Well fellas here's another way of having our web site become even more popular.
When your visiting other sites and leaving entries in their guest books add our Association URL
( http://au.oocities.com/ozflea20/adg1.html )
as part of your entry.
This will extend the hand of friendship to other Veterans. And help us grow and become even more recognised.
Regards the POM.
Tuesday 14 May 2002
BUDGET DELIVERS KEY COMMITMENTS TO VETERANS, WAR WIDOWS
The Federal Government had delivered on key election commitments to the
veteran community in the 2002-03 Federal Budget, with funding to extend the
Gold Card and the implementation of its promise to remove the freeze on the
income support supplement for war widows, the Minister for Veterans'
Affairs, Danna Vale, said tonight.
Minister Vale said the Veterans' Affairs portfolio budget for 2002-03 was a
record $9.2 billion, up from $8.9 billion in 2001-02.
"In keeping with the Government's commitment to the health and well-being of
our veterans, the 2002-03 health budget for Veterans' Affairs will increase
by more than $300 million to $3.6 billion.
"This includes the initiative to extend the Gold Card to include all
Australian Defence Force veterans over the age of 70 who have qualifying
service, providing an additional net benefit of $93.1 million over four
years.
"From 1 July 2002, some 4,000 veterans will immediately become eligible for
the Gold Card, including 70-year-old veterans of the Korean War, the Malayan
Emergency and the Far East Strategic Reserve , the Indonesian Confrontation
and the Vietnam War.
"Under this initiative, thousands more veterans will become eligible for the
Gold Card and comprehensive health care as they reach their 70th birthday,
ensuring that they have access to the care they need as they grow older, "
Minister Vale said.
The Minister said the Budget implemented the Government's election
commitment to remove the freeze on the rate of income support supplement
paid to war widows, providing an additional benefit of $84.7 million over
four years.
"Like the 2001-02 Budget initiative to restore pensions to war widows who
remarried before 1984, this initiative will end a long-standing inequity in
war widows' benefits.
"The income support supplement is intended to provide financial assistance
for war widows and widowers with limited means to support themselves. This
initiative will enable indexation of the income support supplement twice a
year by the same percentage as increases in service pension," she said.
Indexation of the income support supplement will commence in September 2002,
benefiting some 81,000 war widows and widowers.
Minister Vale said the Government had also delivered on a key election
commitment in aged care, with a cross-portfolio measure between the
Department of Health and Ageing (DHA) and the Department of Veterans'
Affairs (DVA) to increase residential aged care subsidies by $211.1 million
over four years.
"Aged care remains a high priority for this Government, with particular
support for programmes addressing the special needs of older veterans and
war widows.
"This includes the Residential Care Development Scheme, administered by DVA,
which since 1996 has provided almost $35 million to assist ex-service
organisations and community-based aged care providers to upgrade residential
care facilities catering for the veteran community to national accreditation
standards.
"The scheme has met its original intention and will close on 30 June 2002.
Other programmes such as Residential Care (Capital) Grants, Rural Adjustment
Grants and Rural and Regional Building Fund Grants administered through the
DHA will be maintained, and the increase in residential aged care subsidies
demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to the needs of the
veteran community and all older Australians."
The Minister said the 2002-03 Federal Budget also introduced a range of
measures through the Department of Health and Ageing to address the growing
cost pressures on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
"The PBS and the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) are
vital elements in meeting the health care needs of all Australians. However,
in recent years many new, expensive drugs have been listed for the benefit
of a range of patients.
"The nation cannot afford to allow the cost of subsidised medicines to
continue increasing at the current rate, or these schemes will no longer be
viable.
"The Government has responded with a series of measures to further reduce
the unnecessary use of subsidised medication and to sustain the PBS."
As a result, Minister Vale said the concessional co-payment for PBS and RPBS
prescriptions would increase to $4.60 per prescription from 1 August 2002.
"The Government continues to recognise the needs of veteran patients with
chronic conditions, maintaining the veterans' pharmaceutical allowance of
$2.90 per week and the safety net which means that patients pay no more
after the first 52 prescriptions in a calendar year.
