Reminders;

• AGM on Sunday 9 October, followed by Greek Lunch
• and, membership renewals are due 1 July.  If you are unsure of when your subs expire, please contact the RARA.

In this edition of Army News   https://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/

Today, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon. Matt Keogh MP, tabled in Parliament the Australian Government response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s Interim Report, which is available here: Australian Government Response to the Interim Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide – September 2022 (dva.gov.au).  Minister Keogh also delivered a Ministerial Statement about the response and stated the Government’s commitment to supporting the Defence and veteran community and families, which you can read here, as well as his media release: https://minister.dva.gov.au/minister-veterans-affairs

The 13 recommendations made in the Interim Report were issues that the Commissioners believed required urgent and immediate action.  The Government has tabled a formal response to each of these recommendations.  The Government has implemented one of the recommendations already (recommendation 5), agreed to nine, agreed in principle to one, and noted two others.  

Work is already underway to employ an additional 500 staff at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. These staff are already being recruited and, along with other process changes, will go a long way to eliminating the current backlog of claims at the department and see veterans and families receiving the services and support they need.

In its response, the Government acknowledges and notes two recommendations and will work with the Royal Commission to ensure issues around access to information are addressed where possible within existing legislative frameworks.

Tim Kara organising the last BBQ.

The next Greek BBQ will commence on at 1230 hours immediately after the AGM.  The cost for the food component will be $20.

Please contact the treasurer (Mike) at rar01@internode.on.net to book a seat and  arrange to pay in advance.

Hot off the press, Infantryman August 2022

Infantryman August 2022 – Copy

for April 2022  Infantryman 8 April 2022

and, for December 2021

https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/372aa22cf26e4539e706972f04490333e07abcad202112.pdf.html

NEW   ROYAL COMMISSION INTO DEFENCE AND VETERAN SUICIDE INTERIM REPORT

ABS Census slides – July 2022

Financial Assistance  Helping Veterans to Stay at Home

Additional mental health support for white card holders

I have posted a number of videos on Youtube of film that I took on 6RAR’s second tour in 1969-70. Each video is about 5 minutes long.  There is no commentary, just appropriate sounds of aircraft/guns/armour and background music. I originally did these for the National Vietnam Veterans Museum so they could be used on a free standing TV operated by the viewer alongside the museum item on display (eg, film of guns firing next to a 105mm howitzer).

One special film is when I went on a flight with Jade 8 (between operations) and witnessed an airstrike by Canberra bombers from the air. Years later after contacting Chris in Texas, he said he had taped the cockpit conversations between the Forward Air Controller (himself) and a flight of Canberra bombers on a similar airstrike. I have included that to add to the authenticity. I believe the film of the bombs dropping from the Canberra is unique in that can only be done from the perspective of a Forward Air Controller.

Vietnam War Aussie Armour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FATinuPC4Aw

Vietnam War Aussie Artillery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mDAMNvPYY

Vietnam War Aussie Airstrike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au0W75-aTOs

Vietnam War Aussie Infantry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9tpxCqskFE

Vietnam War Aussie Hueys    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtoTbN3BHhI

Vietnam War Aussie Navy      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdS926B_xVU

Vietnam War Aussie R&C Vung Tau https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdAe0lZhSnM

The Casualty List has been off line for some time, here it is revived.

Note by clicking on the sub-headings, unit or coy/pl for example, you can then filter your searches.

http://www.thecasualtylist.com/

An interesting read    National-Servicemen-in-Combat

Courtesy Dave Wilkins OAM and 5RAR Website

If you have not visited this site yet, it is very interesting and has some current members of the RARA SA on it, including the President, Mike von Berg MC OAM and Robert “Dogs”Kearney.

https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/

100719 version REDRESS OF DFRDB PENSION INJUSTICE FOR FORMER ADF PERSONNEL

Click on the image for improved viewing, 1967 I think.

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Please view the latest news on the RCB campaign here RCB Update

There is an extensive history to this campaign under the Advocacy tab (above).

Courtesy of the 5RAR website, here is some historical information which may help revive a number of fading memories

http://www.5rar.asn.au/history/information-book-for-nashos.pdf

Please take the time to read this article which is primarily about Michael McKernan’s book, “When This Thing Happened”. The title defers to Michael Stawyskyj’s constant reference to the moment in Vietnam in 1969 – “When this thing happened”.  Michael Stawyskyj is the father of Joe Stawyskyj. a 5RAR digger serously wounded in 1969.

Here is the link http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2015/nov/25/tell-me-more-michael-mckernan-youve-got-a-few-books-left-in-you-yet