We heard from someone at Batchfire’s Callide Mine that Adam “Burlo” Burling is “pretty awesome”. Safe to say we agree after catching up with Burlo who recently walked 96-kilometres raising money for Wounded Heroes Australia and Walk ‘n’ Talk.
Burlo works on the community team at Batchfire’s Callide Mine where a veteran’s program through Workpac has seen more than 20 veterans join the crew and start a new career after returning from serving overseas.
That’s not all Burlo does, he’s a Councillor for the Banana Shire, the treasurer of the P&C at the high school and he’s a part of the Queensland Mines Rescue team at work.
Wounded Heroes Australia is an organisation Burlo has long been a supporter of. It provides support to veterans, current members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and their families addressing everything from financial, emotional and personal challenges.
Burlo said they are doing life-saving work with many veterans.
“They are doing a fantastic job helping stop our veterans from falling through the cracks, with homelessness and food and bills, that really everyday stuff they need help with.
“Wounded Heroes Australia is a real grassroots charity. I know a high percentage of the donations they receive go back to the veterans and supporting them.”
Two years ago, Burlo walked 96-kilometres solo out the back of the Banana Shire, raising money for ‘Soldier On’ and a local children’s cancer organisation. He raised just over $11,000 and since it was so successful he decided to walk again, this year raising just over $12,000 for Wounded Heroes Australia and Walk ‘n’ Talk; a not-for-profit charity raising awareness of mental health in regional Queensland.
Burlo said he always wanted to do the walk again and make it as challenging as they could.
“We walked 96 kilometres over four days from May 2nd to 5th. I have done some time with the Army Reserves, so I carry my old Army gear to simulate a pack march. The whole idea is that we challenge ourselves because we’re raising money to support people who have potentially been through much worse.
“We know some of our veterans are struggling, so we need to make it hard,” Burlo explained.
Burlo joined the Army Reserves late in life, making time to do that as well as his full-time job in the mines. The ADF and Australia’s war history is something he has a deep respect for.
“I always honour the Anzacs, I always made sure my dress uniform was spick and span when I wore it and whenever I was part of the Catafalque Party I always made sure my drill was spot on. It was my little part to honour what the guys did for us.
“Every Anzac Day and Remembrance Day I always head down and pay my respects.”
About a dozen people joined Burlo on the walk this year at different times across the four days. Burlo started from work at the Callide mine and then the rest of the walkers joined in at the Biloela Hotel, then Hotel Thangool, the following day back to Biloela Hotel and then from the bowls club to Jambin Hotel before heading back into town.
“It was tough, there’s no two ways about it.
“On the last day when we had about 30 kilometres to go, one of our veterans at about the 20 kilometre mark for that day hit a wall. But he pushed himself through and he was very courageous, which is just typical of the guys in the ADF.
“That particular veteran got through it and when we got to the pub later to have a beer all he could talk about was what we were going to do next year!
“Another veteran who walked with us can’t go to Anzac Day services, he just can’t emotionally do it because it reminds him of the people he has lost both overseas and since coming home. One of the wonderful parts about the walk is that people talk to each other about the hard stuff but also about the everyday things that they’re going through.
“There was another veteran who couldn’t join us on the walk due to his work roster, but he has an old army truck so he parked it along the way for us so we could see it.
“All of the places we stayed along the way were owned by the same team as well and they were great support. The Biloela Hotel, Hotel Thangool and the Jambin Hotel who even raffled off meat raffles for our cause.
“The support was fantastic. In the end we raised about $4,000 for Walk ‘n’ Talk and over $8,000 for Wounded Heroes Australia.”
While this walk is done for the year, there’s no doubt Burlo is already planning another.
