“The

Duty First

Spirit”

The Newsletter of The Royal Australian Regiment Association

Queensland Division, Inc Keeping the Spirit Alive

Issue No: 2, 2013

KOK Visitors Centre display on Kokoda Bks

ISON display in KOK Visitiors centre

Museum of Australian Military Intelligence, have placed WO1 Ison in the centre of the display with his photo and a montage of photos showing some of his service history. Eventually we will also insert a small display on a young National Serviceman, PTE Trevor Attwood 7RAR, who was KIA'd in Vietnam in 1971. Attwood underwent training for Vietnam at Canungra. When it is finished the display will have a young soldier (Attwood), and an old soldier (Ison) side by side. Together they represent what Canungra was all about.

Museum of Australian Military Intelligence

KOKODA BARRACKS

Canungra, QLD

NORTH QUEENSLAND ANNUAL DINNER By Alf Vockler

The North Queensland Annual Dinner of the Royal Australian Regiment Association Incorporated was attended by 160 serving members and veterans and was a very memorable occasion. Our special guest and main speaker was Major General Mark Kelly AO DSC (Ret) who is the Repatriation Commissioner based in Canberra who left Canberra at 10am but due to weather and plane delays finally arrived in Townsville at 7:30pm. General Kelly address was delivered without notes and covered most of the Australian Theatres of war and their memorials where he has travelled with Veterans as Repatriation Commissioner. Another special guest was Keith Payne VC OAM and Ewan Cameron Vice President RAR Association North Queensland who thanked Keith and Flo for their attendance. The head table included invited guests, Major General Kelly, Brigadier Shane Caughey Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Vice President of RAR Association North QLD Ewan Cameron and his partner Lieutenant Colonel Jan Cooper, Federal Member for Herbert Local MP Ewan Jones and his partner Linda Jones, MP and State Member for Townsville John Hathaway and his partner for Simone Tozer, Alf Vockler and his partner Robyn Vockler, President of RAR Association Qld. Also attending was WO1 Max Walker RSM of the 3rd Brigade who presented the royal toast. The presence of Major General Kelly contributed greatly to the dinner which included RAR serving officers and other Ranks as well as RAR Veterans, which made the dinner such a success. The Vice President, Ewan Cameron and his hard working committee must be congratulated for their wonderful efforts to organise and present a military theme venue for the dinner. His committee included Secretary Lester Mengel, Treasurer Colin Bamblett, Committeeman Jon Daniels and the Raffle

Committee, Helen Daniels, Tim Jolley and Vincent Falchocio. Our MC John Nutting did a great job and thank you to Chaplain Padre Norton Challenor for prayers for the evening. Kiwi Gibbons OAM travelled up from Brisbane and is a legend for his dedication along with his wife Margaret Gibbons OAM for the RAR National Memorial Walk. The Commanding Officers of the 3rd Brigade Townsville based Royal Australian Regiment Battalions and their RSM’s presented toasts: 1 RAR LT Col Emon Lenagham CSC RSM WO1 John Stonebridge Toast to

the Regiment 2 RAR LT Col Chris Smith CSC

RSM WO1 Brian Buskell Toast to the Ladies

3 RAR LT Col Trent Scott CSC RSM WO1 Shane McPhee Toast to Absent Friends and Ode to the Fallen

The Auctions were conducted by Ewan Jones MP which along with the Raffles was a great success. Alf Vockler thanked Major General Kelly for his presence and for his address to the dinner. Ewan thanked the management and staff of the Townsville RSL for their assistance and service. John Nutting the MC thanked all present for their attendance and closed the formal part of the evening. Alf Vockler President RAR Association Qld Inc

PASSING PARADE

Sadly, Another list of warriors, their duty done

John Joseph Costello 7 RAR Hans Fleer, AM DCM 4RAR, 6 RAR, SASR Colin Evans 1RAR, 2/4 RAR Jim Spring 6 RAR George “Scruffy” McGovern John ‘Jack’ Selmes, OAM 3, 9, 6, 8/9 RAR Murray Groundwater 4 RAR Bernard Francis (Bernie) McGurgan 2 RAR Russell Emmanual (Scoffy) Scoffell 7 & 2 RAR Kenneth John Northfield 2 RAR John Lewis 3 RAR A.L. (Blackie) Reid, OAM Jeffrey Ernest Rowbotham 8RAR Maxwell James (Max) Cannon OAM 3RAR, 4RAR Geoff I. Tulk 2/4, 2 RAR Maurice James (Moe) Harvey 2RAR Roy Edward Clegg 4RAR, 2RAR Barry (Lofty) Bond 5RAR Eli Quartermaine 4RAR John Chislett 1RAR, 3RAR, 4RAR, 6RAR

Rest in Peace

“Well done thou good and faithful friends” “WE CAN NEVER FORGET”

Ex-servicemen are reminded that they are entitled to the honour of having their casket draped with the Australian National Flag. Members should acquaint their families with this, so that arrangements can

accordingly be made with the appropriate Funeral Director.

DVA’S 2013 – 2014 Federal Budget Summary Cross-Portfolio Measures The total allocation for the Veterans’ Affairs

portfolio in the 2013 – 14 Federal Budget is $12.5 billion which is consistent with last year’s allocation. The funds will be allocated to Income Support and Compensation ($6.8b), Health Initiatives ($5.6b) and $85m for commemorative activities.

These measures are linked with work associated with other Government agencies. They include improving access to residential aged care and addressing workforce pressures through

Some of the key funding priorities are:

Mental Health Services Expansion

This will go towards the prevention, early intervention and treatment of mental health conditions and will address three objectives – expanding access to mental health; strengthening mental health support; and improving claims processing by adding resources in that area. There will be increased non liability health cover and VVCS access and a new post-discharge GP health assessment for defence personnel to assist with early identification of injury, disease and medical conditions. A new online LifeSMART (along the lines of BattleSMART and FamilySMART) will be developed

the Living Longer, Living Better program. There will be a restriction on medical practitioners claiming a standard GP consultation and a GP Chronic Disease Management item on the same day. A range of new items will be included in the Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Funding for States as a contribution to the Home and Community Care services program will cease from 1 July 2014. There will be changes to the pension Bonus Scheme from 1 March 2014, changes to income streams purchased after 1 July 2015 as part of Superannuation Reforms and the exemption of $200,000 for assessable purposes where a veteran sells his or her home in order to downsize.

Reclassification of Australian Defence

Force Service

Anzac Centenary

A further $25m is included in the Budget to: Provide seed funding for a

travelling exhibition which is anticipated to reach 85% of Australians in metro, regional and rural areas over a three year period

Around 330 Australian Defence Force personnel will have their Third Country Deployments in Afghanistan reclassified as warlike (qualifying service) which will mean they will greater access to health care, compensation and income support.

Fund a commemorative event in Albany associated with the first convoy of Australian soldiers deployed to Egypt and later Gallipoli

More information on the above and other DVA programs can be found on the DVA website:

Protect and preserve the HMAS AE2 as well as design and deliver an education campaign for the submarine

www.dva.gov.au

Produce historical documentaries Digitise a sample of WW1 repatriation records Fund a local grants program Contribute to the National Boer War Memorial Provide some history grants, and Develop an Australians at War Archive

Editor: The Mental Health Expansions is very large and worth the ‘read’ for those working in that ‘field’ or simply working as Pension Officers / Advocates.