"Taking into account the safety net and the benefit of the pharmaceutical
allowance, the most a veteran will pay for RPBS prescriptions in a year will
be $88.40."
The Minister said a welcome health initiative for the veteran community
would be the provision of $139.8 million over four years through DHA and DVA
to fund Visudyne therapy for Australians with age-related macular
degeneration.
Some 10,000 older Australians each year are diagnosed with macular
degeneration, which eventually leads to total blindness. Patients who have a
particular type of the condition can be treated with a new kind of
photodynamic drug, activated using a laser.
The new funding will enable the treatment each year of some 1,500 patients,
including about 350 veteran patients, assisting them to continue living
independently. While Visudyne therapy is not suitable for all cases, the
Government will fund treatment for approved cases where patients are
assessed by a specialist as being likely to benefit from the therapy. This
initiative will be reviewed after two years.
"The 2002-03 Federal Budget is marked by the use of targeted initiatives to
deliver the greatest possible benefit, while maintaining the Government's
commitment to sound and responsible economic management.
"As a result, we have been able to meet our commitments to the veteran
community and deliver significant advances to help those in areas of
greatest need, "Minister Vale said.
---------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 14 May 2002
BUDGET ENDS FREEZE ON WAR WIDOW INCOME SUPPORT
Some 81,000 Australian war widows and widowers would benefit from an
initiative in the Federal Budget to end the freeze on the war widow's income
support supplement, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, said
tonight.
Minister Vale said the Budget initiative, providing an additional benefit of
$84.7 million over four years, would allow for the indexation of the income
support supplement in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index and
Male Total Average Weekly Earnings.
"This initiative implements a key Coalition commitment to the veteran
community at the 2001 Federal election," she said.
"Like the 2001-02 Budget initiative to restore pensions to war widows who
remarried before 1984, it will end a long-standing inequity in war widows'
benefits.
"The income support supplement is intended to provide financial assistance
for war widows and widowers with limited means to support themselves.
"We will remove that freeze and index the income support supplement twice a
year, by the same percentage as increases in service pension," the Minister
said.
Minister Vale said the Government would introduce amendments to the
Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986, to enable indexation of the income support
supplement from 20 September 2002, the next scheduled round of indexation
for pensions and allowances paid by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
"War widows and widowers receiving the income support supplement will not
need to do anything to benefit from the removal of the freeze, as their
payments will be indexed automatically," the Minister said.
"However, there is a small number of war widows who currently receive a
frozen rate age pension through Centrelink, the equivalent of the DVA income
support supplement. These war widows will be encouraged to transfer to
Veterans' Affairs and receive the income support supplement, in order to
benefit from this initiative.
"Caring for our war widows remains a major priority in Veterans' Affairs,
with increasing numbers of widows entering the repatriation system as the
veteran population ages.
"This initiative is another step in ensuring their needs are met for years
to come," Minister Vale said.
----------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday 14 May 2002
GOLD CARD EXTENSION A LONG-TERM GAIN FOR VETERANS
The Government had delivered a long-term benefit in health care for
thousands of older veterans, with funding in the 2002-03 Federal Budget to
extend the Gold Card, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, said
tonight.
The initiative, with a net cost of $93.1 million over four years, will
extend eligibility for the Gold Card to include all eligible Australian
Defence Force veterans aged 70 or over who have qualifying service from any
conflict.
The extension will take effect from 1 July 2002, with some 4,000 veterans
expected to immediately become eligible for the Gold Card.
"This includes veterans of conflicts such as the Korean War, the Malayan
Emergency and the Far East Strategic Reserve, the Indonesian Confrontation
and the Vietnam War," Minister Vale said.
"Over time, thousands more veterans will become eligible for the Gold Card
and comprehensive health care as they reach their 70th birthday.
"This includes the men and women of the ADF who have served Australia so
ably in more recent conflicts, including the Gulf War, East Timor and our
current deployment in the international coalition against terror.
