Honouring Anzac Day: Walking with purpose with Lachlan Stevens

Service doesn’t stop when you leave the military, it’s about finding a new mission, a new sense of purpose that keeps you moving forward.

At PKF, we believe in using our platform to shine a light on stories that matter, especially those that reflect the spirit of service, sacrifice, and community that Anzac Day embodies. In this special episode of the PKF Podcast, we sat down with Lachlan Stevens, founder of Raising the Bar Foundation and the driving force behind Walk With Us Kokoda, to hear a deeply personal journey of military service, mental health, and a renewed purpose to support others.

Lachlan's story is one of service beyond the battlefield. After six and a half years in the Australian Army, including two high-risk deployments to Afghanistan, Lachlan returned home with not only physical experiences but emotional weight that many veterans share. While he initially found a new path in the corporate world, working for Merlin Entertainments and later buying His Boy Elroy, a burger and sports bar in Wollongong, his true purpose began to emerge from an entirely different source: community.

From this foundation, Walk With Us Kokoda was born, an immersive leadership and development experience for veterans, built on the same values of mateship, service, and transformation that underpin Anzac Day itself. Veterans and civilians walk the Kokoda Trail together, reflecting on personal growth while honouring those who served before them. The walk provides a rare opportunity for reflection, healing, and clarity. It’s not uncommon for participants to come home with life-changing insights and renewed purpose.

“Service doesn’t stop when you leave the military,” Lachlan shares. “It’s about finding a new mission, a new sense of purpose that keeps you moving forward.” For him, the key to mental health and personal development is reconnecting with a sense of purpose, something that Walk With Us Kokoda provides to veterans and community members.

PKF proudly sponsoring a veteran to walk the Kokoda Trail

This year, we are proud to sponsor a veteran to walk the Kokoda Trail as part of the Walk With Us Kokoda program. It’s our way of investing in the ongoing legacy of service, leadership, and community impact that this initiative represents.

By sponsoring a veteran, we’re not just funding a trip, we’re backing a future leader, someone who will return with clarity, strength, and a renewed commitment to serve their community.

How you can help

If you or your organisation would like to support this life changing initiative, you can learn more at walkwithuskokoda.com. Donations, sponsorships, or simply spreading the word can directly impact the lives of veterans seeking connection, purpose, and healing through this unforgettable journey.

As we reflect on Anzac Day, we carry its lessons with us: courage in the face of challenge, compassion in service to others, and connection that binds communities together.