New Insights into Veterans Health Synopsis: If we can better understand health and disease, and choose to be proactive in a holistic health programme , we can counter distress , develop resilience , and maintain wellbeing in the longer term.

from the experiences of Chaplain Gary Stone The context of the health of veterans today Over many years as a Chaplain to the Royal Australian Regiment Association I have received too many notices of the death of veterans, dying in their 50s and 60s, mostly from cancer , but dying well before the age that they should have the lived to. Like my other brethren in the veterans community, the early passing of these friends saddened me but I did not consider that much could be done about it. Additionally many of these men had struggled for many years with a plethora of other health issues stemming from their military service. Then in September 2012, at age 60, I received a diagnosis that I had cancer in my prostate gland. To say I was shocked is an understatement. I have always maintained a very fit and active life. I have never smoked. I have never even been drunk, though I enjoy couple of glasses of red wine of an evening and an occasional beer. There is no history of cancer in my family. My parents and grandparents lived into their 90s. After biopsies were taken, the doctor indicated to me that my cancer was growing aggressively and indeed would have been inoperable within six months and that I would have been dead soon after without immediate surgery. Indeed from a medical perspective, surgery was the only response offered to me. The powerlessness of waiting for surgery and the fear that cancer could be growing in other places prompted me to get to understand more what is going on inside my body, and see what I could do to help myself. I am open to complementary therapies and a range of tests conducted by a naturopath and a reflexologist identified that my body was highly acidic, that my liver and kidneys were clogged with toxins, and that my body was deficient in a number of vitamins and minerals. I started searching the Internet for articles about cancer and its causes. After reading numerous books from the library, and meeting cancer survivors who had utilised a range of complementary therapies I became aware of a range of healthy living recommendations that I previously had no awareness of. This gave me hope, lifted my spirits. I became more aware of how interconnected the body, mind and soul are, in terms of health. Like many other veterans I had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 1998 following my service in the Iran Iraq war. Doctors (who I am grateful for) subsequently prescribed medication and cognitive behaviour therapy. These treatments helped manage the symptoms of anxiety and depression, but these did

little to diminish hypervigilance, hyperarousal and hyperactivity. These had become a feature of my life. I also had a range of stomach, neck, back, knee, feet, and hearing problems that got worse whenever I was under stress. What I was to learn through my own research was that my PTSD symptoms were releasing acids, cortisol and enzymes into my body that were immobilising my immune system and allowing cancer to grow. At the same time a diet with too much sugar, wheat and dairy products was buggering up my digestive system causing me to put on weight and develop a range of other illnesses like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sleep apnoea, taut muscles, and pains in the neck and stomach. The distress of anxiety saw me living with a “battlefield in my mind” that spilled over into my body and soul, and saw me react inappropriately at times with those around me. As a Chaplain of course I have ministered to many people with a whole range of problems, but I was also aware of how disparate and parochial the various health providers can be, particularly in dismissiveness of alternate or complementary therapies, and how most veterans with multiple health issues were not getting integrated care plans. Moreover, involvement with health care providors focused on “treatments” for immediate symptoms with less emphasis on preventative health measures – promoting wellness into the future. I have become convinced that a coordinated holistic approach to health is needed, starting with myself, and my taking responsibility for my own part in rehabilitation and restoration of wellness. Following surgery I am now clear of cancer for the time being, but I am conscious that I must take intentional steps to provide for my future health and avoid cancer appearing somewhere else. I look forward to the future with some hope that I might be able to not only live a little bit longer myself, but also through sharing this information with others I might able to make a contribution to the improvement of veterans health generally. Adopting a self managed holistic programme I have lost 16 kg, and feel the healthiest I’ve been in 20 years. I have had to ‘re-balance” and “re- create” a healthy lifestyle that involves less work , minimizes distress, and incorporates more self care for my body mind and soul.

The essence of the problems facing veterans. Many veterans have had years of exposure to accumulation of stress, distress and trauma, both physical and mental as well as wounds to the soul. The turbulence of soldiering on families has often impacted in broken and troubled relationships. This domestic stress adds to operational stress and compounds people’s problems and the release of too much cortisol and acid into our systems. Pride and ego cause us to want to “soldier on” despite our disease, in the vain illusion that we can tough it out and we’ll get through this maze of problems. But our bodies minds and souls are little different to the vehicles and equipments that we spent countless hours servicing and maintaining in the military. We need maintenance, repair, and sometimes even a rebuild, but we don’t seem to realize this until we breakdown completely! In addition to a plethora of physical injuries to backs, knees and feet, a growing number of veterans have undiagnosed and untreated mental health injury and illnesses , which also manifest in secondary issues of degraded workplace performance, sleep disorders, poor dietary practices, obesity and inappropriate actions including alcohol and drug abuse . Unfortunately the stigma of mental health sees most people with mental health issues attempt to mask their issues, and even friends will not generally be aware of the “submerged” issues. It is difficult to comprehend a genuinely “wounded soul” or to know how to respond. Anger and withdrawal are common responses. The reality is that veterans become wounded in body, mind and soul and can slip into a victim mentality where the only recourse is to seek DVA financial disability support and just “soldier” on with the health problems untreated. Some veterans don’t trust medical systems and will rarely present themselves for treatment . People don’t know what they don’t know, and don’t understand what is going on in them. In this unknowing, they can choose inappropriate responses or miss out on simple therapies and behaviours that would help them. Understanding stress , distress and post traumatic stress reactions

Most veterans health issues have their sources in the additional stress that service life entails. An understanding of what happens to veterans can assist in countering distress, developing resilience, and maintaining wellbeing. Stress, and the memories of past trauma, tenses our muscles, deposits toxins in our bodies, and like cholesterol in our veins, can build up to chronic levels which impacts on the body’s immune system and can become life threatening. Stress assists in improving performance initially , but sustained or intense stress

leads to distress whereupon performance starts to degrade leading us to anxiety and depression , and tempting us to self medicate with alcohol or drug abuse. Secondary outcomes can be anger, violence, withdrawal, and suicide. The physiological outcomes of stress in the body include adrenalin release to stimulate our muscles, cortisol release to shut down other body functions, heightened awareness, and increased heart rate as the body prepares for fight and flight. The physiological outcomes of distress, include serotonin depletion (our “feel good” hormone), survival responses, mental overload, confused thinking, performance degradation, and physical exhaustion . We become vulnerable to a range of infections and other health problems from a degraded immune system. Experience of a life threatening event and/ or sustained exposure to distress can bring about a permanent automatically triggerable distress response (also known as PTSD), Normal bodily functioning is reprogrammed to be ‘on alert “for further life threatening events indefinitely . The physiological outcomes of post traumatic stress response include hypervigilance , hyperarousal , and hypersensitivity . Sights, sounds, experiences and smells similar to those experienced in earlier life threatening events, trigger hormonal releases in the brain and vital organs. The body sub consciously and autonomically reacts to these triggers that shut out logical thinking and ready the body for perceived life threatening attack, moving it into fight or flight mode. The individual starts re experiencing the fear / anger etc associated with earlier events. Repeated stress reactions overload the vital organs with cortisol immobilizing the immune system. Education/awareness of this process can assist the individual in taking counter strategies to calm the physiological response and limit the wash of cortisol into the system, before the symptoms become acute. Persistent (and unchecked) PTS reactions debilitate the body and expose it to the development of the illnesses of anxiety and depression, which have a debilitating life of their own. In the absence of hope or spiritual frameworks, the person experiences woundedness of the soul, where life ceases to have meaning, the person loses a sense of identity and purpose, and indeed the will to live. Years of stress responses manifest in breakdowns in many of the body’s systems and premature chronic illnesses and death. Yes stress is a killer, and is wounding many more servicepeople than bombs or bullets on the battlefield.

Managing distress and developing resilience, through a “ Well being “ regime . In general veterans need :

- to be educated to the nature of the health challenges they face, understand the threat components and the need to develop counter strategies

- to be encouraged to choose to proactively attend to their health through holistic actions.

