OCTOBER 2020
Our events and Tours that were planned for 2020 were impacted by Covid19. HOWEVER, planning is underway for the remainder of the year, and 2021.
When restrictions eased, our Sub-Branch dusted off the cobwebs and participated in group activities.
For more information on our Sub-Branch explore our newly designed website. This has updated information, news and links to provide you with essential advice and assistance you may need. We are also on Facebook.
Click on the Item in the Table of Contents to jump straight to the article.
Table of Contents
September – October 4 Wheel Drive Tour
19 Members in eleven 4×4 Vehicles set off on the 27th Sept for a 10 day camping tour to the gold fields taking in Paynes Find, Sandstone, Lake Mason Homestead, then cutting back along the Barlee – Youanmi Rd to Karalee Rock – finishing at the Nungarin Military Museum before heading home. The camaraderie of this Sub-Branch is “Alive and Well” in the Bush, as it is in the City.
What is Being Planned 2020 – 2021
For Details refer Paul McGuinness on 0417 181 025
Event | Date | DETAIL |
Lunch at ANZAC House Veteran Central | To be Scheduled | |
Annual Lunch | 26 November 2020 | 11:30 at Hillarys Yacht Club Contact Peter Edwards on 0417 952 660 tables available. |
Air Force Museum | 19 March 2021 | Details to be completed. Lunch after event |
Perth Mint | 14 May 2021 | Details to be completed. Lunch after event |
Darwin Tour of Duty | 4 – 12 June 2021 | Details to be completed. |
Fremantle Army Museum | 20 August 2021 | Details to be completed. Lunch after event |
Optus Oval | 29 October 2021 | Details to be completed. Lunch after event |
Peer Health
Alex Lennox, one of our Peer Health Co-ordinators, is planning a Sub-Branch “Walk” culminating in a BBQ.
More details of this Peer Health initiative, which will be suitable for ALL Our Members, will be advised at coming meetings.
Legacy Camp Maintenance
Roger Hardwicke once again has organised the Busselton Legacy Busy Bee from Monday 2 November to Friday 6 November 2020 – denrog@bigpond.net.au or 0419042553.
Like previous years Legacy will supply the food and North Beach Sub-Branch will provide refreshments. This year, although the work requirements are like previous years, priority will be being given to clearing out the shed
REMEMBRANCE DAY
North Beach Sub-Branch Order of the Day
No Assembly of Veterans for March On
08.00
10.30
10.50
10.55
10.58
11.00
11.02
11.03
11.05
11.06
11.07
11.08
11.12
11.15
11.20
11.30
11.35
Flags hoisted to mast head
Flags lowered to half mast
Assemble at the memorial
Preliminary announcements e.g. Covid-19, phones etc
Welcome & start of proceedings
Bugler (Robert Keatch, North Beach – Branch member) – Last Post
One minutes silence
Bugler sounds the Rouse – flags raised to full mast
- President North Beach RSL Sub – Branch, John Rolfe, presents the Ode
Prayer of Remembrance by Rev. Marie Aitken
Past Secretary of North Beach RSL Sub-Branch, Rob Sweet, to lay wreath
Invitation to other people to lay wreaths e.g. War Widows, Legacy
President of Nth Beach RSL Sub – Branch – Address
Mr David House – unveiling of the Plaques on our Wall of Remembrance
Dedication of Plaques onto Wall of Remembrance
Mr David House – Address
National Anthem
Invitation to families to place poppies on the plaque of family members
Remembrance Day Brought By
Other Important Information
Peter Bowring
David House
Robert Keatch
Rev. Marie Aitkin
Jon McKenzie
Barry Lloyd
Erica Duncan
Wayne Koch
David Bell
Mike Ruffin
Rob Sweet
Ron Brown
Committee members
First Aiders, and others
Traffic Management, Covid-19 signs +
Plaques, flags
Bugler
Prayers
Mic, speakers, music
MC
External Events Officer, City of Stirling and staff
VIP guests, seating
City of Stirling Security
Northern Districts Legacy
Wreath
Programmes
- Lady of Grace and North Beach Primary schools attending
- Sunset – flags lowered – David House
Remembrance Day, a true remembrance of the team spirit within the Veteran Community
Poppy Day Collections
In a change from the usual Friday before Remembrance Day, Poppy Day Collections will now be held at private venues, such as Shopping Centres, on Friday 6, and at public venues, such as Train Stations, on Monday 9 November.
