Content warning: This episode discusses veteran mental health, alcohol use, and suicide. Support is available: Wounded Heroes Australia crisis line 1300 532 112 (24/7) | Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7). 

On a 3am car ride home together, Mark and Cherelle Herewini discussed marriage – four weeks later they were husband and wife. Now, after nearly three decades and multiple East Timor deployments, they're still together. But the years right after Mark hung up his uniform were some of the hardest of their marriage. 

In this episode, Mark and Cherelle sit down with Tiffany Dunk to talk about what deployment looked like for a new mum waiting by the phone, the sense of purpose Mark lost the moment he left the Army, and the drinking and distance that crept into their marriage once he was home. 

They also talk candidly about what support really looks like for veteran families, why so many people don't reach out until it's a crisis, and how the work Mark does can support other veterans to find their way back to a sense of purpose. 

To all veterans who may be watching or listening to this episode, we thank you for your service. 

Moments you’ll hear: 
The 3am decision that led to a wedding just four weeks later 
Growing up an Army kid, and the promise Cherelle swore she'd never break 
Racing home from East Timor and missing the birth of their daughter by 12 hours 
The five-minute phone calls, and the letters Cherelle still has 
Mark losing his sense of purpose the moment the uniform came off 
The years of drinking and distance that followed, and how they found their way back 
What Mark hopes people understand about veterans, and what Cherelle hopes for veteran families 

Thank you for listening ❤️ 

Before you leave...  

🗣️ Get in touch  

What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly Love Stories community and visit us at womensweekly.com.au/love-stories-podcast  

Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au  

If you share your love story on social media, please tag us. We’re @womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories 

Subscribe to The Australian Women’s Weekly at magshop.com.au/LOVESTORIES 👈🏽  

Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes Australia.  

You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency assistance to current Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families by donating at: www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice  

Need help now? Wounded Heroes crisis line 1300 532 112, 24/7, Australia wide. 

Credits 

Host: Tiffany Dunk 

Edited by Leah Porges 

Production by Leah Porges 

Our wonderful The Australian Women's Weekly team 

Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain 

Learn More: The Australian Women's Weekly website 

Content warning: This episode discusses veteran mental health, alcohol use, and suicide. Support is available: Wounded Heroes Australia crisis line 1300 532 112 (24/7) | Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7).&nbsp;
On a 3am car ride home together,&nbsp;Mark and Cherelle&nbsp;Herewini&nbsp;discussed marriage &ndash; four weeks later they were husband and wife.&nbsp;Now, after&nbsp;nearly three&nbsp;decades and multiple&nbsp;East Timor&nbsp;deployments,&nbsp;they're&nbsp;still together.&nbsp;But&nbsp;the years right after Mark hung up his uniform were some of the hardest of their marriage.&nbsp;
In this episode, Mark and Cherelle sit down with Tiffany Dunk to talk about what deployment looked like for a new mum waiting by the phone, the sense of purpose Mark lost the moment he left the Army, and the drinking and distance that crept into their marriage once he was home.&nbsp;
They also talk&nbsp;candidly about what support&nbsp;really&nbsp;looks&nbsp;like for veteran families, why so many people&nbsp;don't&nbsp;reach out until&nbsp;it's&nbsp;a crisis, and&nbsp;how&nbsp;the work Mark&nbsp;does&nbsp;can&nbsp;support&nbsp;other veterans&nbsp;to find&nbsp;their way back to a sense of purpose.&nbsp;
To all veterans who may be watching or listening to this episode, we thank you for your service.&nbsp;
Moments&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;hear:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>The 3am decision that led to a wedding just four weeks later&nbsp;</li>
<li>Growing up an Army kid, and the promise Cherelle swore&nbsp;she'd&nbsp;never break&nbsp;</li>
<li>Racing home from&nbsp;East Timor&nbsp;and missing the birth of their daughter by 12 hours&nbsp;</li>
<li>The five-minute phone calls, and the letters Cherelle still has&nbsp;</li>
<li>Mark losing his sense of purpose the moment the uniform came off&nbsp;</li>
<li>The years of drinking and distance that followed, and how they found their way back&nbsp;</li>
<li>What Mark hopes people understand about veterans, and what Cherelle hopes for veteran families&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Thank you for listening ❤️&nbsp;
Before you leave...&nbsp;&nbsp;
🗣️ Get in touch&nbsp;&nbsp;
What did you think? We are a brand-new podcast and would love to hear from you as we build this together. Join our friendly&nbsp;Love Stories&nbsp;community and visit us at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/love-stories-podcast/">womensweekly.com.au/love-stories-podcast&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;
Email us your love stories (and any feedback) at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au">awwlovestories@aremedia.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
If you share your love story on social media, please&nbsp;tag&nbsp;us.&nbsp;We&rsquo;re&nbsp;@womensweeklymag, and use the hashtag #AWWLoveStories&nbsp;
Subscribe to&nbsp;The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="https://auc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com/we/magshop.com.au/LOVESTORIES">magshop.com.au/LOVESTORIES</a>&nbsp;👈🏽&nbsp;&nbsp;
Sending thanks to our partners at Wounded Heroes Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;
You can help Wounded Heroes deliver emergency&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;to current Australian&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Force members,&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;and their families by donating at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice">www.woundedheroes.org.au/actsofservice</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Need help now? Wounded Heroes crisis line 1300 532 112, 24/7, Australia wide.&nbsp;
Credits&nbsp;
Host: Tiffany Dunk&nbsp;
Edited by&nbsp;Leah Porges&nbsp;
Production by Leah Porges&nbsp;
Our wonderful&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;team&nbsp;
Our Head of Vodcasting is Rachel Fountain&nbsp;
Learn More:&nbsp;The Australian Women's Weekly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/">website</a>&nbsp;

What’s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps cliché romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women’s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

What&rsquo;s your love language? The Australian Women's Weekly Love Stories is for the chronically curious about the strongest of our emotions. Hosted by Tiffany Dunk, this podcast swaps clich&eacute; romcom endings for real, messy, magnetic connections told by unforgettable voices from The Australian Women&rsquo;s Weekly universe. From lifelong mateship to unexpected soulmates to finding love both within and beyond yourself, Love Stories is intimate, surprising and quietly empowering.

Love Stories

Mark Herewini spent 13 years in the Army, including tours in East Timor, before returning home and becoming a paramedic. His wife Cherelle grew up as an Army kid, so she believed she knew what to expect from life as a military spouse.  In this episode of Acts of Service, they join Tiffany Dunk to talk about what life really looks like after service and how their love survived the transition. 