- to care for their bodies through a good diet, exercise, rest and recreation

- to care for their minds by minimising negative inputs and exposure to “distressors”, and

optimize stress reduction strategies. - to care for their souls by embracing nourishing

world views and spiritual practices. - to maintain an ongoing holistic “Wellbeing”

regime in daily life. A suggested and proven “Wellbeing” regime involves a range of components - in summary :

Caring for the body Exercise daily to release endorphins and produce more serotonin hormone. Whenever distressed, reduce a runaway heart rate with slow breathing and meditation. Eat regular and appropriate foods – particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, drink lots of water , minimize alcohol ( which acts as a depressant in large quantities) , Avoid processed and fatty foods, and cut out sugar in all its forms. See your doctor when /if you experience anxiety or depressive symptoms Be open to taking medication, eg Zoloft. Is not addictive and helps in stabilising mood. Avoid inappropriate self medication with alcohol or non prescription drugs

Caring for the mind

Be open to learning cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) – conduct a mental reality check. Avoid all unnecessary negative inputs in life. Remove yourself from persistently stressful environments and individuals Be a “good finder “– name daily all the good things you see in life ( journalling is best)

Caring for the soul Find and embrace a spirituality or “World view “that is life giving. Be open to the advice of wise teachers / mentors. Be open to trusting in a “higher power” to assist you in life. Share your experiences with friends and be open to mutual support

Invest significant time in key relationships. Become a better “lover”. Engage in team/group activities – eg sporting clubs , interest groups Practice meditation to get in touch with your soul Choosing to be healthy and having sustained commitment Desiring to be healthy, like desiring to lose weight is easier said than done. Preferably we won’t have to have a “cancer scare “ to jerk us into sustained action, but most people reading this far probably already know they have problems to address and hopefully this information will assist in making appropriate choices. We may need a coach or mentor, perhaps our partner, to help us get onto and stay on a healthy pathway. Research indicates that it takes at least three weeks to change behaviours and my experience is that if we can show that amount of patience –we will in that time see measurable results, like loss of excess weight, better sleep and a calmer mind, which will give us the encouragement to keep at it. I feel liberated now after 25 years of struggle to enjoy the remainder of my life, and feel I am getting better by the day. Conclusion We get sick and diseased because we have chosen or let stressful or toxic environments to affect our body mind and soul. While stress and distress are normal elements of life, when experienced in the extreme they will have debilitating consequences, affecting our whole person. Rather than just react to sickness when it occurs, a better way to live life is through a wellness model where we intentionally promote healthy living practices to avoid disease. To develop resilience for future stressful situations, we must examine the way we nurture or abuse our body mind and soul, and make choices and commitments to engage in wellbeing practices as a matter of daily living . Upon experiencing distressing situations, we must recognize the potential for whole of life health injury or illness, and initiate wellbeing strategies immediately. May peace be with you – Your Chaplain, Gary Stone Annexes: Caring for the body Caring for the mind Caring for the soul

Caring for the body Water. We need to drink 2 to 3 litres of water every day. Water aids in the transmission of nutrients and the disposal of toxins. We need to drink before meals and not during or after, as this will interfere with digestion. Sleep and the rest. During sleep, growth hormones are active, our immune system fights unhealthy cells, and cortisol levels reduce . Most of us will need 7 to 9 hours of unbroken sleep, to assist our body to recharge. We must avoid the stimulation of caffeine and sugar prior to sleep as well as any noisy intrusions during sleep time. A dark room is best. Where we miss sleep time we must catch it up later to give the body the repair time that it needs. Recreation. As the word implies, we need to take time to re-create our body mind and soul, in this necessary part of our life cycle. We need to program recreation in our diaries for at least one full day per week, one full weekend per month and one full month per year. This needs to involve “re-creation” activities like sightseeing, sports or undertaking hobbies, and not catching up with housework. Detoxing the body. Possibly your body is toxic, as mine was . A naturopath can easily identify this from urine tests. I undertook a seven day detox, where I progressively rested my organs especially my liver from complex foods and alcohol consuming only “green smoothy “blended vegetable drinks for the central 3 day period. It wasn’t difficult and I felt good all the way through this. Its worth it to consult a naturopath to help you get back on the track that nature designed your body to be on. Destressing your muscular-skeletal system. I knew my body was stressed. It regularly locked up in certain muscle groups. Some of these were from sports injuries, but my neck in particular locked up from stress alone. Certain people and issues were literally “a pain in the neck “for me. I have taken assistance from a chiropractor for joint displacement and a masseur and reflexologist for removal of the tautness and inflammation of my muscles and organs. The result is a phenomenal improvement in my range of movement, my energy levels and my comfort from nagging pain. Exercise. Rest and you will rust. Exercise is vital in prevention of many illnesses, and in strengthening our bodies to avoid injury. If possible exercise for up to one hour each day. The most fundamental exercise is to go for a vigorous walk where our heart rate is elevated and our blood gets to circulate all parts of the body. Cycling provides a similar outcome. This aerobic activity should be supplemented by a range of whole of body movements

and exercises. Stretching before and after exercise will help in improving flexibility. Utilising some moderate weights will assist in prevention of arthritis in our joints and will improve in building muscle tone. DVA recipients can get free access to an exercise physiologist will tailor a program to suit your particular circumstances. Once the body is him moderately good shape suitable sporting activities like tennis or golf will be even much more enjoyable activities. Food. Our bodies need “living” food. Fresh and uncooked and unprocessed is best. Fruit and vegetables provide us our basic needs. The avoidance of bad foods and the right balance of good food can make a massive difference to our health. By changing your food you can also change the reactions in your mind. Most fundamental eliminations that can help us are in deleting sugar which leads to inflammation of organs, and avoiding caffeine which stimulates overly active minds. By contrast the protein in eggs and nuts encourages the production of dopamine and noradrenalin which increases our energy levels. Salmon and chicken produce more serotonin to provide for calming and relaxation. Herbal teas calm the nervous system. We get sick because of toxicity and deficiency. We must consume have diet that gives us an appropriate balance of vitamins minerals and other nutrients, and avoid those things that are toxic. . A list of healthy inclusions in diet is as follows: Lemon is our number one body cleanser-start each day with a lemon’s juice in water Broccoli is a calming of antioxidant Tomatoes contain lycopene- an anti-cancer enzyme Spinach gives us magnesium Sweet potato producers serotonin Apricots aid relaxation Avocados reduce cholesterol Blueberries reduce inflammation Almonds and Brazil nuts boost immunity Raisins lift our spirits Apple's contribute to mental alertness Rice produces selenium which wards off depression Pawpaw aids our digestive system Prunes are antioxidants that improve bowel movements Watermelon reduces fluid retention Vitamin C, especially as found in dark chocolate, is a powerful antibiotic Red wine contains chromium which regulates cholesterol levels Bananas have potassium which is good for our heart Pineapples are anti-inflammatory Beetroot nurtures our bowel Celery reduces lactic acids Ginger is antibiotic Black grapes reduce acidity in our system Lettuce assists digestion

