VA39
Monday 28 April 2003
GOVERNMENT DELIVERS CERTAINTY FOR VETERANS' HEALTH
The Federal Government's new $917 million A Fairer Medicare - Better Access,
More Affordable package delivered Australia's veterans and war widows
continued access to free, comprehensive, quality health care, the Acting
Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Larry Anthony, said today.
A key element of the package, announced today by the Prime Minister, is the
introduction of a veteran access payment.
"GPs who register under the repatriation health scheme as Local Medical
Officers will receive an additional $3 for each consultation given to the
nation's 340,000 Gold Card and White Card holders," Mr Anthony said.
"This payment is on top of the 100 per cent Medical Benefit Schedule fee
already paid to LMOs for treating veteran patients.
"Overall it will deliver an extra $61.7 million in Federal Government
funding over four years into health care for the veteran community."
As well as receiving more Commonwealth funding for treating veterans,
doctors may also receive their payments faster by being able to
electronically bill veteran and other consultations.
"A Fairer Medicare - Better Access, More Affordable provides Australian
families with greater access to affordable doctors' services and meets the
long-term health needs of the veteran and wider community," Mr Anthony said.
"A Fairer Medicare - Better Access, More Affordable recognises the concerns
raised by doctors about the cost of providing services to veterans and
delivers certainty to veterans and war widows that they will continue to
have free access to the health care they need and deserve.
"The more than 80 per cent of LMOs who agreed to extend their contracts
with the Government while the new fee arrangements were determined
demonstrates the commitment of the overwhelming majority of doctors to
caring for our veterans and war widows."
Gold Card and White Card holders wanting to know more about the veteran
health package can contact their Department of Veterans' Affairs State
office on 133 254.
More information about the Medicare package is available from the Department
of Health and Ageing on 1800 011 163.
Media contact: Rachael Thompson (02) 6277 7820 or 0417 265 289
VA37 Monday 28 April 2003
AUSTRALIAN UNIFORM DONATED TO FRENCH ARMISTICE MUSEUM
The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, today presented an
Australian uniform to the museum in France dedicated to commemorating the
Armistice that ended World War I.
Mrs Vale has been representing Australia at Anzac Day ceremonies in Belgium
and France, for the 85th anniversary year of the end of World War I.
The Minister said the battle tunic had been donated to the Armistice Museum
at Compiègne from the collection of the Australian War Memorial.
"The tunic is a replica of the type worn by the 6th Battalion, one of the
most distinguished Australian units to serve during World War I," Mrs Vale
said.
"It is fitting that the battalion should be represented at the Armistice
Museum as a reminder of Australia's service during World War I and of the
deep friendship between Australia and France that has endured since then."
The 6th Battalion was raised in Victoria as part of the 2nd Australian
Infantry Brigade, First Australian Division.
The battalion landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. It went on to serve in
all of the Australian Imperial Force's major battles at Gallipoli and on the
Western Front.
The Battalion's Battle Honours, as displayed on the Regimental Colours, are
Pozieres, Bullecourt, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Lys, Hazebrouck, Amiens,
Hindenburg Line, Krithia and Landing at Anzac.
The Armistice Museum stands in the clearing where the German surrender was
signed on 11 November 1918, ending World War I.
It includes a replica of the railway carriage where the signing took place,
the original having been destroyed after Adolf Hitler ordered the
destruction of the surrender site during World War II.
VA36 Saturday 26 April 2003
AUSTRALIAN EXHIBIT AN ANZAC DAY GIFT TO FLANDERS MUSEUM
The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Danna Vale, today will present a new
interactive exhibition to the In Flanders Field Museum in the city of Ieper,
as an Anzac Day gift from Australia to the people of Belgium.
Mrs Vale is representing Australia at Anzac Day ceremonies in Belgium and
France, for the 85th anniversary year of the end of World War I.
During a visit to the Menin Gate last year, Prime Minister John Howard
announced Australia would develop the exhibition, Australian Battles at
Ypres, 1917, to help visitors understand the significance of our nation's
involvement in the major battles on the Ypres Salient.
"The Ypres (Ieper) Salient in 1917 again saw joint operations by the troops
of Australia and New Zealand under the name Anzac," Mrs Vale said.
"The two Anzac Corps spearheaded five of the 11 major assaults against the
German lines during the Third Battle of Ypres. By the end of the campaign
some 38,000 Australians had been killed or wounded.
"Belgians and Australians alike have a deep commitment to ensuring that
those who fought and died here are remembered.
"This exhibition, developed by the Australian War Memorial, will help ensure
future generations continue to honour that commitment."
The exhibition features hundreds of images, stories and film from the
Memorial's collections documenting the experiences of World War I Diggers in
Belgium in 1917.
"The Battles Section provides details of each of the battles fought by the
Anzac Corps, including film footage of Australian tunnellers preparing for
the battle of Messines and graphic images of soldiers preparing for battle,
struggling through the mud and bringing casualties back down the line," Mrs
Vale said.
"The Stories Section features 15 stories of Australians who were involved in
the battles, including Lance Corporal Ted Smout, now one of the last
surviving Australian veterans of World War I. The Remembering Section
documents the many ways that Australians and Belgians remember and
commemorate the sacrifice of those who fought and died during World War I."
A smaller section of the display uses historic and modern pictures to show
the changed landscape on the Salient.
"Today, Hellfire Corner is a country intersection; a sea of mud is now a
woodland; a German pillbox is a quiet farm; the destroyed town of Ypres is
now the rebuilt city of Ieper.
"The land has changed. But this museum shows us that the memory of those
who served here endures," the Minister said.
Mrs Vale said a copy of the exhibition would also be installed at the
Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Friday 25 April 2003
Veterans of war and football honoured
War veterans who have made their mark on the Aussie Rules football field
will be honoured today at the South Australian National Football League's
traditional Anzac Day match at Adelaide Oval.
The Acting Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Larry Anthony, said 30 veterans
who are also former players would take part in the Anzac Day cavalcade
before the SANFL game between last year's grand finalists, Sturt and Central
District.
"The procession will feature former players from South Australian clubs,
representing all the armed forces and will include both World War II and
Vietnam veterans" Mr Anthony said.
Member for Adelaide, Trish Worth, said that the veterans would take a lap of
honour around Adelaide Oval in historic motor vehicles, led by The
Australian Army Band, Adelaide.
The South Australian Football Commission will again award the 'Bob Quinn'
medal to the player judged as 'Best on Ground' in the traditional Anzac Day
match.
"The medal recognises the outstanding career of one of the State's most
decorated and courageous players, Bob Quinn, who won Magarey Medals in 1938
and 1945 and the Military Medal in whilst serving in Tobruk in North
Africa," Ms Worth said.
This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the campaigns on the Huon Peninsula
and in the Markham and Ramu Valleys of PNG in 1943 and the 50th Anniversary
of the end of the Korean War on 27th July 1953.
"In recognition of the servicemen and women who served in these two
theatres, the coin will be tossed by Len Opie who servedin Papua New Guinea
during World War II as well as in the Korean and Vietnam Wars," Mr Anthony
said.
The Ode will be read by Bill Howlett, who served on HMAS Australia in the
South West Pacific in 1943 while Fred Shilcock, who served as an RAAF
Liberator bomber pilot in Papua New Guinea, will raise and lower the
Australian flag.
"The SANFL is to be congratulated for again taking the opportunity to honour
the contribution of veterans and to commemorate those who served in the
South West Pacific in 1943 and the Korean War," Ms Worth said.