Your Defence Community Magazine AUGUST 2019 Caring for our Defence Family Contents 3 President's Report 4 Executive Officer's Report The Returned & Services League of Australia Cairns Sub Branch Welcome from the new 5 115 Esplanade, Cairns Board of Directors PO Box 94, North Cairns Qld 4870 07 4051 5254 [email protected] 7 Kokoda Hall Museum Report 9 News Briefs BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Kristen Rice (Navy) 11 Anzac Day Services [email protected] Vice President: Peter Hayton (Air Force) [email protected] 16 International Women's Day Treasurer: Ben Hemphill (Navy) [email protected] The Spirit of Anzac – Director: John Paterson (Army) 19 [email protected] Through the Prism of Children Director: Rob Lee (Army) [email protected] 20 Day Club Director: Kevin Byrne (Air Force) [email protected] Director: Lee-ann Greenwood (Navy) LIVE! PTSD [email protected] 22 Director: Gerry Tooth (Air Force) [email protected] 24 Ex-Service Organisation Reports Director: Nathan Shingles (Navy) [email protected] STAFF 25 Member Submissions Executive Officer: Mal McCullough (Army) [email protected] 32 Calendar of Events Marketing & Events Coordinator: Rebecca Milliner [email protected] Administration Officer: Niki Bebonis (Navy) [email protected] PENSIONS ADVOCACY AND WELFARE SERVICES (PAWS) Senior Advocacy Officer: Phil Watson (Army) [email protected] Advocacy Officer: Gerry Tooth (Air Force) COVER: [email protected] Kristen Rice – Cairns RSL Sub Branch President Main image: Cairns Post (edited). Images: Kristen Rice collection. Design: Nettie O Design • www.nettieodesign.com 2 SIT-REP August 2019 PRESIDENT’S REPORT In this my first President’s Report, I would like to part of the close knit, high performing Admiral's thank our immediate past President, Mr Buster staff. Nathan now runs his own successful property Todd, for his many years of service to Cairns RSL business based in the Cairns northern beaches — Sub Branch. I wish him and his family well for the welcome Nathan. future, particularly as Vice President of the Far As part of the welcoming brief, I would also like Northern District RSL. to welcome Mr Andrew Forrest, who is our new Congratulations must go out to all the volunteers volunteer trainee Compensation and Rehabilitation and staff who made ANZAC Day 2019 a great day Advocate under the keen eye of our Senior this year. As noted in our previous Sit-Rep, the Advocate, Mr Phil Watson. Andrew has had recent march time was changed this year to see if this service and experience with the DVA claims would be more accommodating. The feedback I process, which can only add to the success and have received was that overwhelmingly the new relevancy of our volunteer based welfare services earlier timing for the ANZAC Day March was very across all veteran demographics. much appreciated by both veterans and their I'm pleased to see that our Cairns RSL Sub Branch families alike. Crowd numbers, as seen in our Young Veterans initiative has had a solid start with ANZAC Dawn Service photographs, suggest it a meeting of a critical mass of young veterans, of was our biggest attendance year yet. I had the which I attended the first meeting. The enthusiasm pleasure of attending a volunteer ANZAC Day shown was infectious and I am looking forward lunch in appreciation of this great effort, much to seeing the ideas and initiatives flow from what of which was behind the scenes, in what was the is a crucial plank of our five-year strategic plan in bringing together of many community and military supporting and keeping the Cairns RSL Sub Branch based organisations. This year marked the 20th relevant to future generations of veterans and their anniversary of INTERFET, with veterans reciting families. the ode. Petty Officer (PO) Bosun Dale Gilbert, an INTERFET veteran himself, passed on to me that There are a lot of initiatives and events occurring he was particularly chuffed to be selected for such in and around the Cairns RSL Sub Branch. I an important occasion. For your information, our encourage the membership to keep eyes peeled— bugler who played the Last Post, was ten-year-old if digitally inclined—to our Facebook page, soon to school girl Olivia Stein who didn't miss a beat — a be updated website, emails, etc and if paper based, job very well done. our Sit-Rep magazine and mail outs for all these and other great initiatives. PO Bosun Gilbert was also the guest speaker at our Veterans' Dinner as hosted by Rotary (and Look forward to seeing you all around the Cairns supported by Cairns RSL Sub Branch). Rotary also RSL Sub Branch. arranged transportation to and from the dinner Yours Aye, held in the Catalina Room. This dinner is held just before ANZAC Day each year and I