Contact Steve Fletcher: stonk20@hotmail.com
0409 988 803
ANZAC PORTAL
Look through the ANZAC Portal to uncover the experiences of the men and women who have served Australia in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations, and those they leave behind.
ANZAC Portal tells the history of Australians serving in our Defence Forces through our Veterans’ experiences at:
Link: ANZAC Portal
Australians Recognise Our Fallen
On Remembrance Day
In the lead-up to Remembrance Day 2020, schools and community groups across the country are being provided with free resources to assist them in teaching our next generation about the importance of the day, as well as promoting its observance on 11 November to commemorate all those who have died in service to the nation.
More than 102,000 Australians who served our nation in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations and made the ultimate sacrifice will be specially remembered at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month, as we pause for a minute of solemn and silent reflection in their memory.
To assist schools and community groups commemorate Remembrance Day in a dignified and respectful manner, the mail-out includes posters, educational activities and other resources that tell the story of our wartime history. It includes material that looks back at the Second World War, which ended 75 years ago this year; and recognises the important roles families and communities played in supporting the war effort on the home front.
The mail-out will go to more than 17,000 recipients across Australia and overseas and this year’s Remembrance Day posters feature Australians celebrating the declaration of peace at the end of the Second World War on 15 August 1945, as well as Royal Australian Air Force personnel receiving official news of Japan’s surrender on the same day.
Due to coronavirus, this year aged care facilities will only receive a letter from the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, and Victorian schools will receive a digital version of the mail-out.
Mail-out resources are available for free download on the Anzac Portal or by emailing education@dva.gov.au
Family Military and Service History
Searching for the military and service history of a family member can take time and effort. These two links are the more common ones available. A digital copy of their service records may also be available, if not, then information is available on how to obtain them.
Links:
Veterans’ Mental Health and Support
Every year, too many Australians are taken from us by suicide and sadly, our ADF personnel and Veterans are not immune. The latest report on incidence of suicide among current and ex-serving ADF personnel was released on 09 October by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, revealing 33 deaths by suicide in 2018. Addressing this tragedy is a national priority for the Government and while the annual figure in the report is lower than 2017, there is still work to do to eliminate this tragic loss of life.
All acknowledge there are many factors that can affect someone’s mental health, the current pandemic included, and where a person’s service in the Navy, Army or Air Force is the cause of poor mental health, there is absolute commitment to ensuring they are supported. This is why, in 2017 access to free mental health treatment was expanded to include any mental health condition, regardless of whether or not the condition is linked to a Veteran’s service. This has uncapped funding, so where there is a need, it is met.
Mental health and suicide prevention is everyone’s business, and we all have a part to play – check in on a mate, ask them if they are okay, have a conversation and help them get the support they need.
Help is available so please reach out. Open Arms provide 24/7 counselling and support to current and former ADF members and their families. They also offer face-to-face and video counselling, online or in-person group treatment programs, suicide prevention programs and crisis accommodation support.
Open Arms Website contains a valuable source of information:
Link: Open Arms
Open Arms provides a broad range of services to Veterans and their families. They can be reached 24/7 on: 1800 011 046
37-39 Reynolds Rd, Mount Pleasan
Veteran Cards
Information on the types of Veteran Cards is available on:
https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-treatment/veteran-healthcare-cards
You may be eligible for the Veteran White Card if you:
- have at least one day of continuous full-time service (CFTS) with the ADF; or
- are a reservist and have completed disaster relief service, border protection service, or were involved in a serious service-related training accident.
