The Royal Australian Navy minehunter HMAS Gascoyne stopped in at Eden to reload ammunition on Wednesday morning, but instead of immediately continuing its journey north the ship berthed for the day, giving Leading Seaman Death the chance to see his family. 

Leading Seaman Death and his partner Sam Trewin both grew up in Eden before they joined the Navy and left town for many years. Only recently they decided to return home. 

Ms Trewin left the Navy last year and is now living in Eden with their four-year-old son Ethan and two-year-old son Lachlan. 

The two boys were over the moon to see their dad and young Ethan could barely contain his excitement when he got to go aboard and meet the other Navy officers. 

It wasn’t Ethan’s first time on board the HMAS Gascoyne, but it was his first time seeing all the men hit the decks to bust out some push-ups.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Alan Parton said the crew were doing 22 push-ups as part of the “22 kill challenge”.

“It’s a sad fact that every year many veterans suffer from mental illness, this can take the form of depression, domestic violence, self harm and suicide,” Lieutenant Commander Parton said. 

“We on Gascoyne are trying to raise awareness of this fact by every day for 22 days doing 22 push-ups and on completion I will donate $22 to White Ribbon.” 

The 22 kill challenge was started in America when people were horrified at the staggering statistic that an average of 22 veterans die from suicide every day.

Lieutenant Commander Parton said he has encouraged his crew to participate in the challenge to raise awareness and funds. 

Once the push-ups were done it was back to work for the crew and time for Leading Seaman Death to say a sad goodbye to his family. 

“I love being in the Navy, but it is hard leaving my family, it would be nice to see them more,” he said.