Steve Ross returns for Part Two of his conversation with 5 With A Digger.

We pick up Steve’s story as he prepares for his second overseas deployment, this time serving in Sierra Leone as a United Nations military observer.

Steve shares what that role involved, the challenges of operating in a multinational environment and how Sierra Leone differed from everything he had previously experienced.

We then explore his decision to leave the New Zealand Army after almost 17 years of service, his move to Australia in 2013 and the challenge of building a new life beyond the uniform.

But Steve’s commitment to service didn’t end when his military career did.

Today, he is a member of Queensland Remote Area Tracking (QRAT) a predominantly veteran group providing advanced remote-area tracking and search-and-rescue capabilities.

We unpack the art of tracking, the details most people would walk straight past and how veterans can use their military skills, experience and teamwork to find a renewed sense of purpose after service.

I’M TAKING ON THE BRAVERY TREK!

This October, I’ll be putting in the kilometres for a cause that means a hell of a lot to me — supporting Australian veterans and their families.

I’ve joined the Bravery Trek to raise funds for Bravery Trust, helping veterans and their families who are facing financial hardship.

The funds raised help provide immediate financial assistance, veteran-specific financial counselling and education giving people the support they need to regain stability before hardship becomes crisis.

Through 5 With A Digger, I’ve had the privilege of hearing the stories of so many veterans and their families, so this is another way I can get behind the community and hopefully make a difference.

And you don’t just have to donate; you can join the team! Jump on board, clock up your own kilometres throughout October and combine them with ours as a team. Whether it’s walking, running or just getting out there and moving, every kilometre adds up.

Donate to the campaign. Join our team. Clock up your kilometres. Support our veteran community. Let’s see how many kilometres we can knock over together this October!

Donate or join the team here:

https://braverytrek.com.au/jesse-hobson

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This week on 5 With A Digger, we sit down with former New Zealand Army Captain Steve Ross for the first half of an incredible two-part conversation.

Steve began his military career in the New Zealand Territorial Force, working his way through the enlisted ranks to acting Sergeant before being commissioned as an officer and transferring into the Regular Force.

In Part One, Steve takes us back to his early life in New Zealand, what led him to join the military and the experiences that shaped him as both a soldier and a leader.

We then follow his journey through to his first operational deployment in East Timor, where he served as part of the fifth New Zealand rotation supporting the United Nations Transitional Administration.

Steve speaks openly about preparing to deploy, arriving in East Timor and the reality of serving overseas for the first time.

This is only the beginning of Steve’s story.

I’M TAKING ON THE BRAVERY TREK!

This October, I’ll be putting in the kilometres for a cause that means a hell of a lot to me, supporting Australian veterans and their families.

I’ve joined the Bravery Trek to raise funds for Bravery Trust, helping veterans and their families who are facing financial hardship.

The funds raised help provide immediate financial assistance, veteran-specific financial counselling and education giving people the support they need to regain stability before hardship becomes crisis.

Through 5 With A Digger, I’ve had the privilege of hearing the stories of so many veterans and their families, so this is another way I can get behind the community and hopefully make a difference.

And you don’t just have to donate; you can join the team! Jump on board, clock up your own kilometres throughout October and combine them with ours as a team. Whether it’s walking, running or just getting out there and moving, every kilometre adds up.

Donate to the campaign. Join our team. Clock up your kilometres. Support our veteran community. Let’s see how many kilometres we can knock over together this October!

Donate or join the team here:

https://braverytrek.com.au/jesse-hobson

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This week we chat with Kiki. A former Australian Defence Force member who served from 27 March 2018 until 4 February 2026.

During almost eight years of service, she was posted to Headquarters Combat Support Group, No. 23 Squadron and No. 1 Combat Communications Squadron.

Kiki participated in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2019 and Operation Bushfire Assist in 2020. She later deployed to the Middle East on Operation Accordion from October 2020 until April 2021.

Her service and achievements were recognised through a Gold Commendation, the National Emergency Medal, the Australian Defence Medal and the Australian Operational Service Medal - Greater Middle East Operation.

Kiki joins 5 With A Digger to discuss her journey into Defence, the experiences that shaped her career, her deployment to the Middle East and her transition out of military service after almost eight years in uniform.

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Todays guest is Petra Baumgart an emotional mastery and behavioural change expert based in Cooran, and the proud daughter of veterans.

Using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), hypnotherapy and subconscious work, Petra helps people understand the emotional triggers behind their patterns and behaviours and what it takes to create genuine, lasting change.

Drawing from her own experiences with body-image struggles, eating disorders and domestic violence, Petra now works extensively across relationships, trauma and men’s mental health.

She has also established a monthly men’s support group, providing blokes with a safe, judgement-free environment to speak openly and begin working through what they’re carrying.

In this episode, we unpack:

How the subconscious influences our behaviour.

Why we become attached to destructive patterns.

Why blokes struggle to understand and express emotion.

Body image, trauma and relationships.