It can provide you with medical treatment for:
- accepted service-related injuries or conditions
- all mental health conditions
- cancer (malignant neoplasm) covered under non-liability health care
- pulmonary tuberculosis covered under non-liability health care
All holders of the White Veteran Card are entitled to free mental health medical assessments. DVA has extensive information on this:
https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-treatment/veteran-healthcare-cards
https://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-treatment/veteran-healthcare-cards/veteran-white-card
Applying for a Veterans Card can be done on-line through https://www.dva.gov.au/myservice
or logon to MYGov, create a DVA account and click the Apply button.
One of our Sub-Branch Wellbeing Support Officers will be able to provide you with contacts to assist you should it be needed.
More Support for TPI Veterans
The Government is investing $25.9 million in a range of measures to increase support for severely impaired veterans, and to simplify payment arrangements.
As part of the 2020-21 Budget, the Government has responded to the Independent Review into the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Payment by Mr David Tune AO PSM.
The Government has accepted Mr Tune’s findings and is investing $25.9 million in a range of measures to increase support for severely impaired veterans, and to simplify payment arrangements, including streamlining the indexation process of disability compensation, renaming the disability pension to the Disability Compensation Payment, and exempting the adjusted disability pension from the social security income test. This means that eligible veterans and their partners can receive a higher rate of social security income support payments such as age pension and disability support pension. The existing Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) will be removed as it will no longer be necessary.
No veteran will be worse off as a result of the removal of DFISA. A veteran’s social security payment (e.g. age pension) will be equal to the sum of their current reduced social security payment and their current DFISA payment.
For some veterans who are eligible for rent assistance, the new payment rate will be higher than the sum of their current payments.
These measures will take effect from September 2022, pending the passage of legislation.
For more information visit:
Misleading Advertising by Third Party Organisations
To protect the financial interests and privacy veterans, DVA has been working to identify and address misleading advertisements directed towards veterans in relation to their DVA health care entitlements.
DVA is currently addressing the advertising practices of third-party referral organisations, unrelated to DVA. These organisations market health services purportedly funded by DVA and receive a commission from service providers for any referrals they provide. These organisations are not health-care providers and do not have any affiliation with, or receive payment from, DVA.
In particular, DVA is concerned with the following types of practices:
- unauthorised use of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and DVA’s entitlement card logos, which may suggest an association or relationship with DVA that does not exist.
- the advertisement of healthy lifestyle services, such as yoga and meditation, which are not covered by DVA and may result in out-of-pocket costs to veteran clients
- the collection of your sensitive personal information
- potentially misleading statements which suggest services will be covered by DVA without considering the veteran client’s circumstances.
There are strict DVA guidelines relating to advertisements that all DVA allied-service providers and third-party marketing organisations must comply with.
Examples of non-compliant language that marketing agents use to induce veterans to engage services (both covered and not covered by DVA) include the following representations:
- ‘free to DVA clients’
- ‘fully funded by DVA’
- ‘complimentary services’
- ‘no fees’
- ‘DVA pays’
Veterans should be cautious of:
- any advertisements and representations made by marketing organisations that are unaffiliated with DVA and may offer services which are not covered by DVA
- disclosing their personal information to any non-health-care professional.
DVA remains focused on not exposing veterans to financial liability to unconscionable service providers. DVA is there to support you and encourages all veterans to access
Extract from Diggers Verses
ANZAC Memories
Published about 1919 by a Young Returned Digger
The following are extracts from a small book published 1919, possibly in Melbourne, containing poems and jokes from WW 1. Different times and different humour.
The Charge of the 3rd Brigade
Do you hear what they say, we’re soon going away
To make name and fame for Australia!
And the news we have heard, is they’re chosen the 3rd
The Brigade which knows not a word of failure
‘Twas just a break of day as we steamed in the Bay,
Shot and shell all round us was flying,
And with desperate will we swarmed up the hill,
Tho’ we left comrades wounded and dying.