highly Kristen Rice recommend it to the membership. It was great President to see the Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Cr Bob Cairns RSL Sub Branch Manning in attendance as well. I have also been travelling to schools around Cairns and the wider Cairns district in order to present winning and contribution certificates for the Spirit of ANZAC – Through the Prism of Children poetry competition. The winner, Caitlin Dwyer CAIRNS RSL SUB BRANCH was at our book launch with her mum and as part NON-LEAGUE MEMBER of the winning prize, was flown to Canberra with 2019 her family where they met Dr Brendan Nelson, Use of this card signifies an agreement to Cairns RSL Sub Branch Director of the Australian War Memorial. Please Member #: xx Incorporated constitutions, policies XX and procedures. This card remains the see our friendly staff for this free limited-edition property of Cairns RSL Sub Branch. publication. Cairns Sub Branch If found, please return to: Cairns RSL Sub Branch I also would like to welcome our newest Board PO Box 94 North Cairns QLD 4870 member, Mr Nathan Shingles to the Cairns RSL 07 4051 5254 Sub Branch Board. Nathan filled a casual vacancy position and was one of many great candidates who applied when advertised. Nathan is very keen to contribute in making a difference to veterans’ Introducing our new membership card for lives and their families through the Cairns RSL Cairns RSL Sub Branch non-League members. Sub Branch. Nathan is an ex-Navy chef who has See page 30 for how to join! worked in high intensity kitchens such as those as SIT-REP August 2019 3 executive officer’S REPORT As we move into the second half of the year it is a programs that the veteran and their family may great time to reflect upon the ongoing continuous access both from the Sub Branch, RSL QLD and improvement of the Sub Branch services in Caring DVA information. For Our Defence Family. The Spirit of ANZAC – Through the Prism of The volunteers and staff of the Sub Branch have Children publication of poems and essays by been achieving fantastic outcomes in continuing children from various schools across the region, to build upon the services and programs that was published in May and has received very are provided. One of the major innovations that positive feedback. The winner of the competition attracted much attention was the bringing forward flew to Canberra with her family and presented of the march time on ANZAC Day. The change copies of the publication to the President of RSL in time assisted many of our older veterans and ACT and Dr Brendan Nelson of the Australian the children and families that came to pay their War Memorial. Copies of the publication can be respects, in not having to stand around in or march obtained at front desk of the Sub Branch. in the heat. The change also enabled a greater flow There are a range of initiatives that have been between the three events and assisted in retaining implemented right across our services and those who attended the Dawn Service, for the programs and we will continue to seek new and March and the Commemorative Service. innovative ways to improve and respond to Caring Of course, with every new initiative there has been For Our Defence Family. a review and despite some minor improvements As always I encourage everyone to contact the Sub to timings it was seen by the ANZAC Day Branch through [email protected] to offer your planning committee, and with feedback from the feedback and suggestions. community, as a great success and welcomed by the majority of those in attendance and Mal McCullough participating. Executive Officer On 6 May, another great innovative was achieved Cairns RSL Sub Branch with the return of the Legacy office operations to the Sub Branch. The co-location of Legacy within the Sub Branch offers a whole range of value adds to both agencies as we closely liaise together, which has already seen some terrific outcomes for Our Defence Family. Continually updating our skills and knowledge is an important part of personal and professional growth. On 3–4 July, the Sub Branch hosted the RSL Qld Volunteer Compensation and Wellbeing training. This two-day program is available to all Sub Branch current volunteers who want to keep their practise skills up to date and also for any Sub Branch members or a member of their family who may be thinking about getting more involved in the Sub Branch programs and services. The free training was held in the Catalina Room. For a period of time the Sub Branch has been negotiating with the Cairns Hinterland and Hospital Health Service for us to provide a Veteran Visiting Program at the Cairns Hospital, similar in style to what we currently do at the Cairns Private Hospital.