Latest news with #Oppy
West Australian
6 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
WA-developed Soluna apples debut in United States
Locally-grown Bravo apples have hit US grocery shelves for the first time, marking another milestone in the for the fruit branded as Soluna overseas. The apples will begin to be stocked on shelves in August by US-based importer Oppy, with distribution to grow throughout key metropolitan areas across the United States next year. The apples are WA-developed and grown in orchards across Australia, including in Donnybrook and Manjimup. Bravo apples are characterised by their burgundy skin, sweet flavour, crunch, and extended shelf life. WA Farm Direct commercialisation manager Sean Engelbrecht said the importation of Soluna apples to the US was a 'landmark opportunity' that also opens up avenues for other premium Australian apples. 'The US market has a sophisticated and competitive landscape, and we're confident Soluna will stand out with its unique taste profile, premium branding, and eating quality,' he said. 'Soluna is more than just an apple — it's the result of years of breeding, grower commitment, and a shared vision to deliver something special to the world.' Bravo apples hit local WA supermarkets in May in juice form under the brand name Soluna. In July, a biosecurity protocol, witnessed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, was signed to finalise a milestone trade market access deal to allow the export of Bravo apples to China. The first shipment of apples to China is expected to occur in May next year. Bravo apples have experienced export success in places like the Middle East, and exports to Singapore continuing to grow since the first shipment in 2017. 'We're proud to bring the best of Australian produce to the US market and look forward to building strong partnerships in this exciting new chapter.' Oppy executive director of apples, pears category development Piers Hanbury said the US-based importer was proud to partner with WA Farm Direct to provide a new variety of 'standout' apples to US customers.
The Advertiser
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
'The smell of death': police officer's shocking PTSD helped by a super dog
EXPOSURE to numerous road fatalities during 15 years in the police force left Adam Paterson with PTSD and depression. "I had bad flashbacks and I'd get panic attacks around people," said Adam, 49. Oppy, his dog, changed his life. He received the Labrador retriever through Assistance Dogs Australia, a national charity. The organisation trains dogs to support former police, firefighters and Australian Defence Force personnel diagnosed with PTSD. After leaving the police force in 2010, Adam spent eight years suffering from mental illness. "It just leaves you exhausted all the time," said Adam, of Maryland in Newcastle. "I very rarely left the house - almost never on my own. "I was very ill. I had a couple of stays in psychiatric hospitals." While out in public, Adam was "always hypervigilant of what was going on around me". "That's where Oppy has helped me the most. He notices if I'm becoming distressed a lot sooner than I do. "If he knows I'm starting to get worked up, he'll nudge me with his nose. If that's not enough, he'll woof at me. "Eventually he'll jump up on me. He's amazing." He said Oppy gives him "time to deploy other coping mechanisms, like being more mindful in the moment". As a police officer, Adam was at the scene of numerous fatal road accidents. "The first three dead people I saw were three kids that I knew through scouts or school," he said. That crash happened at Tea Gardens when he was a young police officer. He also worked during a spate of road fatalities in the Hunter Valley. "The papers were calling it Death Valley. There were a lot of truck fatalities at Muswellbrook and on the Putty Road," he said. The Newcastle crash investigation unit "worked out that if I worked a Sunday, someone would die on the road". "I tended to attract fatal crashes," he said. When he had his own children, witnessing youngsters dying or becoming seriously injured in crashes played on his mind more. "I was having nightmares," he said. Being around other people triggered his anxiety. "I'd walk past a crowd of people and get the smell of death. I still get that. "Even sometimes when I drive past places, I'll get the smell of blood or decay." He lost friends over his condition. "They think, 'why can't you just get over it, it's been 15 years'. "It's not that I'm holding onto these things, they're holding onto me." Adam now works as a driving instructor, with Oppy keeping watch from the backseat. "I help people be safe on the roads," he said. He helps people with mental and physical injuries to drive again. This includes people who have had a stroke, live with dementia or have injuries from things like serious car crashes. "They may have emotional obstacles deterring them from driving," Adam said. His new job helps his mind. "I