Across a tough but rewarding morning at HMAS Kuttabul, Navy members racked up 46,000 punches to mark the estimated 46,000 young Australians facing homelessness during a charity workout for Stepping Stone House.
Established in 1989, Stepping Stone House works tirelessly to rehome homeless and vulnerable people.
The not-for-profit provides an array of professional services to help the young people in their care feel safe and become the best versions of themselves.
Leading Seaman Physical Training Instructor Ben Stewart led the session with Stepping Stone House's Ben Evans cheering from the sidelines.
For Mr Evans, having the event take place at Fleet Base East with ADF personnel participating was truly special.
"Everyone from Stepping Stone House is unbelievably grateful that this event was held at HMAS Kuttabul," Mr Evans said.
"We received a very warm welcome by all the staff and it was great to see over 30 people taking part.
"The ADF offers young people an array of excellent skills and behaviours. It was evident to see the mateship, camaraderie and passion come together.
"It was great to see Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Chris Smith leading from the front, participating in the 6am boxing session."
'This event had a unique energy. The cause gave it extra meaning, and you could see that in the intensity and focus from everyone involved.'
In a previous life, Mr Evans played professional rugby union, and while he now focuses on helping the young people in his care enter the workforce and pursue education with confidence, he still recognises the power of sport in bringing people together.
It's a power regularly recognised by Chief Petty Officer Physical Training Instructor Mitchell Morton.
While he is used to seeing the personnel at Kuttabul giving it their all in a workout, he knows that a good cause can help push them that little bit further.
"This event had a unique energy. The cause gave it extra meaning, and you could see that in the intensity and focus from everyone involved," Chief Petty Officer Morton said.
"We hit the target across the two sessions and the response was overwhelmingly positive. You could see the pride and excitement. It gave everyone a real sense of accomplishment and reinforced the power of collective effort."
Events like these are part of a network of opportunities that Stepping Stone House runs. The money raised powers the not-for-profit's services, like the ones that supported former recipient Patrick Nalty, who joined the session to land a thousand punches of his own.
"I arrived at Stepping Stone House at the age of 14 and I was welcomed with open arms. The amazing staff members helped my recovery and they provided me with guidance and life skills," Mr Nalty said.
A special meeting with one of the participants left a strong impression on Mr Nalty, and potentially influenced a future career path.
"It was so cool meeting the fleet commander and his staff who were all really friendly. I'm definitely open to possible career opportunities in the Navy, and it's something I will consider," he said.
