THE VIETNAM VETERANS CENTRE Vietnam The centre is open every Monday, Veterans Wednesday and Friday (except public Association holidays) from 10am to 3 pm. Call in and have a coffee, a social chat, or to just get of the latest gossip. We can also advise you Australia - on whom to contact if you require Geelong & assistance. District Sub ***URGENT: Volunteers are required to staff the office, so if you have a free Branch day, and would like to be a part of the team, call the office, or drop in and find out more about how you can help, and 31 Mt Pleasant keep the centre open. Road, Belmont. **THE GEELONG SURF COAST 03 5243 3700 VETERANS CENTRE Email: For all matters relating to welfare and [email protected] pensions contact the centre on 035222 6003, or call in and see the staff at Website: 14 Griffith Street, Grovedale. https://geelongvietnamvets.com “The Slouch haT” ATTENTION Newsletter ANZAC DAY 2021 MARCH 2021 The Committee has decided to go Welcome to the March issue of the ahead with the ANZAC Day Luncheon Geelong and District Vietnam Veterans for veterans, family and friends on 25th Association of Australia Newsletter – April. The venue will be Geelong City “The Slouch Hat.” Bowls Club at 7-9 Ballarat Rd, North Geelong. The time will be advised in due course. All depends upon what happens re ANZAC March/Service locally. There will be door and good raffle prizes and discounted meals. There will a ‘private laying of wreaths” at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial prior Your “Vietnam Veterans Centre” is to the luncheon. located at 31 Mt. Pleasant Road, Belmont. Telephone: 03 5243 3700. 1 DATES TO Remember “Pay Day” Lunches: ** All lunches at 12.00noon, usually at the Geelong R.S.L. (Newlands Room), Belmont Please RSPV re you attendance to the Vets Centre by email or phone (03 5243 3700) RSVP must be made no later than the Wednesday prior to the lunch date for catering purposes. NOTE..The next lunch which is due Thursday 25th March WILL NOT BE AT THE RSL but will be at the “Sir Charles Hotham Hotel” at 3-7 Brougham St, th Geelong.The lunch due Thursday 25 March t bat the RSL but will be at the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel, 3-7 Brougham St, CONTRATULATIONS TED elong. It was a great pleasure to present Mr. Edward ‘Ted’ Heffernan with Ladies Lunch Dates: Life Membership at the 2021 AGM. Ladies, please keep your eye out for Ted has been the Patron of the regular emails outlining the Ladies Lunches, held on the third (3rd) Thursday Geelong & District Vietnam of each month, at various venues in the Veterans Ass. for some twenty years Geelong area. If you require further and appears on our letterhead. information please contact the Centre Among many accolades Ted was (03 52433700) or Sue Ryan (0413 743 900) for details. awarded the medal for Meritorious Service in South Vietnam in 1967 for his medical work in the local PRESIDENT’S REPORT community. As a Medical Officer in charge of the 2nd Ambulance This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Company Capt.Ted treated not only the end of hostilities in the Vietnam War. Australian soldiers but also local The last Australian troops left South south Vietnamese. Ted is very well Vietnam in 1972. known in the Geelong region as a doctor, surgeon and Vietnam Early indications are that 2021 will be a veteran. His contribution to veteran better year than the previous one, welfare has been sustained and however our hopes of a COVID free year public for many years. Ted served have been tempered with some restrictions remaining in place for the time with 1st Field Hospital ,Vung Tau , being. South Vietnam. The Life Membership presentation We have been advised by the Geelong was made in the company of the ANZAC Dawn Service Committee that in VVAA State President, Bob Elworthy line with the State Government’s COVID AM. We congratulate Ted on his Safe Framework it is very difficult to run award and hope he will continue to public events such as the ANZAC Dawn be our Patron well into the future. Service. Current restrictions limit a public We congratulate Ted for this well- gathering to 1000, with the requirement to deserved recognition. record the contact details of all participants, social distancing, single entry and exit points to name a few. Given these 2 conditions the Committee decided that Our first death was on 14th Jan. when WO putting on the event was beyond its Donald Booth, 35 Squadron RAAF (SVN capacity, both financially and logistically. 