feel like I'm still contributing to road safety, but from a different angle," he said. He said it was "not all sunshine with an assistance dog". "We get refused entry into restaurants sometimes. Security guards in Sydney won't let us into buildings. "Assistance Dogs Australia sorts that out, which is brilliant. That's all thanks to people donating." It takes $60,000 and two years to train each assistance dog. To donate, visit EXPOSURE to numerous road fatalities during 15 years in the police force left Adam Paterson with PTSD and depression. "I had bad flashbacks and I'd get panic attacks around people," said Adam, 49. Oppy, his dog, changed his life. He received the Labrador retriever through Assistance Dogs Australia, a national charity. The organisation trains dogs to support former police, firefighters and Australian Defence Force personnel diagnosed with PTSD. After leaving the police force in 2010, Adam spent eight years suffering from mental illness. "It just leaves you exhausted all the time," said Adam, of Maryland in Newcastle. "I very rarely left the house - almost never on my own. "I was very ill. I had a couple of stays in psychiatric hospitals." While out in public, Adam was "always hypervigilant of what was going on around me". "That's where Oppy has helped me the most. He notices if I'm becoming distressed a lot sooner than I do. "If he knows I'm starting to get worked up, he'll nudge me with his nose. If that's not enough, he'll woof at me. "Eventually he'll jump up on me. He's amazing." He said Oppy gives him "time to deploy other coping mechanisms, like being more mindful in the moment". As a police officer, Adam was at the scene of numerous fatal road accidents. "The first three dead people I saw were three kids that I knew through scouts or school," he said. That crash happened at Tea Gardens when he was a young police officer. He also worked during a spate of road fatalities in the Hunter Valley. "The papers were calling it Death Valley. There were a lot of truck fatalities at Muswellbrook and on the Putty Road," he said. The Newcastle crash investigation unit "worked out that if I worked a Sunday, someone would die on the road". "I tended to attract fatal crashes," he said. When he had his own children, witnessing youngsters dying or becoming seriously injured in crashes played on his mind more. "I was having nightmares," he said. Being around other people triggered his anxiety. "I'd walk past a crowd of people and get the smell of death. I still get that. "Even sometimes when I drive past places, I'll get the smell of blood or decay." He lost friends over his condition. "They think, 'why can't you just get over it, it's been 15 years'. "It's not that I'm holding onto these things, they're holding onto me." Adam now works as a driving instructor, with Oppy keeping watch from the backseat. "I help people be safe on the roads," he said. He helps people with mental and physical injuries to drive again. This includes people who have had a stroke, live with dementia or have injuries from things like serious car crashes. "They may have emotional obstacles deterring them from driving," Adam said. His new job helps his mind. "I feel like I'm still contributing to road safety, but from a different angle," he said. He said it was "not all sunshine with an assistance dog". "We get refused entry into restaurants sometimes. Security guards in Sydney won't let us into buildings. "Assistance Dogs Australia sorts that out, which is brilliant. That's all thanks to people donating." It takes $60,000 and two years to train each assistance dog. To donate, visit EXPOSURE to numerous road fatalities during 15 years in the police force left Adam Paterson with PTSD and depression. "I had bad flashbacks and I'd get panic attacks around people," said Adam, 49. Oppy, his dog, changed his life. He received the Labrador retriever through Assistance Dogs Australia, a national charity. The organisation trains dogs to support former police, firefighters and Australian Defence Force personnel diagnosed with PTSD. After leaving the police force in 2010, Adam spent eight years suffering from mental illness. "It just leaves you exhausted all the time," said Adam, of Maryland in Newcastle. "I very rarely left the house - almost never on my own. "I was very ill. I had a couple of stays in psychiatric hospitals." While out in public, Adam was "always hypervigilant of what was going on around me". "That's where Oppy has helped me the most. He notices if I'm becoming distressed a lot sooner than I do. "If he knows I'm starting to get worked up, he'll nudge me with his nose. If that's not enough, he'll woof at me. "Eventually he'll jump up on me. He's amazing." He said Oppy gives him "time to deploy other coping mechanisms, like being more mindful in the moment". As a police officer, Adam was at the scene of numerous fatal road accidents. "The first three dead people I saw were three kids that I knew through scouts or school," he said. That