November 2011
Volume 1, Issue 2 Magnetic Island RSL
The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance
PRESIDENT’S REPORT Prepared for Sub-Branch Board Meeting 22nd November 2011
Special Interest Sub-branch goals: Articles: Look after the veteran and ex-service community of Magnetic Island • President’s Commemorate the sacrifice of Australians in conflicts Report Support the young people of our community Engage with community support agencies • Highlights from District Council Meeting. President’s action against goals Veteran and ex-service community of Magnetic Island • Membership o Vale Charles Stephen Coleman, sub-branch. Steve's renewals, don’t forget!. funeral and memorial service were well attended by friends, family and RSL colleagues and dignitaries. Steve was accorded the rite of the RSL ritual, which was led with distinction by past-president Jim Davis. o Magnetic Island Community Care, Tuesday Club. Individual MICC, which has a number of veterans among their Highlights: clients, has commenced using the Hall during the wet Care Programs 3 months to avail themselves of our air-conditioning and kitchen facilities. No charge for Hall usage has Ewan Cameron 4 been levied as this support falls under our charter of ANZAC day ‘12 5 support to our community. ADF News 6 Commemorate the sacrifice of Australians in conflicts
Remembrance Day: o The ceremony held at the Memorial Stone in the gardens of the Hall was well attended by VIPs and locals including the speaker WGCDR Stewart Dowrie CO No 38 SQN RAAF, Rev Beryl Finch Padre, Ewen Jones (member for Herbert), Councilor Trevor Roberts (TCC), Ewan Cameron (District President), Katherine Herlihy (DVA), members of the ADF and the Navy Cadets. November 2011 Page 2 of 6
o Poppies were given to the Sunbus drivers on the Island (as was done on the mainland) and poppies were sold around the Island including the Ferry terminal.
Support the young people of our community “The rules have been o Nothing to report drafted and are to be endorsed by the board Engage with community support agencies before they are circulated to the o Friday Night Markets. stallholders.” Rules for the markets. The rules have been drafted and are to be endorsed by the board before they are circulated to the stallholders. Season of Goodwill. I am working with the stallholders to have market nights with a Christmas feel. The committee is considering a variation to fees for stallholders for one or two evenings.
Other business o Constitution and ATO scrutiny. The committee established a working group to consider the sub- branch's position on the new constitution and the ATO requirements. The Secretary Pat Trewin and Jim Davis responded to the issues. Jim was appointed by the Board to represent the sub-branch in Brisbane at the Taxation conference and the extraordinary meeting. Jim has been authorised to act on behalf of the sub-branch.
David Pierce President Magnetic Island RSL Sub Branch 20th November 2011
Poised and ready to move, Private (PTE) Greg Harris and PTE Peter Hallin from 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), Recon Platoon, practice room entry drills during Close Quarter Battle (CQB) training in Dili, East Timor. Page 3 of 6 November 2011
Veterans Pharmaceutical Reimbursement
Veterans who have qualifying service The Scheme will be effective from 1 and are in receipt of a disability pension January 2012, with the first (or equivalent under other Department reimbursements to be made in early of Veterans’ Affairs administered 2013. For eligible veterans, the entitlements) will receive this additional reimbursements will cover the gap support towards their health care between the pharmaceutical needs. allowance component of the Pension Supplement and the pharmaceutical NOTE: For a veteran on a Gold or safety net. White Card and have not been on or applied for Service Pension will need Factsheet HSV-132 Veterans’ to apply to DVA to make a Pharmaceutical Reimbursement determination on their qualifying Scheme is available from the DVA at service status. http://factsheets.dva.gov.au/ Singapore Straits Settlements, 19 September 1945: members of 2/18th The Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program Australian Infantry Battalion, prisoners of war of the Japanese, in Changi prison. The Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) information on the CVC Courtesy the Australian War Program is a positive step to improve the Memorial wellbeing and quality of care for Program, including ‘Setting Up Your chronically ill Gold Card holders. Practice’, Eligibility’ and ‘How to Claim’.