Mushrooms and olives strengthen immunity Onion protects our heart Parsley is good for our kidneys Peppermint aids in digestion Olive oil fights carcinogens Oily fish or fish oil should be consumed at least twice per week to promote immunity Lean meat in the form of chicken or beef provides protein but one small serve per day is sufficient Eggs are an excellent form of protein for daily consumption Foods to avoid include: Anything containing additional sugar; especially soft drinks and sweets Saturated fat that is contained in hamburgers sausages butter cheese and ice cream All processed foods containing preservatives Nicotine in cigarettes, and other carcinogens like burned toast or skins Caring for the mind As with the body we need to embrace those things that nurture us and avoid those things which are toxic. The most toxic impact on the mind is stress. Stress is a more significant danger to our health them being 15 kg overweight. Stress hormones increase our blood flow to the muscles for “fight or flight” and in doing so, shut down our processes for healing and growth. Stress down regulates our immune system. What happens in our mind affects our body in profound ways. Chronic stress raises cortisol levels which turns off our immune system, keeps us awake, raises our blood pressure, and increases our abdominal fat by leading us to overeat. Chronic stress depletes serotonin levels, moving us into depression. We need to manage stress of identifying what we can avoid, and possibly changing our situation so that we are not exposed to the stressors. Clearly everyone will have a better life if we live in a more healthy harmonious environment. This may mean that we need to change our work circumstances, or make choices to not expose ourselves to situations or people that are clearly distressing and toxic to us. For those things or people that we can't avoid , we need to find ways to manage them differently. The fundamental treatment for anxiety and distress his cognitive behaviour therapy. This is a psychological intervention that helps us to think clearly and avoid catastrophic thinking in situations that seem threatening to us. Essentially this technique encourages us, when stimulated by a potential stressor, to consciously think about the situation before we allow our body to go into “fight or flight” mode. People with PTSD are hypersensitive to stimuli that are associated with the trauma situations that they have faced in the past. For

example, a bang type noise, could automatically see the person's body want to take cover, fearing it was a gunshot or explosion that was threatening, but a cognitive intervention would see the person reminding themselves that they should wait to see if there is any evidence of a threat. Over a number of sessions of therapy, a person with PTSD can be trained to use this technique to avoid overreaction to situations. Another simple therapy that a psychologist could assist with, is called exposure therapy. In this technique the therapist invites you explore a range of low stress situations with the “eyes and attitude” of a forensic investigator. Over a number of sessions, the therapist gradually increases the potential stressfullness of future imagined situations and tries to help you get accustomed to a calmer bodily response. The aim here is to train the body to minimise its reaction to future surprise stimuli, by exposure to such a situation in a non-threatening environment. Hopefully the body them develops some muscle memory of associating a lower level of physical reaction response to such stimuli. For cases of anxiety and depression, a doctor may well wish to prescribe antidepressant medications. In simplest terms these medications are designed to assist in the production of serotonin dopamine and other brain chemicals that are needed for us to remain calmer. We should be prepared to take medication when it is prescribed. Generally it is not addictive but that may cause us side-effects like a dry mouth as we get used to it. The medication will normally take at least two weeks to have a demonstrable effect in our body but it is well worth the wait. Of course it is much better if we can have natural chemical production of the hormones that are needed for relaxation and calmness, by eating the foods that assist in this area, Taking medication indefinitely, does not address the baseline situation that is causing stress in the first place. The medication provides some temporary relief but it is clearly much better if we can change our circumstances so that we are not exposed to stressors as much as possible. Other simple techniques can be employed to decrease stress levels. Slow deep breathing will also slow down our heart rate, and give greater oxygenation to our body that will allow it to calm. A hot bath relaxes us and stimulates circulation of blood to the brain. A gentle walk in the sunshine, taking in the sights and sounds of nature, or playing with a pet, or even simply saying thank you and being thankful for the things that are going well in your life can all contribute to minimising and diminishing stress. A problem shared is a problem halved, and thus calling a friend to share your situation, or seeing a counsellor to help you get a different perspective on the situation you are facing, can do wonders to minimise your stress

levels. When you're in a situation where there is no one to talk to, even just writing the situation down on a piece of paper, or into a diary to be dealt with later, or by writing a draft response to the person that is causing you distress, can relocate the problem out of your mind and into another place, until you are composed to deal with the situation. The mind can get overloaded, because we are doing too much, and are allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by too many activities or demanding people pressing against us. Simply using a diary or a planner to apportion your time and to put off into the future, issues or tasks that we experience as pressure, can be a great help. At the same time a systematic approach to living can help us to block out time for rest, recreation and time with friends and family well in advance of the inevitable requests that others may place on our time. Of course we must learn to be able to say “no” or “not now but perhaps later” to the demands that may be placed upon us. Health will only be possible in a life that is balanced, and a mind that is at peace. A very helpful approach to live is one called mindfulness. Essentially this is a way of living that focuses on being mindful of the present moment. It recognises that we can't do anything to influence what has happened in the past and we can do little to influence what might happen in the future, but we can live satisfactory in the present moment. One form of stress is anticipatory, in that we imagine a whole range of negative possibilities that might happen in the future. A mindful approach would see us trying to fully appreciate the positive aspects of the present moment and leaving the future to be dealt with when it arrives. A positive key to health of our mind is to have happy interactions with our friends and family. Relationships are intimately connected to our health. We need to invest in life giving relationships, and give appropriate time and attention especially to our most intimate relationships. Where we are having relationship difficulties we should be prepared to take relationship counselling. Mental health can emerge from having a clear mind and thoughts. We need to give the mind enough time to process thoughts, and so silence is important to allow that to happen. When we fill our life with the noise of television music and radio, the mind will use our rest time and specifically our sleep time to process unresolved issues. Will lead to us having restless sleep as well as nightmares. We must have time in our normal day for silence to allow the mind to do the work it needs to do.

Caring for the soul Defence has recently released a DVD called ‘Dents in the Soul”. The title comes from a statement by a veteran commander from our 1992 Somalia deployment who reflected that he had received “Dents in the Soul” from this experience. From a philosophical and spiritual perspective, our soul is different to our mind. The mind is a physical place intimately connected with the chemistry of our brain. Our soul is a spiritual reality. It is that aspect of our existence where we find true identity and purpose. All animals have a brain, but humans additionally have a soul- a place where God provides us the unique faculties to love and be loved, and experience creativity and emotions. At the moment of conception, God gives to the cellular human form, a soul that is absolutely unique in all the world, which is then nurtured by the love of parents and others and in due course responds in love itself. Throughout life that soul is the point of connection between humans and God, wherein God provides us the intuition and instinct to act morally and ethically. The soul gives us the unique identity of every human being, with its particular makeup of hopes desires joys and frustrations. While the brain might give us intellect and cognition, this all is a mirror of our character and personhood. At the point of death we believe that the soul leaves the body and returns to God’s place for us in heaven, alongside all those other souls that seek God's loving embrace. The soul is nurtured by love and affection, and is the essence in which relationships are lived out in the world. The soul however has free will, to choose good or bad behaviour. The character of a soul develops over time depending upon the experiences, influences and inputs it receives. Theists believe that God constantly tries to inform our souls to make good right, will just and loving choices in the way we live our lives. Some might call this internal communication our conscience, whereupon we have an intuition of what God would want us to do and what God would definitely not want us to. In a slightly different way to thoughts, people receive a sense of this right or wrong ; appropriate or inappropriate way of acting. By an act of free will people to act in conscience, or unconscionably. Alternatives to Godly behaviour also emerge occasionally in this spiritual sphere. Whilst sometimes we can name people as having acted badly or inappropriately, over and above this we can be shocked by behaviour that is so inhuman, that we must accept that it might be other than human. Named over the ages variously as evil spirits, satan, or demons there exist spiritual forces that are the antithesis of good and