"By taking the long-term view with this initiative, the Government has
ensured that veterans' health care needs will be met as they grow older,"
the Minister said.
Some 282,000 members of the veteran community currently have a Gold Card,
which entitles them to treatment for all medical conditions, regardless of
whether they are war-related.
The Gold Card provides for coverage of medical treatment in Australia for
eligible members of the veteran community.
Gold Card-holders include war widows, former prisoners of war, Totally &
Permanently Incapacitated pensioners, Australia's remaining World War I
veterans and all Australian veterans and mariners aged 70 or over who have
qualifying service from World War II .
"Veterans who believe they are eligible for this initiative should contact
their State office of the Department of Veterans' Affairs to apply for the
card in time to take up their entitlements in July," Minister Vale said.
--------------------------------------------------------
From our guest book.
Subject: 30 Days of serving alongside Australian troops
Author: Jim Cassidy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Posted: 07:57:39 05/13/02 Mon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had the pleasure of serving alongside an Australian Artillery Unit somewhere between Vung Tau and the my base camp. Bearcat.
I served with the US Army 9th Inf Div during 1967.
Australian troops are the best.
--------------------------------------------------------
Hi Bob, thanks for signing. Do you know any of you Aussies who were in the MPs who could send some photos for the site?
Jim
VISIT-
http://www.oocities.org/militarypoliceofvietnam
Well fellas i done my best to stay out the clutches of this pack, but if you click above you can drop in and have a bit of a sqizz around.
Don't say i didn't warn ya.
The POM
Hi,
My name is Fred Howie. I was an armourer from 1959 to ' 68 then a metal machinist till ' 74.
Thanks Fred for your responce abit a little late. i'm not sure with this fellow whether he's for real or not, but maybe Bob Buick will get to see this as well.
Regards the POM.
I was at Fairbairn from late ' 79 till ' 73 and often helped out the copper knockers re-skin Iriquois Tail booms, not to mention foreigners for Clive Cotter.
I noticed a letter from a Bob Buick about a Bob Milligan. I seem to recall that back in' 64/5 a bloke by this name was F/sgt or WO in charge of Safety Equipment at 82 wing, he had a shirt full of ribbons then and maybe he did get to Vietnam, I think I saw him in Ubon (Thailand ) in ' 68 checking out the Safety Equip. section.
The letter was dated last June, so by now it's getting a bit old, but so too would Mr. Milligan, he would have to be 70 something by now.
Fred Howie
CLICK ABOVE FOR MORE INFO
Hi,
I saw your post looking for lost forces friends on a message board somewhere, you may have more luck if you try here http://www.forcesreunited.org.uk
Cheers,
J.Jones
I am a UK military vehicle enthusiast and scale modeller, my main interest is land-rover variants. Iam trying to obtain photos of a ADG 110 "gunbuggy" to complete a scale model the only view i have found is the small pencil drawing on your info page.
Do you know where I may find good general views of this vehicle?
I would be grateful of any info you can share and congratulations on an interesting site.
Many thanks-David Wood
Gday David mate if you keep an eye out on our Electronic Blue-Beret news pages you might get to see the odd couple as time progresses, otherwise if the fellas have anything that may be of value to you, then they might forward the same to me and i'll add them to our newspages.
Regards the POM.
VA52 Friday 10 May 2002
MINISTER WELCOMES RE-THINK ON FRENCH AIRPORT
The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, has welcomed news that the
French Government is reconsidering its plans to build an airport in the
Somme region, which would have threatened Australian and Allied war graves
on the Western Front.
Minister Vale said Australia and other Commonwealth nations had strongly
opposed the proposed development zone for the airport, which takes in eight
Commonwealth war cemeteries.
Three of the cemeteries hold the graves of 61 Australians killed in action
during the two World Wars.
"The Australian Government has been making vigorous representations to the
French, putting the view of the Australian people that our war graves should
be left undisturbed," the Minister said.
