alongside Sabrina Frederick and Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins. Running through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea, the Kokoda Track is renowned for its difficult terrain and the sight of a series of fierce battles between Australian and Japanese forces in World War II It comes after Merrick announced his mother Alison had died in an emotional Instagram post last month. He shared a photo alongside his mum and revealed she had passed away after a short illness. Merrick also posted a sweet photo of his two young children embracing their grandmother. 'It's with immense sadness that I say goodbye to my mother Alison. She was a weapon. Strong, brave, stoic but full of love and compassion,' he wrote. 'Mum passed away after a short illness with her boys proudly by her side every minute to the end. 'If you met her, you'd probably remember her. She left an impression,' he continued. 'She was a teacher who taught me invaluable life lessons that don't exist in text books. She backed my brother and I in our every dream allowing us to follow our paths as we chose. 'A fierce friend, a deadly foe. A wonderful mother, an exceptional grandmother. You'll be missed mum but you will never truly leave us. Thank you. I love you.' 'I've got lots of mates who are ex-commandos, and I know lots of people in Special Forces in general,' he told the Daily Telegraph Merrick also took to Instagram, on ANZAC Day, to announce his intention to tackle Kokoda. Sharing a video that showed him carrying a backpack as he walked, Merrick was calling for donations to bolster his efforts Merrick's post was flooded with support from his friends who sent their condolences in the comments. 'Oh mate, I'm so sorry to hear!! Sending you and the family so much love!' one person wrote. 'What a beautiful kind human she was Mez. Sorry for your loss mate. A blessing to have known her,' another said. 'Condolences to you and your family Mez on the loss of your beautiful Mum. It's a loss like no other,' a third said. 'May she rest in eternal peace. And may you and your family continue to feel the love and strength she filled you with from the beginning,' another added.