nurturing and loving behaviour. Rather than just philosophise about this concept, I must say that I have witnessed such demonstrably evil forces at play in the behaviour of people who have engaged in barbaric acts of torture and depravity associated with conflicts I have served in around the world. I have witnessed, face-to-face, demonic possession within a human body where the person's natural human character was subsumed and overridden by a violent and aggressive caricature, that departed from that person's body when I ordered it out in the name of Jesus Christ. Human beings that are confronted or witness such in human behaviour can receive wounds to their soul. It is only possible to deal with spiritual evils, by accessing the power of spiritual goodness and specifically the power of God. Not wanting to give too much credit to the reality of such evil , it is nevertheless necessary to acknowledge that most bad things are done purely by humans who make selfish and greedy or just outright bad decisions . Just as our souls are nurtured by love, they can also be damaged or wounded by guilt or the realisation that a person has acted wrongly. This may take the form of an action that has been done that was wrong, either intentionally or unintentionally, and has resulted in the death and serious injury of another human being. Equally a wound to the soul may result from inaction or avoidance the that might have resulted in the saving someone's life, or preventing serious injury. A common phrase among veterans in this regard is the notion of “survivor guilt”. A person who has avoided death or injury when someone else has taken their place on patrol and then has been killed or injured, can frequently be heavily burdened by their perception that they are responsible persons demise. In psychiatric literature, such situations are now being commonly termed as “moral injuries”. Unresolved guilt can play havoc with a person's body mind and soul. something more than the rationale that cognitive behaviour therapy can offer the mind. An acknowledgement of the importance of spirituality has underpinned every great civilisation in history. Spirituality provides the framework for positive nurturing of people’s souls and for healing of wounded souls. In the first instance we might look at how the soul can be nurtured. St Paul in his letter to the people of Corinth said that the three most important things in life, are faith hope and love, and the greatest of these is love (1 Cor 13 ). Clinical tests have proven that persons being nurtured in love, experience additional hormonal releases of endorphins and dopamine which lift the human spirit. Love also improves our immune response. A life lived in providing and receiving love, promotes good health.

Spirituality in all its forms and in all religious traditions has identified that the source of love is God, and indeed Christians say that “God is love”. Whilst the importance of love could not be disputed by any sane individual, it is clearly in religious practices and traditions, that the nurturing of love through teaching and the practice of loving actions is promoted. A second important component of a healthy soul, is to have a strong sense of hope. Whilst the mind might form us of scientific realities and probabilities, a soul anchored in spiritual nourishment can be uplifted by a sense of hope. Within this paradigm a person who might otherwise worry about events in the future places a trust in God to shape future events for a more positive outcome than might otherwise be expected. Hope based on faith in God has sustained many prisoners of war, in situations that were completely beyond their control. The third element of this triad is indeed faith . Faith is a religious paradigm whereupon the person has belief in God or a divine or higher power. All faith traditions have teachings and stories that have nurtured and sustained behaviour of individuals and communities for centuries. Faith structures provide people with concepts of identity and life purpose that empower them in lives lived with compassion for others. All faith traditions have practices and sacred rituals that nurture the soul. The most basic of these are personal prayer and regular community worship which can provide an individual with life-giving energy that promotes their health. Conversely, spiritual and religious traditions have long established practices and concepts for healing of the soul. The intentional prayer for healing, involving the laying on of hands and appeal to God's miraculous power to intervene in a person circumstances is the most basic form of spiritual healing. I have witnessed a number of miraculous physical healings through prayer, for people who would otherwise have died from gunshot wounds, tuberculosis and traumatic injuries. Indeed I credit my own survival today after being taken captive by terrorists in Iran, and more recently almost dying from cancer, and subsequently peritonitis, to the power of God’s intervention through prayer. A particular form of prayer that has been most successful in healing the body and the mind as well as the soul is known as meditation. Essentially this spiritual practice involves quietening our minds to allow of God to place smoothing and restorative thoughts and emotions in our being. Some forms of meditation involve saying a repeated mantra prayer like “Come Lord Jesus” or an intentional desire word like “Harmony” or “Peace” or “Contentment” to help obtain the state where communication with God is achieved. Meditative practices are clinically proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure , as well as stimulating the

production of serotonin. Where notions of guilt are wounding the soul, the spiritual actions of confession, desire for forgiveness, the granting of absolution, the intention to make reparation for any wrong and the desire to behave appropriately, have provided many people with healing. Major Christian traditions have institutionalised such processes in sacred rituals variously called Confession or Reconciliation. Historical evidence from places of conflict have demonstrated that these rituals, both with individuals and by collective communities, have had significant impact upon restoring health of both victims and perpetrators, in ways that secular processes of Justice have only partially assisted. The popular media personality, former SAS soldier, and survival expert Bear Grylls, states in his book, A survival guide for life, “Faith matters. Jesus Christ has been the most incredible anchor and secret strength in my life. It is so important to have his guidance as we navigate through any jungle”. Just as you would approach a doctor to get assistance with matters affecting the body, and a psychologist to assist with matters affecting the mind, it is appropriate that a minister or spiritual guide assist us in dealing with matters affecting the soul. I can but implore every person to explore and nurture the spiritual dimension to life. Jesus promised us in John 10:10 that, “I have come to give you life, and life in all its fullness”. It is a gift freely given and a remarkable source of health and nurture for which atheism or secularism have no comparable contributions to make.

The year was in the 70s.......8/9 RAR was a vibrant battalion with the combination of Ted Chitham as the CO and Peter Cowan as the RSM, we were a

happy unit!!! Only problem was the shortage of money and no

wars, we only had the RCB. I was a section commander in BCoy and I had a

real phobia on sharp machettes and oiled entrenching shovels that are functional!!!!!I was always having inspections on my section for these plus all the rest ...clean oiled magazine springs.... My section of course, as you would expect behind my back on the piss, joked about their crazy old

section commander who still thought he was going to war!!!!!

Then, ONE DAY, the runner appeared at the doors of the rooms panting......"all weapon ces...shovels,

machettes, weapon and magazines stripped and laid out on the beds. CO andRSM coming around in 5

mins TO INSPECT!!! We were then hurried out of the barracks to look

busy on the dead gardens around the PL huts. Inspection over, the word came down from the

COY..... MY SECTION WAS THE ONLY SECTION IN THE

Coy with operational shovels and machettes!!!!

We were awarded 3 days standown..The section did not ever bitch about cleaning and maintaining their

gear again.

FROM A PROFESSIONAL SOLDIER.....

NANANGO COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS Facilities on track: Fully licensed bar, Pink Champagne Bar, Winning Post Cafe, BBQ, on-course tote, Bookmakers (covering metro races), plenty of undercover seating, children's entertainment and of course great horse racing.

Location: Racecourse Road,

Nanango 4615

Approx 198k north west of Brisbane in the South Burnett.

Next Meeting - 3rd August, 2013 - Nanango Cup. The fashion theme will be Winter White & Midnight Black. The Carrollee Hotel will have the BIG marquee. Enquire at the Carrollee Hotel for bookings. Great prizes again for this meeting including 2 tickets for lunch at the prestigious Skyline Restaurant at the Gold Coast Turf Club ,a nights accommodation at the Marriott Surfers Paradise and prizes from our local supporters, The Look, Whipbird Cafe, 2XtreemZ, Evolution Hair Studio Moffatdale Ridge Wines and McDonalds. Buses from Kingaroy - Carrollee Hotel and Glendon Street depot, and Nanango at the RSL.....................Lots of fun for the whole family..

28th September 2013 - Fashion Theme - "Orange, Yella and Best Dressed Fellas" 30th November 2013 - Fashion Theme - "Roaring 20's Vintage" 11th January 2014 - Fashion Theme - "Pink Perfection and Pinstripes" 19th April 2014 - Fashion Theme - "Glorious Gents and Lacey Ladies" 31st May 2014 - Fashion Theme - "Moody Blues & Moleskins"

ABSOLUTELY NO BYO ALCOHOL

Gates open at 10.00 am

Free bus from Kingaroy - leaves Carrollee Hotel at 12 noon. Glendon Street

Bus Stop at 12.15.

