TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN: MATTHEW PEPI WALKS KOKODA TRACK IN FIGHT AGAINST PTSD
JUST 10 days after his 19th birthday, Matthew Peppi was being dragged through irrigation ditches and mud-walled family compounds by his mates. A bullet from an AK-47, fired by a Taliban sniper, had ripped through his left thigh and into his right thigh. He was on deployment with 7RAR in Afghanistan on December 28, 2008, and was on patrol in a hot zone in the Chora Valley when that bullet changed his life forever. Currently walking the Kokoda Track with the CMFRU Kokoka 2915 and backed by Soldier On, Mr Peppi is hoping to find inspiration in his ongoing fight against PTSD.
“To literally walk in the footsteps of the Diggers who fought here is inspirational but also rejuvenating to be here with other former soldiers like myself who are suffering from either physical or mental health issues. It strengthens the unity,” Mr Peppi said.
Townsville Diggers hope to draw inspiration from those who walked the Kokoda track before them. Pic: Australian War Memorial Australian Armed Forces / World War II / PNG
After being medically discharged from the army, Mr Peppi’s life began a downhill spiral. “I was driving my car and my left hand went numb and then my left arm, and I stopped the car and called an ambulance because I thought I was having a heart attack,” he said.
“From there it was a downhill spiral and I was later diagnosed with PTSD due to the conflict and what I had been through.
“I was very scared of waking up one day and having everything hit me in the face, so I was very proactive in dropping my ego and dropping the stigma of not talking and keeping it in.”
He feels that once he has finished the Kokoda Track, everyone will benefit from the experience, and he urges anyone who may be afflicted with mental health issues to seek help.
“You have to drop the ego and the stigma if you want to live a positive life with your family, your partner, and you want to live the life that you know you should,” he said. “Go see someone, an advocate at the RSL, or go see your mates and talk about it.”
Matthew Pepi