Inaugural Teddy Bears’ Picnic brings community together
Some of Fortem’s work is only possible thanks to its incredible volunteers, and that includes Matt Stevens who has been supporting Fortem’s work in his own time for the past 2 years.
Matt helps to deliver social connection events for Fortem, bringing together first responders and their families to learn something new, boost wellbeing, grow connections and build resilience.
He believes the ‘best measure of wealth is health’ and would tell his 15-year-old self, ‘Don’t wait. Sometimes later becomes never. Do it now.’
Matt is a first responder himself, having worked with the Queensland Police Service for 33 years, a job he knew he wanted to do even as a little kid. ‘Like many young kids, I saw it as exciting,’ he says.
And it’s a job that’s taken him across most of the state, from the Brisbane metropolitan and Gold Coast areas to the far north, from Cairns to most of the Cape from Cardwell to Aurukun, Bamaga, Thursday Island, Lockhart River, Cooktown; to Mount Isa travelling most of the district from Mornington Island to Birdsville; and the Darling Downs from Toowoomba travelling most of the district from Goondiwindi/Stanthorpe in the south to Murgon/Cherbourg in the north; and everywhere in between.
That travel is also a passion is his own time, together with bike riding and running. It’s something he learned from his dad, a person who had a great impact on his life and who ‘Taught me discipline, ethics, hard work, (and a) love of travel.’
Matt is keen to visit some of the Scandinavian countries next to see their spectacular scenery and meet the people. Although it sounds like Romania may also on the list, as he recently learned, ‘You may need bear spray when hiking in Romania as a safety measure!’
We hope you don’t meet too many bears on your travels, Matt! Thanks for sharing. We are so fortunate to have you supporting our work.
If you would like to know more about volunteering with Fortem, you can register online.