Free bus from Nanango - leaves the Nanango RSL at

12.30.

Admission Adults $10.00

Pensioner $5.00 Under 15 - Free

Bereavement Information Purpose This Fact Sheet provides information on bereavement payments, funeral benefits and other assistance provided under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA). It also provides basic information about the creation and effect of a will. Note: For information about bereavement payments and funeral expenses available under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA), please instead refer to Factsheet MRC 17 Funeral Expenses (MRCA) and Factsheet MRC 18 Bereavement Payments (MRCA) What is a bereavement payment? A bereavement payment is a one-off, non-taxable payment designed to help with the costs that may follow the death of a pensioner. Where the deceased pensioner was a member of a couple, the bereavement payment will assist the surviving partner adjust their finances following the cessation of the pensioner’s payments. Who is eligible for a bereavement payment? – for members of a couple If the pensioner was a member of a couple, the payment is usually made to the surviving partner, if the couple were: living together; or living separately because one or both of the members of the couple were ill or frail; or living separately because either of them was in respite care at the time of death and the pensioner was

receiving: service pension; or social security age pension; or Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA); or income support supplement; or disability pension.

Who is eligible for a bereavement payment? – for a single pensioner The bereavement payment is usually made to the deceased person’s estate, if the pensioner was single, separated, or widowed when they died, and they were receiving: service pension; or social security age pension; or Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA); or income support supplement; or disability pension at the Special rate and died in needy circumstances; or disability pension at the Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) rate and died in needy circumstances.

Note: Needy circumstance means that the estate of a deceased person has insufficient funds to pay for all liabilities including the funeral. How do I get a bereavement payment? You do not generally have to apply for a bereavement payment if the deceased person was a member of a couple. Payment will occur automatically upon notification of the death to DVA. If the veteran was single, died in needy circumstances, and was receiving a Special rate (T&PI) or Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) disability pension prior to their death, then a bereavement payment may be able to be made to the estate. An application for payment must be made within 12 months of the veteran’s death. Form D9145 Claim for Bereavement Payment by Single Veterans is available from your nearest DVA office or the DVA website at http://www.dva.gov.au/dvaforms How much bereavement payment can be paid? The amount of bereavement payment depends on the pension that the pensioner was receiving prior to their death and whether they were single or a member of a couple. Income support bereavement payment A bereavement payment can be paid where a person was receiving an income support payment prior to their death. This includes service pension, income support supplement and age pension paid by DVA. If the person

was receiving Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA) at the time of their death, this amount is included in the bereavement payment calculation. When a single income support pensioner dies, one instalment of the rate of pension that the pensioner was receiving prior to their death is paid to their estate. When an income support pensioner was a member of a couple, a bereavement payment continues the pension entitlements of the deceased person for a period of 98 days starting on the day on which the person died. The surviving partner will receive a lump sum payment made up of the difference between the new single rate of pension and the previous combined rates of each member of the couple, multiplied by 98 days. For an illness-separated couple, the bereavement payment is calculated using the partnered rate of pension (as if they were not living apart), rather than the illness-separated rate that the couple had been previously receiving. The actual amount deposited may have been adjusted because pensions are paid in advance. In the event that a pension payment is made after the pensioner’s date of death this will be included in the bereavement payment calculation. The bereavement payment lump sum will be automatically paid into the account where the surviving partner's pension is paid. Disability pension bereavement payment A bereavement payment equal to six instalments of the fortnightly rate of disability pension that the veteran was receiving prior to their death may be paid to the estate of a single special rate (T&PI) or extreme disablement adjustment (EDA) pensioner who died in needy circumstances. Where a disability pensioner was a member of a couple, the disability pension bereavement payment paid to the surviving partner is the equivalent of six pension instalments, at the rate of pension paid prior to death. Note: If a veteran was a member of a couple and receiving service pension and disability pension, then the surviving partner will receive a bereavement payment of service pension and a bereavement payment of disability pension. What is a funeral benefit? A funeral benefit is a one-off payment, up to a maximum of $2,000 to assist with the funeral costs of an eligible veteran or dependant and may also assist with the costs of transporting the veteran’s body from the place of death to the normal place of residence. Where eligibility for a funeral benefit arises due to a posthumous grant or an increase to the rate of disability pension, the amount payable as a funeral benefit is the rate applicable at the date of death. How do you apply for a funeral benefit? An application from the estate of a deceased veteran or dependant for funeral benefit must be made on the funeral benefit form within 12 months of the death, or from the date that the veteran’s death was accepted as war caused. The receipt or account for the funeral should be attached. The benefit can be paid directly to the funeral director at the request of the executor. Form D307 Claim for Funeral Benefit is available at your nearest DVA office or at the DVA website at http://www.dva.gov.au/dvaforms Who is eligible for a funeral benefit? Australian veterans who, at the time of death: were receiving Special rate (T&PI) disability pension; or were receiving Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) rate pension; or were receiving disability pension plus an allowance as a multiple amputee; or a former prisoner of war;

are automatically entitled to a funeral benefit. A funeral benefit may also be payable for Australian veterans and former members who died: from an accepted service-related disability; or

in needy circumstances; or in an institution (including a hospital or nursing home); or travelling to or from an institution; or after discharge from an institution in which the veteran had received treatment for a terminal illness; or while being treated at home for a terminal illness.

A funeral benefit may be payable where a war widow(er), wholly dependent partner, child under 16 or full time student under 25 dies in severe financial need. Applications must be made within 12 months of the dependant’s death. Restrictions on dual payments of funeral benefit A funeral benefit is not payable under the VEA if an entitlement to a funeral benefit exists under the MRCA. Where a person has dual entitlement under the VEA and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA), any funeral benefit paid under the VEA will reduce the amount payable under the SRCA. War widow(er)’s pension The war widow(er)'s pension compensates those partners of Australian ex-service men and women whose death is accepted as being caused or contributed to by their eligible service. A war widow(er)'s pension is automatically granted if the deceased veteran was: a former Australian prisoner of war (POW) in receipt of a DVA pension; or receiving a Special rate (T&PI), Temporary Special Rate (TTI), Intermediate rate, or Extreme Disablement

Adjustment (EDA) rate pension; or receiving a disability pension at an increased rate due to being a double amputee or blinded.

In all other cases, the widow/widower will need to lodge a claim for war widow(er)’s pension. Once the claim is received, the veteran’s medical condition prior to their death and their service record will be investigated. The war widow(er)'s pension is not income and asset tested and is tax free. Orphan's pension may be payable to dependent children of deceased veterans. For further information, please see Factsheet DP60 War Widow(er)’s Pension and Orphan’s Pension. Other assistance Recipients of war widow(er)’s and orphan’s pensions are issued with a gold Repatriation Health Card. This card entitles the holder to a range of health care for all conditions. For further information regarding the Gold Card, please see Factsheet HSV60 Using the Repatriation Health Card - For All Conditions (Gold). War widow(er)s may be entitled to income support supplement, an income and assets tested pension that provides additional regular income. For further information, please see Factsheet IS 03 Income Support Supplement Overview. War widow(er)s may also be entitled to concessions on the costs of public and private transport services and public utilities. Contact the office of the service provider to enquire about entitlement to concessions. Dependent children of veterans whose death has been accepted as war-caused may be entitled to financial assistance and counselling from the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme. For further information, please see Factsheet MRC 47 Education Schemes. On request, DVA will provide a statement of taxable service pension paid to the deceased pensioner. Bereavement payments are not counted as income for taxation purposes. A veteran whose death has been accepted as being war-caused may be entitled to official commemoration. For further information, please see Factsheet WG 02 Official Commemoration. Rehabilitation aids and appliances can sometimes be re-used if they are returned after the death of a veteran. Their return can be arranged by contacting the original supplier.

