Yvette is the first ‘K9’ member of Seven Hills RSL. And she’s already changing lives.
When veteran Ron wakes up most mornings around six or seven, Yvette is already alert and ready. The Labrador Retriever has learned his rhythms better than he’s learnt them himself. They eat breakfast, train indoors, then head out for a walk. By afternoon, they’re catching up with friends at a café or grabbing groceries. Dinner’s at five; Yvette makes sure he knows it’s time.
It sounds like an ordinary day. For Ron, it’s a miracle.
“I got to the point where I couldn’t go out of the house,” the former Navy submariner says. “If I did, it would only be for essential appointments. I couldn’t sleep. I became someone even I didn’t recognise.”
That was before Defence Community Dogs (DCD) matched him with Yvette, a dog sponsored by Seven Hills RSL. Today, the changes are profound. Real. Measurable: attending a concert for the first time in 25 years. Participating in RAAF Richmond’s centenary. Working towards attending an Anzac Day service for the first time in nearly a decade.
“Yvette and I are a team,” he says. “She gives me the courage to be the best husband, father, brother, friend and person I can be.”
Defence Community Dogs is a small independent charity that’s been operating since 2014. The organisation provides highly-trained assistance dogs at no cost to serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members dealing with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Yvette is one of about 114 dogs the program has successfully placed with veterans since it began.
Right now, another 20 ADF veterans are waiting for dogs.
The numbers behind each placement are significant. Each dog requires over 250 hours of professional training at a cost of $30,000 over the dog’s lifetime. The program relies entirely on sponsorships and donations through the Defence Bank Foundation.
“Being a small charity raising funds is always part of the challenge,” says Leanne Kyle, CEO of Defence Community Dogs. “We want more veterans to hear about our service, and we want to help more people on that waiting list.”
The program operates as a remarkable win-win-win: rescued dogs get a second chance, inmates at Bathurst Correctional Centre rehabilitate while training the dogs under world-renowned trainer Steve Austin, and veterans get the support they need. Each dog is trained for specific tasks based on the veteran’s needs. For Ron, Yvette was trained to recognise when he’s stressed and to interrupt that stress response. She positions herself as a physical buffer when crowds overwhelm him. And crucially, she wakes him when he’s having a night terror or nightmare, breaking the exhausting cycle of sleep deprivation that plagued him for years.
“When I have a nightmare now, Yvette lies with me,” Ron explains. “Before, I couldn’t get back to sleep. Now I have a more stable sleep pattern, which helps my day-to-day wellbeing.”
When Joseph (Joe) Bayssari, General Manager of Seven Hills RSL, first heard about Defence Community Dogs at an RSL conference, he knew the club had to get involved. Seven Hills RSL has now committed to multi-year sponsorships using ClubGRANT funding and additional resources.
“The program is important to us,” Joe says. “We have veterans in our community who experience mental health issues, and we knew we could make a real difference here.”
Yvette is now the club’s first K9 member, with her own membership card. And watching the impact on Ron and his family has been profound.
“We’ve experienced firsthand what Yvette means to Ron and his family,” Joe reflects. “What they’ve brought to the club is not something you can put into words. Our members are extremely proud and honoured to have them as part of our Seven Hills RSL family.”
Ron agrees about the relationship. “I met and had lunch with Yvette’s sponsors at Seven Hills RSL, something I could never have done before having Yvette by my side.”
Veteran Ron and Yvette with the Seven Hills RSL board of directors
“Yvette has done what no other medical help could do for my conditions,” Ron says. “I’m no longer the washed-up veteran I was. She grounds me. When I get stressed or anxious, she brings me back to the here and now.”
For Ron, the impact is personal and profound.
“Yvette means everything to me,” he says. “She’s given me my life, purpose, and independence. I’m humbled and eternally grateful. This program is unique. I’ve been given the gift of Yvette and the responsibility. This last year has been amazing, and I can’t wait to see where the years ahead will take us.”
HOW TO HELP
If you know a veteran who might benefit from an assistance dog, go to dcdogs.com.au/apply
DCD is also seeking sponsors for dogs. Email CEO Leanne Kyle: leanne@dcdogs.com.au