Against great opposition we took the position,
Prepared to hold out to the last,
We fought all that night, until daybreak brought light
Though the fighting was furious and fast.
There’s many a friend that has met with his end,
Ushered out like the close of a story,
They fell in the fight for freedom and right,
And their memories are halo’d in glory.
A word to the scribes who profuse diatribes,
Attempted to wreck our fair name,
The weapons we use are not ink and abuse,
But rifles and men who are game.
The boys of the Third of whom you’ve all heard,
Are bright, cheerful, happy and hearty,
And tender no thanks to the wowsers and cranks
Who belong to the Stop-at-home party.
Herbert William Morris, Gallipoli, April 30, 1915
12th Battalion 3rd Brigade
Wounded at Gallipoli and Western Front
Magic Words
The C.O. of a Salisbury Plains camp was not above abusing his officers in front of their men. But he found one officer – a one pip artist – who was not content with silent resentment. In pretty plain language he told the C.O. that he wasn’t going to submit to that sort of treatment. Those of us who were standing in the front rank thought for a moment that “Old Bill” would be seized with apoplexy. When he recovered himself, he snarled out’ “Another two words from you – and I’ll have you packed off to Australia”.
But there was a look in “Old Bill’s” eyes that showed plainly that he had met his Waterloo, when there came that calm long suffering reply: “I wish to hell you’d tell me those words, Sir”
Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire England was a training ground for Australian Battalions, including the Western Australian raised 44th, whose C.O. Lt Colonel W. O. Mansbridge was commonly known as “Old Bill.” Maybe it was him?
The boss and the clerk had gone out to lunch, leaving the pretty little bookkeeper in charge of the store. Enters a handsome young man. “Do you keep car accessories here?” he asked.
The little bookkeeper smiled her sweetest. “Only me” she replied.
A school teacher said to her class of boys – “I am going to give each of you three buttons. You must think of the first as representing Life, the second Liberty, and the third Happiness.
In three days I want you to produce these buttons, when I shall expect you to tell me what they stand for.”
On the appointed day she asked one of the boys for his buttons. “I ain’t got ‘em all” He said. “Here’s Life and here’s Liberty, but Mother has gone and sewed Happiness on my trousers
Office Bearers 2020 – 2021
| President | John Rolfe | Wellbeing Support Officers | Greg Gough, David House, Alex Lennox, Eric Aitkins |
| Vice President | Brad Harrison | Master at Arms | Stuart leake |
| Secretary | Trevor McEntyre | Commemorative | Barry Lloyd |
| Assistant Secretary | Wayne Koch | ANZAC Day | John Rolfe, Chris Rampant, David House, Bernie Egan |
| Treasurer | David King | Poppy Collection Day | Steve Fletcher |
| Warden | Chris Rampant Alex Lennox | Revenue Steward | Jim Muscat, Tom May ( assistant ) |
| Memorial Warden | David House | Honorary Chaplain | Marie Aitken |
| Stewards | Stuart Young, Peter Dales, David Makin, Stewart Davies | ||
| Annual Dinner | Peter Edwards, Jon McKenzie | ||
| Social Activities | Paul McGuinness | ||
| Website & News Editor | Brian Jennings |
Capital Radio
Tune in to The Listening Post every Monday 1800-2000, Capital Radio 101.7 FM, Capital Digital and from anywhere via www.capitalcommunityradio.com – Perth’s only radio program specially for Defence personnel, past and present, their families and friends.
Website and Newsletter Contributions
Website and Newsletter contributions are always welcome. Please send to Brian Jennings at: jamjenb@bigpond.com
If you are not receiving emails from the Secretary advising you of important events, please forward your phone number and email contact to: northbeachrslwa@gmail.com
Disclaimer
North Beach Review source material is edited to remove inappropriate content, and clarify, shorten or standardise where needed. Although tests for accuracy are undertaken, readers should not rely on any of this material without carrying out your own due diligence. Opinions are not necessarily those of RSL North Beach Sub-Branch or RSLWA.