What is a will? A will is a legal document that enables you to exercise your right to select the relatives, friends and others (such as charitable organisations) who will inherit your assets when you die. Making a will You may choose to make your own will. If you choose to do this you must ensure that it is a clear and valid will. You may also choose to consult a solicitor, a public trustee or private trustee to assist you in drawing up your will. The will must be signed by yourself and two independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries. Your executor should be made aware of their appointment as your executor. Why do I need a will? By having an up to date will at the time of your death you will ensure that your assets and possessions will be distributed according to your wishes. If you have no will at the time of your death your assets will be divided according to a formula set out in Government legislation. This formula may not divide your assets the way you would have wished. Planning Ahead – A guide to putting your affairs in order An information package, called: ‘Planning Ahead — A guide to putting your affairs in order’ provides detailed advice on preparing for and coping with bereavement. In particular, the package’s booklet provides further details about legal and financial issues, such as: wills, power of attorney and guardianship arrangements. This information package is available from your nearest DVA office, or from the DVA website http://www.dva.gov.au/aboutDVA/publications/health/Pages/Planning_Ahead_Kit.aspx Disclaimer The information contained in this factsheet is general in nature and does not take into account individual circumstances. You should not make important decisions, such as those that affect your financial or lifestyle position, e.g. retirement, on the basis of information contained in this factsheet. Where you are required to lodge a written claim for a benefit, you must take full responsibility for your decisions prior to the written claim being determined. You should seek confirmation in writing of any oral advice you receive from DVA relating to complex or important matters. Other Factsheets Other Factsheets related to this topic include: DP 60 War Widow(er)’s Pension and Orphan’s Pension (VEA) LEG 01a Arrangements for other people to act on your behalf (power of attorney etc) MCS 06 Benefits under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and the Defence Act 1903 MRC 14 Compensation for Wholly Dependent Partners (MRCA) MRC 17 Funeral Expenses (MRCA) MRC 18 Bereavement Payments (MRCA) WG 01 What does the Office of Australian War Graves do? WG 02 Official Commemoration

More information All DVA Factsheets are available from DVA offices, and on the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au DVA General Enquiries telephone number: 133 254 (metro) or FreeCall 1800 555 254 (regional callers). Use a normal landline phone if you can. Mobile phone calls may cost you more. You can send an email to DVA at: GeneralEnquiries@dva.gov.au

DRAWINGS BY ALF VOCKLER’S MOTHER, IRENE

jungle boots and

bush hat Writing on bottom of drawing reads:

Alf, 1953 – playing cards with Vock (Dad) – in bed – 16 years old.

These drawings were found amongst Irene’s possessions after her death earlier this year at the age of 99 years & 7 months – the family didn’t know they existed.

GLIMPSES OF WAR VIETNAM Some years ago DFWA NSW Branch were selling the Tape "Glimpses of war Vietnam" commentated by Jack Thompson for $25, we still have a few left but now we have produced the film as a DVD for $10.

Please circulate - copies available post free send cash to DFWA NSW Branch, RAACA Building, 96 Victoria Barracks Paddington NSW 2021, with Mailing address.

LOOKING FOR: Does any member have a copy of the original service for the Long Tan Cross. If you do could you send it to the Bribie Island Vietnam Veterans. E mail brivets@bigpond.net.au Regards Jock Young Secretary BIVVA

Kilcoy Country Race Meetings D’Aguilar Highway, Kilcoy 4515 Phone: 0417 607 969 Fax: (07) 5497-1997 Email: jasearle@searle.com.au

Postal: PO Box 185, Kilcoy QLD 4515

Sunday 6th October 2013 - Spring has sprung in October in Kilcoy at our October race day. A great day of racing and hospitality on Sunday October 6.... 1st November - November Races 2013 - Celebrate Melbourne Cup week with the Kilcoy races on Friday November 1st....

Sunday 8th December 2013 - Kilcoy Christmas race meeting. Its Christmas racing at Kilcoy! So come and join us for some great racing to get into the Christmas cheer on Sunday 8th of December.... Sunday 26th January 2014 - Australia Day race meeting.

ACCOMMODATION

Kilcoy has a number of great facilities offering accommodation. (for detailed information please contact the vendor direct) Kilcoy Farmstay 07 5497 2488 Stanley Hotel 07 5497 1037 Neurum Creek Bush Retreat 1300 733 901 Lake Somerset Holiday Park 07 5497 1093 Kilcoy Gardens Motor Inn 07 5497 1100 Kilcoy Exchange Hotel 07 5497 1331 Kilcoy Motel 07 5497 0092 Leopard Tree Lodge 07 5422 0700

Operation Wandering Souls

Looking for Assistance from Vietnam Veterans and their Families My name is Derrill de Heer and I am a veteran of the Vietnam conflict (2 tours). I am part of a team headed by Dr Bob Hall (also a Vietnam War veteran). We are located at the University of New South Wales based at the Australian Defence Force Academy. We are part of an organisation within the University called the Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society (ACSACS). Our multi-disciplinary team has been examining the Vietnam conflict for a number of years and are producing papers and books on the conflict, particularly about the combat effectiveness of the 1st Australian Task Force from 1966 to 1971. You will remember that there were six Australians listed as MIAs during war. Thanks to the perseverance of Major Jim Bourke (Retired) (Operation Aussie Home) and others, all six Australian MIAs were found and repatriated to Australia with the help of the Vietnamese government and people. Just as Australian families longed to find and repatriate the remains of their MIAs, so Vietnamese families long to find their MIAs. Vietnam has between 300,000 and 600,000 missing in action from the conflict for the whole of Vietnam. While we cannot help with all of these cases, we can help with those killed in action by Australian and New Zealand forces. In Vietnamese culture it is thought that if a person dies violently or lies buried at an unknown gravesite, their spirit will wander in the afterlife until their family can find the burial site and perform the necessary rituals to placate the wandering soul. We have already provided to the Vietnamese Government information that gives them the location of every battle fought by elements of the 1stAustralian Task Force (1ATF) that resulted in the death of one or more Viet Cong or People’s Army soldiers. 1ATF policy was to bury all bodies at the scene of the action (called contacts). We know that this did not happen in every case, but our database accounts for the approximate burial sites of over 3790 People’s Army soldiers killed in action by Australian or New Zealand soldiers of 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF). We have already provided this

information to various agencies in Vietnam together with the same data plotted on Vietnam War-era topographical maps and on Google Earth images of Phuoc Tuy Province (now Baria-Vung Tau Province). This data was presented by Australia’s then Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner to the Vietnamese Deputy Minister for Defence, General Nguyen Vinh. Our research team believes that we have an ethical and moral imperative to help Vietnamese with their MIA problem, just as they helped us. As a result of our previous efforts a few veterans have given the team personal artefacts taken from the bodies of the enemy. Items such as photographs, a book of hand-written poetry, letters, certificates. Some of the items were returned to Vietnamese families last year. The ABC TV program ‘Foreign Correspondent’ filmed the return of those items and the film can be seen on YouTube via this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMpoTmEBm8A The return of documents and artefacts such as these is very important to Vietnamese. Often families are unable to locate the remains of their fallen loved ones. In such cases the return to the family of a letter, commendation certificate, or some other item carried by their loved one, can be a powerful tangible reminder of their missing loved one. Families often place these items on the family altar. Our research team has now collected many letters taken from bodies, more commendation certificates, and a set of charcoal drawings taken from the body of a 275 VC Regiment soldier killed at the Battle of Long Tan, and other items. The team, through our contacts in Vietnam, is currently trying to find the family of the fallen soldiers so that these items can be returned to family members.