What lasting behavioural change requires.

This is an honest and incredibly important conversation.

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Sean is the owner of Summit in Cairns, who generously sponsored part of our recent Adelaide trip, helping us get on the road, record more incredible stories and continue giving veterans a platform. Sean enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2015 as an infantry soldier with 31/42 RQR, taking part in major exercises before deploying on Operation Bushfire Assist to Kangaroo Island and later serving on COVID Assist

.

But behind the uniform, Sean was also completing an apprenticeship, becoming a father at just 21 and fighting through the family law courts to protect his relationship with his daughter. Eventually, growing family and business commitments forced him to step away from Defence but the desire to serve has never disappeared.

We unpack his military service, fatherhood, the family court battle, building Summit and the possibility of one day returning to the green. This is a bloody powerful conversation about service, sacrifice, resilience and rebuilding.

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This week I’m joined by Harley Fox from the GreyMan Podcast.

Harley’s military journey spans the Navy and Army Reserve across two decades, from serving as a Navy cook, to leaving Defence after the tragic loss of his fiancée, before finding his way back into uniform twice.

We unpack his time as an Officer Cadet, mortar operator and acting Section Commander at the Soldier Recovery Centre, along with his decision to finish serving in 2025 and step behind the microphone.

This is an honest conversation about service, grief, recovery, finding direction and the power of sharing stories.

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This week’s guest is a little bit different, she’s not a veteran, but her story of fitness, business, community and completely changing direction in life is one worth hearing. 💪

A mum of four and granny of five, she went from a career in banking and financial planning to completing her Cert III & IV in Fitness after people started noticing her own results and asking her for advice.

Then in 2013, redundancy forced a change of direction. She started training at Anytime Fitness Cooroy, applied for the manager’s job and started the very next day.

By April 2014, she’d bought the gym. 🔥

What started as essentially buying herself a wage became something much bigger.

🏋️ Around 400 members grew to 900

👥 A team of 3 grew to 10

🤝 And most importantly, she built a genuine community where people feel like they belong.

In this episode we chat about her journey, taking risks, running a business, the importance of community, and how fitness can be about so much more than just training.

For veterans especially, getting back into a gym can sometimes be that first step towards routine, connection and finding your people again.

This is a great conversation about backing yourself, changing direction and building something that matters.

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This week we sit down with Grant Clifton, founder of Debt Free Me, to talk all things money, debt, financial freedom and mental health. 

After experiencing his own financial struggles, Grant completely changed the way he approached money and eventually became debt-free. That journey led him to create Debt Free Me, helping everyday Australians take control of their finances and build a better future.

We chat about Grant’s own journey, common money mistakes, budgeting, getting out of debt, saving, investing and some simple changes that can make a big difference over time.

Practical advice.

Real-world strategies.

A better mindset around money.

Whether you’re trying to get out of debt, get ahead financially or simply make smarter decisions with your money, there’s plenty to take away from this one.

Please note: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not personal financial advice. Always seek advice from a qualified financial adviser before making decisions about your finances, investments, superannuation or insurance.

www.debtfreeme.online

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This episode is a little different but it’s one that could genuinely make a difference to your future. We’re joined by Hannah Hines, Financial Adviser at Apex Financial Services, to break down the world of money, financial planning and preparing for life beyond service.

With more than 15 years of experience across banking and financial services, and a Master of Financial Planning, Hannah is passionate about helping everyday Australians make informed financial decisions without all the confusing jargon.

What makes this conversation especially relevant to our community is Hannah’s close connection to the Defence family. With immediate family members who have served in the Air Force, Navy and Army, she understands many of the unique opportunities and challenges that serving members, veterans and their families face.

Please note: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not personal financial advice. Always seek advice from a qualified financial adviser before making decisions about your finances, investments, superannuation or insurance.

* MoneySmart - https://moneysmart.gov.au/

* MoneySmart Budget Planner - https://moneysmart.gov.au/budgeting/budget-planner

* Good Schools Guide (Australia) - https://www.goodschools.com.au/   

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At just 19 years old, James Bennett enlisted in the Australian Army, joining Alpha Company, 7RAR, in search of purpose, adventure and the chance to serve his country. His military journey would take him across Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand on Rifle Company Butterworth 115, where he forged lifelong friendships and experienced the highs and lows of military life. But behind the scenes, James was fighting battles that few knew about.

For the first time publicly, James opens up about the difficult discharge process that followed between 2015 and 2017, the lasting impact it had on his life, and the realities many veterans face when the uniform comes off.

We also dive into his unique role assisting the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in the recreation of the Lindt Café Siege offering a rare insight into one of Australia’s most significant counter-terrorism training exercises.

This is an honest, raw and powerful conversation about service, sacrifice, resilience and life after the Army.

Huge thanks to the legends at Last Laugh Apparel Isaac Sullivan and Summit Performance Centre – Altitude Group Fitness Cairns for helping us on our interstate trip to Adelaide to record this episode!

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