Founded in 2010 by Vietnam Veteran and Old Boy Tony Dell (1963), Stand Tall for PTS is a totally volunteer not for profit organisation that is raising awareness and funds for the treatment and research of post-traumatic stress.

Tony spent 40 years of his life with PTS without being diagnosed. Having spent a year in Vietnam as a national serviceman, with 2RAR in 1967 /68, he unknowingly contracted PTS during his deployment and as a result he experienced a few amazing highs and many debilitating lows over the next 40 years. These included two cricket test matches for Australia, with Ian Chappell as his captain, in the 1970s and a number of years of incredible success in the advertising industry in the 1980s.

In 2019 Stand Tall for PTS connected with Give an Hour out of Washington and joined the campaign to Change Direction. They are now connected globally in their efforts to raise public awareness of PTS and Mental Trauma, champion collaboration and seek improvement of treatment. So, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month (observed in May in the United States since 1949), during the week of 18-24 May there is a unique

opportunity to help those suffering to get through the associated mental traumas, including isolation.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global lockdowns impacting lives across the world in ways many of us have never experienced before, Tony is personally inviting everyone to participate in the virtual and global event, A Week to Change Direction. To do so, please share what you/your organisation are currently doing or will be doing to protect and encourage everyone’s emotional wellness during this terrible worldwide pandemic.

As reported by our OBA President, Mr Simon Pattison (1984) in the latest edition of Eagles Wings (Summer 2019), mental health is an issue of growing concern to our community and one in which the OBA believe they can offer some support. The OBA has therefore established a forum of experts to provide guidance about the effective measures we can put in place to support members who are struggling with their mental health. We look forward to sharing more details about this initiative as it develops.