The Geneva Conventions (Convention 1, Articles 16 and 17) state that items of a personal nature taken from the enemy should be returned to the member or to their family.

The Operation Wandering Souls Team is seeking your help as indicated in the attachment to operate as a collection point for these items and through our contacts return them to the families of their soldiers, most of whom are their ‘missing in action’. In November last year, the Vietnamese delegation at the annual Australia/Vietnam Defence Cooperation meeting requested the return of any artefacts Australia might have. The Operation Wandering Souls team is returning to Vietnam sometime in the next three months to return items to families that are found. Any items we have that remain unclaimed by a family member will be presented to the Vietnamese Government. This year is the 40th anniversary of Australian recognition of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and for that reason, is a great year to do what we can to help Vietnamese people with their MIA problem. For the Wandering Souls Team it will be the last time we are able to do this. In future, any items handed to us will be given to the Vietnamese Embassy here in Canberra.

What can you do? We’re now asking Vietnam veterans who may have ‘liberated’ documents or other items from bodies, or collected items from the battlefield, and still have them, to consider returning them to Vietnam so that Vietnamese families can be reunited with items their loved ones once carried.

If you would like to send them to us, please send them to the address given on the attachment or the address below. If you can remember the approximate date (day or month or year) the item came into your possession, the circumstances and the unit or sub-unit concerned, that would be of assistance in helping us to find the soldier’s burial site and his family. We would be grateful if you could circulate the attached flier as widely as possible among the Australian and New Zealand Vietnam veteran community.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Regards Derrill Derrill de Heer Visiting Fellow, Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy, PO Box 7916, Canberra BC ACT 2610. Australia Telephone: +61 2 6268 8848 Facsimile: +61 2 6268 8879 Mobile (Cell): 0414 574 605 Email: d.deheer@adfa.edu.au http://hass.unsw.adfa.edu.au/staff/profiles/de%20Heer.html

RAR ASSOCIATION QLD DIV INC

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Name:…………………………………………………………………………… Address: ………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Post Code: ……………………………. Renew My Membership for : 1 Year $20.00 3 Years $50.00 Duty First Magazine: 1 Year $20.00

( 2 x copies )

Total $ Send: Cheque or Money Order to - RAR Assoc Qld Return To: Direct Deposit: RAR Assoc Qld Div Inc Bank: Commonwealth Enoggera Mail Centre Branch: Stafford Qld Gallipoli Barracks BSB: 064 140 Enoggera Qld 4051 Account: 0090 2725

RAR ASSOC QLD

MERCHANDISE LIST ORDER FORM Serial Item Price Remarks Number Required

1 RAR Assoc Sports Shirt- With Pocket $40.00 2 RAR Assoc Cap $14.50 3 RAR Assoc Hat Band $7.00 4 RAR Tie $20.00 5 RAR Bow Tie $12.00 6 National Memorial Walk Plaque $45.00 7 RAR Assoc Stubbie Holder $5.00 or 5 for $20.00 8 Infantry Combat Badge Small $8.00 Infantry Combat Badge Large $8.00 9 Lapel Badge Bronze Small $8.00 Lapel Badge Bronze Large $8.00 Lapel Badge Gold Small $8.00 Lapel Badge Gold Large $8.00

10 RAR Assoc Car Bumper Sticker $2.50

11 RAR Badge Window Sticker Gold $3.00 or 10 for $20.00 RAR Badge Window Sticker Black $3.00 or 10 for $20.00

12 CD RAR $12.00

Check RAR Assoc Qld Website for photos of Merchandise Items

A Postage Charge of $10.00 is requred for large items Small items require a postage fee of $5.50

Name: ……………………………………………………………………………. Address :……………………………………………………………………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Send Cheque to: Direct Deposit to: RAR Assoc Qld RAR Assoc Qld Enoggera Mail Centre Bank Commonwealth Stafford Gallipoli Barracks BSB: 064 140 Enoggera Qld 4051 Account No: 0090 2725

KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT

ASSOCIATION(QUEENSLAND DIVISION) INC

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013

Notice is hereby given that all Committee positions will be declared vacant at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association to be held at 1000 hours Sunday 11 AUG 2013 at COMD Mess Conf Centre, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Qld, 4051. Members attending are asked to arrive at 0930 hours to enjoy morning tea and check their financial status. Only financial members are permitted to vote or stand for election. If you wish to nominate yourself or another person for a position on the Committee, complete the Nomination Form, & submit your nomination in the prescribed manner. The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

Attendance / Apologies .............................................................................Secretary Confirmation of Previous Minutes ...........................................................President Business Arising........................................................................................President Reports .......................................................................................................President Financial / Auditors Report.......................................................................Treasurer Appointment of Auditors ..........................................................................Treasurer Election of Office Bearers.........................................................................Chairman General Business .......................................................................................President Next Meeting .............................................................................................Secretary Note: Any matters for discussion / notice of motion under General Business must be notified to the Secretary in writing no later than ten days (01 AUG 2013 ) before the date of the AGM and the Agenda and Notices of Motion will be notified electrically and posted on the Notice Broad www.rar.org.au by 22 July 2013 and confirmed in writing at the meeting.

G DECKER Secretary 16 may 2013

KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013 THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT ASSOCIATION (OLD DIVISION) INC

PROXY FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013

To be forwarded to the Secretary Royal Australian Regiment Association (Queensland Division) Inc, Building E71, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera Qld 4051, prior to the commencement of the meeting.

I, ..................................................... …………….. of ............................................... ………………

Being a * Annual Member / 3 Year Member / 5 Year Member / Life Member of the above named association and entitled to vote under its rules, hereby appoint

*................................................................of................................................................. or, failing him

* ………………………............. of, ………………………………………, or the * President of the meeting. As my proxy to vote on my behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Association to be held at 1000 hours Sunday 11 AUG 13 at COMD Mess Conf Centre, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Qld, 4051, and at any resumption after the adjournment there of. Signed this...........................................Day of ......................................………………………………..2013 *(Strike out whichever is not required)

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT ASSOCIATION (OLD DIVISION) INC

NOMINATION FORM

To be forwarded to the Secretary The Royal Australian Regiment Association (Queensland Division) Inc, Building E71, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera Qld 4051, no later than 72 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting.

I. .. ...... .. ......... .. ......... ........... .........being a financial member of the RAR Association (Queensland Division) Inc, hereby nominate

…………………………………………………………………………………….for the position of

…………………………………………………………………………………… in the Queensland Division for the year 2013 Signed .................................................. ..Nominator....................................................... Date Signed ................................................... Seconder.......................................................... Date I ……………………………………………………………… being a financial member of the RAR Association (Queensland Division) Inc, accept the nomination for the above position. Name of Nominee:…………………………….Signature of Nominee: …………………................. Date……………………..

KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013 Methods of Voting The First Past the Post method of voting will be used. This means the nominee with the most number of votes for a position wins.

Listed below are the current Executive and Committee positions and incumbents filling the positions. TITLE INCUMBENT NOMINATION

President A VOCKLER Immediate Past President K RYAN Vice President (SQ) Vacant Vice President (NQ) E Cameron Secretary G Decker Treasurer R Goodall NMW Curator Paul Gallagher NMW CO-ORD M.R Gibbons Newsletter Editor Allan Whelan Web Master R.J. Hollingdrake, OAM Asst Secretary Vacant Printing Co-Ord David Huntley Welfare R. Langford Committee D Penman D Huntley Darling Downs R Boxall Gold Coast Vacant Sunshine Coast K Lynch North Queensland E Camron Padre Chaplain Peter Devenish-Meres Auditor Mr P. Masters