crash happened at Tea Gardens when he was a young police officer. He also worked during a spate of road fatalities in the Hunter Valley. "The papers were calling it Death Valley. There were a lot of truck fatalities at Muswellbrook and on the Putty Road," he said. The Newcastle crash investigation unit "worked out that if I worked a Sunday, someone would die on the road". "I tended to attract fatal crashes," he said. When he had his own children, witnessing youngsters dying or becoming seriously injured in crashes played on his mind more. "I was having nightmares," he said. Being around other people triggered his anxiety. "I'd walk past a crowd of people and get the smell of death. I still get that. "Even sometimes when I drive past places, I'll get the smell of blood or decay." He lost friends over his condition. "They think, 'why can't you just get over it, it's been 15 years'. "It's not that I'm holding onto these things, they're holding onto me." Adam now works as a driving instructor, with Oppy keeping watch from the backseat. "I help people be safe on the roads," he said. He helps people with mental and physical injuries to drive again. This includes people who have had a stroke, live with dementia or have injuries from things like serious car crashes. "They may have emotional obstacles deterring them from driving," Adam said. His new job helps his mind. "I feel like I'm still contributing to road safety, but from a different angle," he said. He said it was "not all sunshine with an assistance dog". "We get refused entry into restaurants sometimes. Security guards in Sydney won't let us into buildings. "Assistance Dogs Australia sorts that out, which is brilliant. That's all thanks to people donating." It takes $60,000 and two years to train each assistance dog. To donate, visit EXPOSURE to numerous road fatalities during 15 years in the police force left Adam Paterson with PTSD and depression. "I had bad flashbacks and I'd get panic attacks around people," said Adam, 49. Oppy, his dog, changed his life. He received the Labrador retriever through Assistance Dogs Australia, a national charity. The organisation trains dogs to support former police, firefighters and Australian Defence Force personnel diagnosed with PTSD. After leaving the police force in 2010, Adam spent eight years suffering from mental illness. "It just leaves you exhausted all the time," said Adam, of Maryland in Newcastle. "I very rarely left the house - almost never on my own. "I was very ill. I had a couple of stays in psychiatric hospitals." While out in public, Adam was "always hypervigilant of what was going on around me". "That's where Oppy has helped me the most. He notices if I'm becoming distressed a lot sooner than I do. "If he knows I'm starting to get worked up, he'll nudge me with his nose. If that's not enough, he'll woof at me. "Eventually he'll jump up on me. He's amazing." He said Oppy gives him "time to deploy other coping mechanisms, like being more mindful in the moment". As a police officer, Adam was at the scene of numerous fatal road accidents. "The first three dead people I saw were three kids that I knew through scouts or school," he said. That crash happened at Tea Gardens when he was a young police officer. He also worked during a spate of road fatalities in the Hunter Valley. "The papers were calling it Death Valley. There were a lot of truck fatalities at Muswellbrook and on the Putty Road," he said. The Newcastle crash investigation unit "worked out that if I worked a Sunday, someone would die on the road". "I tended to attract fatal crashes," he said. When he had his own children, witnessing youngsters dying or becoming seriously injured in crashes played on his mind more. "I was having nightmares," he said. Being around other people triggered his anxiety. "I'd walk past a crowd of people and get the smell of death. I still get that. "Even sometimes when I drive past places, I'll get the smell of blood or decay." He lost friends over his condition. "They think, 'why can't you just get over it, it's been 15 years'. "It's not that I'm holding onto these things, they're holding onto me." Adam now works as a driving instructor, with Oppy keeping watch from the backseat. "I help people be safe on the roads," he said. He helps people with mental and physical injuries to drive again. This includes people who have had a stroke, live with dementia or have injuries from things like serious car crashes. "They may have emotional obstacles deterring them from driving," Adam said. His new job helps his mind. "I feel like I'm still contributing to road safety, but from a different angle," he said. He said it was "not all sunshine with an assistance dog". "We get refused entry into restaurants sometimes. Security guards in Sydney won't let us into buildings. "Assistance Dogs Australia sorts that out, which is brilliant. That's all thanks to people donating." It takes $60,000 and two years to train each assistance dog. To donate, visit