"News that the new French Transport Minister is reconsidering the proposal
is welcome indeed."
Minister Vale said that while France had previously undertaken to consult
Australia and other affected nations before relocating any war graves, this
had left open the possibility that the development could still go ahead.
"We will confirm in detail the position of the new French Government on the
airport proposal, but it certainly appears that the concerns of Australians
have been heard.
"However, until the French Government announces that the idea of an airport
on the Western Front has been abandoned, Australia will continue to press
for our war dead to be left to rest in peace," the Minister said.
When fellas if you care to click on my photo above you will see part of my slide collection.
Ian " Sluggo " Wheat.
VA50 Thursday 9 May 2002
MINISTER MOVES TO EASE CONCERN ON SAS WIDOW'S BENEFITS
The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, today moved to allay
concerns about the level of compensation available to widows and families of
Australian Defence Force members killed on operational service.
"There has been concern aired today about the entitlements available to the
widow of SAS Sergeant Andrew Russell," the Minister said.
"It would be inappropriate for me to discuss Mrs Russell's private
circumstances.
"However, the current debate overlooks the fact that the entitlements
available to the widow of any Australian Defence Force member killed in the
line of duty go well beyond a lump sum and a war widow's pension.
"The widow of an ADF member has access to superannuation benefits including
the option of a lump sum payment and a pension, none of which affects these
other entitlements.
"It can reasonably be said that under current arrangements, the widow and
family of an Australian Army Sergeant who died during a deployment would
have access to an estimated annual pre-tax income in the order of $45,000.
"As a comparison with civilian compensation payouts, this level of income at
today's interest rates would require an invested lump sum of approximately
$1.2 million," the Minister said.
As well as compensation and income support benefits, Minister Vale said a
war widow also received the Gold Card for herself and any dependent
children, providing hospital and medical treatment for all conditions at the
Commonwealth's expense.
"This compares favourably with civilian compensation, where a plaintiff must
use their lump sum to pay legal fees and all future medical costs before
they can use the payment as a source of income," she said.
"This is a sensitive issue and the Government is keenly aware of the fact
that no amount of money can truly compensate someone who has lost a loved
one in war.
"What the Government must do is ensure that the needs of the family are met
appropriately and with respect to their future financial security. We
believe the current compensation and income support arrangements fulfil that
commitment," Minister Vale said.
----------------------------------------------------------
VA51 Friday 10 May 2002
WAR WIDOW'S COMPENSATION: LIFE LONG SECURITY, NOT BIG ONE-OFF UP-FRONT
PAYOUTS
The repatriation system was designed to ensure the long-term financial
security of the families of Australians killed in action, not to deliver
enormous one-off lump-sum payments, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs,
Danna Vale, said today.
Minister Vale said benefits to widows and their children included
comprehensive compensation and income support payments, as well as health
care and other entitlements.
"The headline-grabbing pay-outs issued by the courts are one-off payments.
They are eroded by lawyers' fees that often can total up to half the
payment. They must pay for medical costs already incurred and for any
future medical treatment. Only once those costs have been met is a
plaintiff able to invest what remains of their compensation to provide a
source of income for their ongoing health care and to last them the rest of
their life.
"In contrast, the repatriation system cares for war widows for life.
"The war widow's pension is not taxed, it is not means tested, continues for
life, regardless of any change in the widow's income or marital status, and
is indexed twice yearly to maintain its value.
"In addition she receives the Gold Card, which entitles her and any
dependent children to full and comprehensive hospital and medical treatment
for all illnesses and conditions at the Government's expense.
"Dependent children are also provided for with Orphan's pension up to the
age of 16, or education support for as long as they are undertaking
full-time study.
"As well as repatriation benefits, the widow of any ADF member killed in the
line of duty has access to military compensation and superannuation. This
includes a lump-sum, taxfree death benefit and super entitlements including
an optional tax-free lump-sum, a productivity lump sum, also not taxable,
and a pension.
