Tweed Heads & Coolangatta RSL Sub-Branch recently welcomed a new member, returned serviceman, Peter Rudland.

Now a qualified counsellor specialising in post-traumatic stress, Peter and his family relocated to Terranora from Western Australia earlier this year.

The 2017 Invictus Games Co-Captain and cycling gold medallist will compete in the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney from 20-27 October 2018, alongside more than 500 competitors from up to 17 nations.

Peter joined the Army in 1989 and was discharged late last year. He served in Cambodia in 1993, East Timor in 2001 and 2006, Iraq in 1997 and 2003, and Afghanistan in 2010.

The cyclist and wheelchair rugby competitor suffered serious spinal and leg injuries in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010 and says sport had played an important role in his rehabilitation.

“Sport gives me something to work towards and reminds me that no matter how bad things get, there is always somebody worse off.”

The Invictus Games is an initiative of Prince Harry and is an adaptive sport event for wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women, both active duty and veteran.

Peter says he is looking forward to catching up with Prince Harry again when he arrives in Australia for the Games.

“Prince Harry is very approachable, and I’ve always been impressed by his genuine concern for the welfare of soldiers,” said Peter