Living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Dave Sturmer is a local man who just stood out to me as someone we should all know. He went to Vietnam at the tender age of 20 and experienced horrors, lost friends and came back to Australia a changed man. Slowly but surely he has chosen to look at what happened and do something about how he was feeling and the way he was expressing that, he didn't want to hide in the 'grog' and behave the way he was.

This is an interview that I hope will inspire but be prepared, there are some experience he talks about that may be hard to hear.

To see Dave Sturmers work check out his website here.

To get support or learn more about PTSD see Beyond Blues website. They support number is 1300 22 46 36
For information about Lifelines Anger Management Program see their website
For support Lifelines number is 13 11 14

Sam, Dave, Lana and Amanda on Anzac Day 2015 "A very special day for us" Lana

Dad and his fellow veterans, (left to right) Max Goddard, Paul Ryan, Dave Wright and Dave Sturmer when we all visited the battle of Long Tan memorial in 2009.

Dad and I in Vietnam when we visited Cu Chi Tunnels in Ho Chi Minh 2009.

He painted this picture and promoted the War Dogs with Mark Donaldson VC in 2015, where Dad sold copies of the artwork and raised money for the dogs.

Entry to the 2015 Archibald Prize