Veteran Brewing Company launches to raise money for Riverina veterans

Tim Lewis joined the airforce at the tender age of 17 before going to serve at the Wagga base, where he formed a powerful sense of camaraderie with his fellow recruits.

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"I joined the military at an early age and even though I've been out of it for a while, I still feel like it's my family," Mr Lewis said.

"It was a no-brainer to me to be able to leverage an everyday part of the Australia social fabric, which is having a beer with your mates, and thinking of ways to help that veteran community I feel a part of."

Veteran Brewing Company is already flowing at the Riverine Club and will be rolling out to other Wagga pubs and clubs in the lead-up to ANZAC Day.

Over 50 per cent of the profits will be set aside for veterans causes, and 100 per cent will be set aside on ANZAC Days.

Mr Lewis said he hoped his beer would remind pub-goers that there is more to ANZAC Day than getting drunk.

"I'm very passionate about ANZAC Day being less of an excuse for a holiday and a general piss-up," he said.

"If they're going to have a few beers, I want more people to think about how they can help a veteran, because that's what ANZAC Day is for."

Wagga Defence Shed will be coming up with ideas for how to spend the money, and top of their list is a 3D printer for the veterans.

Shed president Jason Frost said the printer would help the veterans get out of their homes, learn some CAD and software skills, and hopefully land them a job.

"Drawing people out of isolation with a skill to build a 3D printer is a really good drawcard," Mr Frost said.

"If we can encourage people to be creative with digital assets, then we can help them to steer into new industries that are emerging."

Wagga RSL's Jo Thompson discovered Mr Lewis' idea at a business pitching event for veterans, and when she heard the details she asked to partner with him on the spot.

"I thought that his idea aligned really well with our values and vision of what the RSL's all about," Ms Thompson said.

"I think it's really nice timing with ANZAC around the corner to spread awareness about veteran welfare. It's a nice time to have a good day as well, but it's a day of reflection and remembering."

She said the RSL was "very appreciative" to even have ANZAC Day at all this year, with last year's celebrations being radically scaled down due to lockdown.

The beer will be available at the Kooringal Hotel, Duke of Kent Hotel, Wagga RSL, and the Riverine Club by ANZAC Day, with more to come on board in the weeks and months following.

Duke of Kent publican Ward Gaiter will also be donating some of his own profits to veteran causes on ANZAC Day, saying he felt inspired by Mr Lewis' idea.

"I think it's a wonderful idea to have an organisation that's going to directly funnel a share of the profits to local projects, which I think is fantastic," Mr Gaiter said.

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