Cherisa Pearce

~ On the Canvas Of Service, 2023

Major (MAJ) Ret’d

Australian Army

Content Advisory:

The following story contains personal reflections from an Australian veteran that may include themes of trauma, war-related experiences, mental health struggles, and suicide. These narratives are shared with deep respect and the intent to honour service, foster understanding, and offer hope to those facing similar challenges.

If you are feeling distressed or need support, we encourage you to reach out. Help is available.

• Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)

• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 (24/7 support for veterans and their families)

Please proceed with care and compassion.

She said it with a grin, but the clarity was sharp. Not a rejection—just a boundary. She wasn’t erasing anything. She was choosing how to carry it. That line stayed with me longer than I expected.

We met just after first light. The beach was still soft with silence, the kind you only get when the day is beginning. She was already moving—board under arm, sand between her toes, energy unforced. I’d never met a veteran like her. I thought I was there to take a portrait. What I left with was something else entirely.

She spoke about growing up in a household where service wasn’t questioned—it was expected. Her mum had been an army nurse, her dad a medic back from Vietnam. Her brother joined young. She followed too—not out of purpose, but pattern. “My life was so boring compared to his. I said I could do one better than him, so I went to RMC.” She smiled, then softened. “I was a terrible cadet… it wasn’t my passion.”

There was no bitterness in her story, just honesty. “My transition wasn’t perfect, but I made it better because I wasn’t going to be a statistic, a number, or a victim.” The way she said it—clear, unshaken—made the silence around her feel earned.

She talked about structure, about people who helped her rebuild it. “Find your people and let them help you. Don’t lose the structure.” Then she spoke about surfing—how it taught her to wait. How it taught her to breathe.

With Cherisa, there wasn’t one defining moment. Her story unfolded slowly, like tide pulling back to reveal what was always there. She didn’t fight to be free. She chose to be.

And that, truly, is her happily ever after.

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The content featured here is extracted from Of Service, the original fine-art publication by Jenani Therone. It is reproduced with permission from both the author and the publisher. All rights are reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without explicit permission.