"While unique for each individual, the total value of these lifelong
comprehensive benefits surpasses the large one-off lump-sum payments issued
by the courts to civilian claimants.
"No amount of money can truly compensate someone who has lost a loved one in
war, but this Government is committed to ensuring that families of those who
put themselves in harm's way for their country are cared for should they pay
the ultimate price for that service," Minister Vale said.
Media Contact: Rachael Thompson (02) 6277 7820 or 0417 265 289
Click above and visit many a young boy's hero.
Well Fellas Mick Bergin sent these beauties up to me for inclusion and although we have seen them last year they are worth another viewing.
A very colourful Mi - 24 assault Helicopter.
Clicking on either of the two images above will take you to a page with a better view of this Mi-24.
9 May, 2002
Australian servicemen and women of the No. 84 Wing Detachment in Kyrgyzstan this year commemorated Anzac Day at Ganci Air Base, attending a dawn service before launching the Australian B-707 air-to-air refuelling tanker on an operational mission.
Coalition force members, led by Ganci Base senior officer Brigadier General 'Speedy' Lloyd, joined the Australians to attend the service, which was dedicated to the ultimate sacrifice made by SGT Andrew Russell, the SASR member who died in Afghanistan while deployed with the international coalition against terrorism.
The order of service included addresses by the 84WG Detachment Commander and the Operations Group Commander for the Coalition at Ganci Air Base, an Australian Group Captain.
Ganci Air Base padre, Father Volmi, who served in East Timor with Australian servicemen, led prayers and hymns during the service. USAF bugler, SSGT Veverica, who had been practicing daily since the beginning of April, played the Last Post and Reveille.
The service did not stop the flying operations of the detachment, which has maintained a regular air-to-air refuelling capability for the coalition. This capability extends the range and 'time on station' of coalition jets operating over northern and southern Afghanistan.
One member of the detachment, Paul, a Ground Defence Officer, expressed how proud he was to be an Australian serviceman, and to have the opportunity to serve within a coalition force.
He was selected to be part of the Australian contingent to brief the Detachment Commander on the correct security posture at Ganci Air Base.
Another member, 'Wiggo', an Engine/Airframe fitter from RAAF Base Richmond, admitted he was very happy to be there to work within the coalition force as part of the Australian contribution to the international coalition against terrorism
The participation of the other coalition nations in the dawn ceremony was yet another highlight of the 84WG deployment.
The special event provided the detachment with the opportunity to display the famous esprit de corps of Australian servicemen and women and, in doing so, has helped perpetuated the Anzac tradition.
Click for larger image.
Air Force personnel gather for a group photo outside the Australian maintenance hangar at Manas in Afghanistan.
The Royal Australian Air Force presence in Afghanistan has commenced flying operations, with Australian 707 Air-to-Air Refuellers refuelling the French Mirage 2000-D aircraft and the FA-18 aircraft from the US Navy and United States Marine Corps.
According to Military Public Affairs Adviser, BRIG Mike Hannan, the first and second missions included a day and night sortie, with Air Force tankers successfully refuelling a number of FA-18 aircraft from the US Navy.
'Something of a success story has been the deployment of the maintenance and logistics crews with the aircraft. These have allowed the airframes to be operated around the clock,' said BRIG Hannan.
Meanwhile, Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill announced that the Air Force FA-18 aircraft on Diego Garcia will complete their deployment in mid-year and return to Australia.
Injured Vietnam veteran in search for a life saver
9 May, 2002
David Kirkpatrick's memories of 26 April 1970 are hazy at best. What he does know is that he would have died on that day if not for the efforts of an Air Force medic who he's been trying to thank for the best part of three decades.
On that fateful day, Trooper Kirkpatrick, serving in Vietnam with B-Squadron 3rd Cavalry Regiment, was dropping off some infantry at Phuoc Hai, about 16 kilometres from the Regiment's base at Nui Dat.
Returning from the insertion at about 1800hrs, the armoured personnel carrier (APC) he was driving struck a landmine, killing the Platoon Commander and seriously injuring four soldiers, including Trooper Kirkpatrick.