The program will pay General Please note: There is no CVC Practitioners and nursing providers to Enrolment form or Care Plan template. coordinate care for Gold Card holders who Sample care plan templates can be “Through improved found at http://wwwcvcprogram.net.au/ are at risk of hospitalisation. community based care, and further details are provided in the Through improved community based care, Guide for General Practice. the program is intended the program is intended to improve the to improve the health of health of participants by: Training Resources for GPs and participants.” Nursing Providers • providing ongoing planned and coordinated care from your GP and a • The CVC training Modules are being nurse progressively rolled out over the next nine months. Module 1 entitled "Is Your • educating and empowering participants Service Ready'?" is now available. to self manage their conditions, and • The Training Modules can be viewed • encouraging the most socially isolated to at participate in community activities. http://www.cvcprogram.net.au/training For GPs and nursing providers:
A Guide for General Practice can be downloaded here and provides further November 2011 Page 4 of 6
Ewan Cameron: A Profile Name: Ewan Cameron Commandant. District: N/Queensland District Ewan’s recent employment included a Year Elected: August 2009 as project to redevelop a precinct in “Ewan’s recent District President Lavarack Barracks (Passchendaele
employment included a Lines) and relocating the Army th project to redevelop a Other Significant Positions Held in Reserve’s 11 Brigade from Jezzine the RSL: Barracks to Lavarack Barracks in precinct in Lavarack President Rollingstone Sub Branch Townsville, which he conducted on a full Barracks (dates) - 2004 – 2010 time and part time basis, whilst also (Passchendaele Lines).” being employed as the SO2 OPS (BM)
Brief Work History: of HQ 11 Bde for four months. He has Bank Officer 1973 recently completed other significant Australian Army 1974 – 1999 project work on behalf of Commander 11 Owner and sole trader – retail Bde contributing to the Reserve and wholesale nursery Individual Training Capability including writing 11 Bde Individual Training SOPs industry 1999 – 2002 and conducting TAA04 Training Brief Military History: Supervisor and Qualified Assessor Major Ewan Cameron served in courses for members of 11 Bde Infantry regimental postings as a Ewan is currently posted as the Officer Rifleman, Platoon Commander, Commanding Queensland University Company Second-In-Command and Regiments’ North Queensland Company Operations Officer with; the 1st conducting Army Reserve Officer and Battalion, 5th/7th Battalion and 8th/9th Soldier training. Battalions of The Royal Australian Regiment and the 1st and 12th/40th Other Relevant Community Work: Battalions of The Royal Tasmania Vice President (NQ) RAR Association Regiment. QLD (INC) Past Secretary Rollingstone Historical Ewan is a graduate of OCTU and Society Officer Cadet School, Portsea. He Past Chair Rollingstone and District transferred from the ARA to the Business Group Reserve Force in 1999. His last posting Member Mystic Sands Golf Club in the ARA was 2IC Land Command Other Relevant Information: Royal Australian Air Force Battle School. Interests / Hobbies 90th Anniversary Ewan was employed as a Reservist at Rugby Union (occasionally HQ 3 Brigade as S301 (Ops LO) when playing Golden Oldies still) Photo Courtesy The Camping holidays with three Australian Army the Brigade deployed to East Timor in 1999, leaving him behind to conduct teenage children; Fiona, Angus the Rear Details responsibilities. This and David “This was the busiest was the busiest job he had ever been Rebuilding a 1981 SWB Nissan Patrol (owned since new) job he had ever been employed in either as a FT or PT member. On the Brigade’s return he A 56 year old Daimler saloon employed in either as a transferred to HQ 11 Brigade where he still rests in a shed awaiting FT or PT member.” was employed as the Brigade attention. Intelligence Officer (S2), before moving to the Land Warfare Centre (North Queensland), initially as Deputy Page 5 of 6 November 2011
Planning for 2012 ANZAC Day commemorations
Planning for the 2012 ANZAC day such as Sealink, the school, property commemorations was kicked off very owners, the SES, Police, bus services successfully at a meeting held at the and many others will need to be Magnetic Island RSL Hall at 4:30 pm on updated and consulted with all the 7th of December 2011. arrangements that are being formulated. The meeting was well attended and after the opening welcome delivered by The committee then proceeded with David Pierce, the group agreed that the development of a formal project detailed planning of logistics and time line. arrangements was an essential part of It was also agreed that a call for ensuring that all things run smoothly on volunteers will be made as soon as the day. possible, giving all ample time to It was unanimously agreed that it is adjust personal arrangements. essential that all stakeholders and If you have any comments or would interested parties be kept fully up to like to provide input to the process, date with any and all arrangements. please contact the RSL office or by It was agreed that such information will simply submit your comment via the be regularly published as “Latest News” “Contact and Admin” page on the web updates on the RSL website and as site. articles in the newsletter. Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial Previous committee members shared important planning details and as part of their Royal Tour of information with the new committee. Australia. Photo Courtesy The Australian It was emphasised that all stake holders Army
Renewals of 2012 RSL Memberships All members are advised that they need to renew your membership fees before 28 Feb 2012 otherwise you will be required to make another application to “…the new join. computerised This is because the new computerised Membership Membership Management System Management System automatically deregisters anyone who automatically has not paid by that time. deregisters anyone who Australian Army engineers pour cement has not paid...” into a platform for a water catchment, The best times to pay your fees are while school children from St Joseph during Friday Markets (see the School, Vanuatu look on. The Committee member on duty) or ring the engineering assistance project is one of office to find out when it is attended. many being completed during Pacific Partnership 2011. Fees are $20 for ex-Service member Photo Courtesy The Australian Army and $10 for Citizen's Auxiliary (non- Service) member. Afghan and Australian troops seize insurgent poppy Magnetic Island seed cache RSL 7 December 2011 sustaining production. Sub Branch Afghan National Security Force Lieutenant Colonel G said the combined (ANSF), Special Operations Task force elements were heavily engaged by Group (SOTG) and US Drug insurgents throughout the mission. 31 Hayles Avenue Enforcement Administration (DEA) Arcadia personnel have destroyed 1785kg of “The Afghan National Security Force, QLD, 4819 poppy seed during a successful Special Operations Task Group and Drug mission in Helmand Province. Enforcement Administration force POST: elements were involved in seven separate P O Box 25 The ANSF’s National Interdiction Unit contacts,” Lieutenant Colonel G said. Magnetic Island QLD 4819 led the mission into Baghran on Friday, 2 December 2011, to clear an “A number of insurgents were killed PHONE: identified narcotics production facility during the mission however no ANSF, +61 (0) 7 4758 1233 and network. SOTG or DEA personnel were killed or wounded. E-MAIL: Commanding Officer of the SOTG, [email protected] Lieutenant Colonel G (who cannot be “Destroying the poppy seed and removing named for security reasons), said the insurgents from the area will affect the DEA assessed the street value of the insurgency’s ability to operate effectively poppy seeds to be US$8,925 if sold in during the winter months.” Afghanistan. “While insurgents continue to bring “While this dollar amount is not narcotics operations into civilian areas, significant, if the poppy seeds were they will disrupt Afghans going about their cultivated, processed into heroin, and daily lives,” Lieutenant Colonel G said. sold in the United States, the DEA assess the find would potentially be National Interdiction Unit operations focus We’re on the Web! worth more than US$717 million,” on targeting the Afghan narcotics trade See us at: Lieutenant Colonel G said. and the threat it poses to the long term www.rslmagneticisland.com security, development and governance of The ANSF and DEA destroyed the Afghanistan. poppy seeds in location. It is believed the seeds were being cached in Courtesy: Australian Department of preparation for the 2012 growing Defense season. High grade poppy seeds are generally highly protected by insurgents as they are crucial to
Disclaimer…
The publishers of the Magnetic aware that such information excludes all liability to any Island RSL Sub Branch advise may be incomplete or unable person for any consequences, that the information contained to be used in any specific including but not limited to all in this publication comprises situation. No action shall be losses, damages, costs, general statements and does made in reliance on that expenses and any other not warrant or represent the information without seeking compensation, arising directly accuracy, currency and prior expert professional or indirectly from using this completeness of any advice. To the extent permitted publication (in part or in whole) information or material in this by law, the Magnetic Island and any information or material publication. The reader is RSL Sub Branch (including its contained in it. advised and needs to be employees and consultants)