12/2/68 – 12/2/69), passed away. Don was a much loved member of our Association. We also lost Ray Moffat in We look forward to the 2022 event. February. Rest In Peace men - Lest we Forget. At Sub Branch level the Vietnam Veterans Centre re-opened on 18th Jan We made donations of our former and we held the AGM on 8th Feb.at the museum mannequins to the Camperdown Geelong RSL. I have the privilege to again RSL museum being developed by Allan be elected the President of the Geelong Fleming and the Cockatoo Rise Veterans SB. This is my 9th year in this important Retreat/Museum at Macarthur. Other public role. David Sikorski accepted the memorabilia is gradually being returned to role of Vice President, with Mick Hoare those who donated them over the years. again being elected as the Treasurer. This has been a mammoth task and we Gary Ryan reluctantly accepted my thank Les Fuller, Neil Daw and helpers to request to remain as Secretary, but he has taking on this job. We also have items in indicated that he wishes to step down storage at Breakwater and Ceres. when a replacement is found. Therefore, we are looking for a member who is prepared to take on this important role. Membership renewals are coming in Please contact the President if you can please renew your membership as soon help. as possible or let us know if you no longer want to be a member. Our Welfare team, under Neil Smith’s We continue to monitor developments with leadership, has organised Working Bees the proposed sale of Vasey RSL Care, at the home of members unable to especially the Geelong Vasey Village. The manage maintenance needs. These have State VVAA.has agreed to formally and been much appreciated. Neil is also publically express the Association’s desire keeping us informed about members who to not sell Vasey RSL Care. are experiencing medical problems, We have a long list of members who are State Level Issues: experiencing various kinds of minor and serious medical problems. Former Vice • Brereton Report and the VVAA President, Bernie Clancy, has been response operated on for the removal of a brain • Royal Commission into veteran tumor. Robert Musgrave has had heart suicide surgery. Others who remain ill include: Les • DVA Claim delays Harris, Andy Maher, Gavin Perkins, Colin • Establishment of Veteran hubs and James. We wish all unwell members a the changing role of Advocates speedy recovery. • Proposed sale of Vasey RSL Care • The new National Vietnam Our “Pay Day” lunches have Museum at Phillip Island recommenced. These are an important • The cost of the expansion of the way to keep in contact with members and National War Memorial, Canberra catch up on news. The monthly Pako • Veteran Welfare Priority list Sausage sizzles have now also been re- instated and provide a welcome source of income for the SB. “Pako BBQ’s” Our monthly BBQ outside Heritage Meats at 200 Pakington St have recommenced. Dates in the diary we distributed earlier this year to members. 3 Richard Marles MP, Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition, Member for Corio Cr. Eddy Kontelj, Veteran Affairs portfolio officially opened the VVAA State Council with City of Greater Geelong, welcomed the on 20th Feb, at the Geelong RSL. Executive and delegates to Geelong for the Both Eddy and Richard are great VVAA State Council held at the Geelong RSL supporters of Geelong Vietnam veterans on 19th Feb. 2021. State President, Bob and have been for many years. Elworthy AM looks especially excited about coming to Geelong, he is a keen Cats fan. State VVAA President’s Report Feb.10 It is quite encouraging to be able to meet representative for a DVA working group face to face again after such a long time. looking at multiple act processing and My visits to three Sub-Branch AGM’s has other associated issues. further confirmed how important it is to The donations to the Vasey RSL Care sites have face to face communication. I look have been well received and continues forward to the State Congress and State our support of younger veterans and Council at Geelong. others. Despite the Covid restrictions we We have been busy communicating with have continued to communicate with National in relation to a range of DVA Vasey RSL Care in relation to their plans related matters including Volunteer for the future, and in response to delegates, delays in processing claims, and suggested selling off of Vasey RSL Care announced changes to the RPBS assets. telephone information service for GP’s. Additionally, we completed the donation Roger Green OAM, a level 4 advocate and of our fire relief donation to the Buchan ATDP trainer was nominated by Victoria community and the education team and as the VVAA others will attend the Buchan races on 20 4 February to further promote our Branch interfere! It seems that every year the and our support of the local community.