Suffering multiple fragment wounds, spinal injuries and with part of his right hip blown away, he managed to drag himself from underneath the 11-tonne vehicle, where he was attended to by personnel from a passing APC.
Despite considerable risks, Trooper Kirkpatrick and the other injured soldiers were duly loaded on to a No.9 Squadron evacuation helicopter, where he remembers being placed on the floor and hearing someone comment that, due to his wounds, his chances were 'slim'.
Lapsing in and out of consciousness, he can recall few details about what happened next.
All he knows is that in that time, 9SQN's Air Force Medic, whose first name was 'Nick', performed an emergency tracheotomy that ultimately saved the trooper's life.
During the life-saving flight, the medic held Trooper Kirkpatrick's head outside the chopper where the wash from the rotor blades forced air into his windpipe via an insertion cut in the Adam's apple.
'I can remember he [the medic] kept saying to me, "Don't die on me little brother," over and over,' David said.
After his condition stabilised, Trooper Kirkpatrick was transferred from No.4 Air Force Hospital, Butterworth, to No.2 Military Hospital in Ingleburn, Sydney, so he could be closer to his family. He was later given a medical discharge from the Army.
Now retired and living outside Melbourne, David's brush with death is never far from his mind. Understandably, neither are the actions of the medic whose quick thinking, courage and skill saved him.
A formal 'thank you' is long overdue.
'It's something I always think about,' David conceded. 'I could have easily lost my life that day. When they got me on that chopper I wasn't expected to live,' he said.
'It wasn't just me either. He was looking after four of us that day.'
David's mother believes the medic in question was admitted to No.2 Military Hospital in May 1970 - about a month after the incident - after an unrelated accident.
She said he visited her son in hospital, but once he left, the family lost touch.
Unconfirmed reports suggested he went to live on a cattle station at Julia Creek in Queensland, but David knows little of his whereabouts since.
David has asked anyone who may have served with 9SQN in Vietnam, or who may know the name of the Air Force medic, to contact him on (03) 9743 6493.
'I just want to say thanks,' he said.
9 May, 2002
Airmen and airwomen are the beneficiaries of a major win recently following the introduction of a 20 per cent increase in field allowance.
The Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) agreed to the increase, which took effect on March 14, based on arguments that the fundamental nature of service had changed since the allowance was last reviewed in 1995.
Basic to the ADF's case in proposing the increase was that field service had changed through the introduction of new high-tech equipment, an increase in operational tempo and an increase in the frequency of training in Australia's north.
The DFRT found that the basic structure of existing Field Allowance was sound and would remain in place as a two tier allowance recognising differing levels of disability associated with service in the field environment.
It also added a special discretionary clause that would allow the payment of tier one in lieu of tier two in special circumstances where prolonged field service occurs.
Following the introduction, which applies to both tiers of the allowance, tier one will increase from $17.6 to $21.17 per day.
Air Commodore Ken Birrer, Director General Personnel - Air Force said: 'A 20 per cent increase, especially in the current environment, is a clear recognition that deployed operations are a 24-hour commitment and that Air Force personnel are having to do much more in that environment'.
He also acknowledged that the DFRT accepted the circumstances in which personnel find themselves now is significantly different to when the last review of service allowance was carried out.
'This decision addresses the increased workload (operating environment) of our deployed personnel and personnel undergoing training in the field environment,' said AIRCDRE Birrer.
The DFRT is scheduled to look at Service Allowance in September.
Please note that John Fitzpatrick has had a change of an email address it is now
johnfitz@webone.com.au
Sluggo tells me that these were displayed at Camh Ranh Bay.
Mark Knott at the Koala Bar Phan Rang.
From Sluggo's collection of famous faces
L to R / Smedley / Maher/ ?/?
The fellas enjoying an odd beer or two at the Beach facilities, some faces i know but i'll leave you to work out the rest.
Sorry about the poor quality of this one but thirty odd years is starting to catch up with a few of Sluggo's slides.