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Ÿþs U M M E R D E B R I E F F I N A DEBRIEF SUMMER 2011 EDITION DEBRIEF Patron: RADM Neil Ralph AO DSC RAN (RTD) Edited and Published By Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Inc. P.O Box 97 MINTO NSW 2566 ABN 19 068 073 450 SUMMER 2011 Vale Lieutenant General Sir Donald B Dunstan, AC, KBE, CBE Lieutenant General Sir Donald Dunstan , AC, KBE, VVAA South Australia is saddened by the death of Sir CBE passed away on October 15, 2011, in Adelaide. Donald Dunstan as he had been their patron and was a Sir Donald was born in Murray Bridge, South Australia special guest at the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans He was a career officer in the Australian Army, serving Memorial on 15th October 2006. in the Pacific theatre during World War II, in Korea, and Vietnam. Over the years Sir Donald would always make time to His father died of the injuries he had sustained during talk to veterans, he really was a man’s man. Many of World War I when Donald was 13. those who attended National Council meetings in Ade- Later he entered the Royal Military College Duntroon. laide would have met him. He pursued a highly distinguished 42-year career in the Sir Donald will be sadly missed by all who knew him. army. After serving in Darwin and New Guinea during World War II, he was a staff officer in the Japan Occupation. In 1949, he then moved to Keswick Barracks in Ade- laide. In 1954-55 he served as military assistant to the com- mander-in-chief of the British Commonwealth Forces in Korea. In Vietnam in 1968, he took over command of the 1st Australian Task Force at a critical moment during the Tet Offensive. In 1971 and 1972 he was commander of Australian Forces in Vietnam, and concluded his career as chief of the army general staff. It was a career recognised with many campaign medals and glittering awards, starting with an MBE in 1954. He was made a CBE in 1969, knighted in 1979 and made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1991. SIR Donald served as governor from April 23, 1982 to February 5, 1991, Photo Courtesy of RARA SA DISCLAIMER The material in “DEBRIEF” is in the nature of general comment only and neither purports nor is intended to be advice on any particular matter. NO person should act on the basis of any matter contained in “DEBRIEF” without considering and, if necessary, taking appropriate professional advice upon their own particular circumstances. The VVAA, the authors and editors expressly disclaim all and any liability in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by any such person in reliance, whether whole or partial, upon the whole or part of the contents of “DEBRIEF”. 1 DEBRIEF SUMMER 2011 EDITION NATIONAL PRESIDENTS REPORT With Xmas and New is severely affected. Some States have appealed to their year fast approaching on membership to be able to keep on with the work in behalf of the National most fields of their operations. Executive I take this op- portunity to wish you all Another area of ongoing concern is erosion of the dis- a very Merry Xmas and a ability pension. In 2005 the VVAA raised the matter most prosperous and that disability pension had been eroded by $67.69. Happy New Year. Since then this sum, subject to the half yearly pension This year there have increases, has only been addressed by the one off in- been some questions crease of $50 moved by Liberal Bruce Billson and put raised in relation to who in payment during Alan Griffin’s term as Minister for can become members of Vet Affairs in 2007 after Labour assumed Government. the Association. This is As is evident we have not yet caught up. This associa- tion continues to pursue the matter. easily determined from the constitution displayed on The financial constraints on Government at this time our www.vvaa.org.au website. mean that there is little movement but we continue to raise these concerns. Membership of the association has remained fairly static this year. Some States have had a slight decline At this time we have many members on the sick-list while others have had slight increase. Perhaps in all and we think of them daily. Some of it is because we areas we need to become more active and out there. are all getting to an age where this will be happening There is also the need to let members know that the more frequently but it does not make it any easier. I VVAA is very actively involved with Government in wish all of them a full and speedy recovery. addressing matters of concern to the veteran commu- nity. At this time the Executive is awaiting an appoint- Overall the association is doing well. Of course the ment to discuss matters that concern not only Vietnam work we were doing under the VEA for veterans of our veterans but also the ex and serving members of today. vintage has practically now finished with very few new Aspects of the new Military Rehabilitation & Com- or update claims coming through. Now we are seeing pensation Act (MRCA) that may well have bearing on more and more of the younger veterans. I hear stories claims of those of our vintage with sons and daughters of pension officers with years of experience under the serving today. VEA saying that they don’t do claims under the MRCA. The problem there is that to have a claim ac- The main concerns we have with the MRCA are in two cepted under the MRCA is exactly the same as the areas. VEA the only difference is the payment end. Surely we First is that for a disability with exactly the same im- need to get the younger veterans working with us to pairment rating the amount of pension paid will depend learn from our experience. on where the disability was caused. If it happened on Warlike Service, Afghanistan, one rate of pension is I take this opportunity to thank the Executive for their paid while if the same disability was caused by service support this year. In particular I should also thank Kath in Australia a lower rate is paid. As with the Veterans for her continued effort through her health problems. Entitlement Act (VEA) there are the two burdens of All is now well and we continue the journey. proof, that is a reasonable hypothesis for Warlike and the balance of probability for Defence service within To all, keep active and enjoy life and the association. Australia, under MRCA the two rates of pension apply. That is on sliding scale up to 80 impairment points. Ron Coxon. Secondly when a person is assessed as unable to work and is granted weekly incapacity payments, like TPI, there is a differential in that if the person is on Com- CONTENTS monwealth Superannuation his pension, incapacity IT WAS GROUND HOG DAY Pg 09 payment, is offset against his super while if he was on The Last Vietnam Victim Pg 15 State or private super it would not be. Surely this is The Long Tan Memorial Site Pg 17 discriminating against a person who continued to work VVAA Directory Pg 18 for the Commonwealth. Vietnam Veteran Friendly Retreats Pg 22 CLIFF DOHLE MID Pg 25 The BEST Grant system is causing concern. There has Iconic War Relic Headed for Museum Pg 30 been a dramatic cut to this funding that provided ESOs National Vietnam Veterans Museum Pg 32 with the means to assist veterans with claims and wel- Vetride “Tour of Duty” 2012 Pg 34 fare work. Ability to carry on this core business of the New Merchandise Items Pg 35 VVAA with out seeking assistance from other sources 2 DEBRIEF SUMMER 2011 EDITION NATIONAL SECRETARIES REPORT NORTHERN TERRITORY During the National Coun- Well we have finally achieved our goal of reaching cil meeting in Adelaide on membership of ninety for the year. Northern Territory 22 October 2011 there was membership is now ninety two. Another three of our some discussion related to members have reached 10 year continuous membership administration, in my re- this now make thirteen members who have ten years port to the National Coun- continued service as members We also have 23 members who have five years or more cil I outline a number of continuous membership. points and I feel it is im- portant that my attitude to As always Vietnam Veterans Day in the far north was a great success with the Vietnam Veterans contingent administration is clear. being cheered by the many local and interstate people I must confess that unlike many (and I understand their who attended the ceremony. The main speech was point of view) I believe that good administration is the given by Air Commodore Ken Watson, RAAF, Com- key to any successful venture, this belief probably mander Northern Command. Around 33 books were comes from my military background of 21 years ser- placed in memory of those who lost their lives in Viet- vice where I worked within guidelines and procedures nam and also those who continue to suffer from their that were almost set in concrete and to contravene service. Books about the Vietnam conflict are donated these was often met with the severest of actions from to Territory schools to ensure our younger generation my superiors. learns about the conflict and the effects it had on the Australian population as well as the men who served in Let us consider the alternative, if the Army did not it.
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