News at the RARA SA – 7 Feb 2025

The latest newsletter: RARA-SA – News – Week Ending Friday 7th February 2025

 

Also, for those who wish to renew their subs, see Membership Renewal Forms 

If you have any queries about your membership, please send us an email at the address below.

Please note RARA email address, especially for financial and membership matters is      rar01@internode.on.net

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Army News Edition Latest Issue

In this edition of Army News  

06 February, 2025

Welcome to the latest edition of Army News.

Click HERE to read this edition.

BATTALIONS RE-LINKED: 5RAR and 7RAR merge at parade – Page 3

IT’S AN HONOUR: Awards on Australia Day for those who went above and beyond – Pages 6-7

TAKING ON THE WORLD: Athletes prepare for Invictus Games in Canada – Pages 9 -12

 

 

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ESORT Briefing Papers

NEW

I am writing to draw your attention to the consultation on the joint Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029 Exposure Draft, commencing today. Your feedback will help inform the finalisation of the Strategy.

Please see the Media Release on the Minister’s website – Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy open for feedback | Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Given your organisation’s experience and involvement in the veteran mental health sector, we would like to ensure your perspective is captured in these consultations.

This consultative process will be for a 6-week period, from 28 January 2025 to 5:00pm Friday 7 March 2025.

Feedback may be provided by:

  • answering specific questions in a survey
  • entering or uploading a written submission.

The survey and online submission portal are now available on the DVA website 

Developing the Exposure Draft Strategy

The Strategy outlines a holistic and preventive approach, prioritising early intervention and comprehensive care, and a focus on wellbeing across the Defence and veteran journey.

The Exposure Draft Strategy was released on 2 December 2024. More information on the development of the strategy and a copy of the Exposure Draft is available on the DVA website.

Thank you for your commitment to improving the mental health and wellbeing of veterans and their families. If you have any questions regarding the consultative process, please email MHWSTRATEGY@dva.gov.au.

Your sincerely

Margaret Noris

Acting Assistant Secretary

Health and Wellbeing Policy Branch I Policy Division

SA DC Forum Minutes 5 Dec 2024

Peter King CLS MODEL December 2024 Final

ESORT Communique – 3 December 2024 – FINAL

ESORT Communique – 27 August 2024

ESO Portal Discovery Project – Co-design Insights Summary Report

DRAFT ESORT Communique – 14 May 2024 – FINAL

Budget 2024-25 Presentation ESORT

Article for NCF

Older item below:

ESORT briefing Taskforce presentation 11 July 2023

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Latest from RSL SA

Veteran Financial Full Services

RSL Reach Out Launch Invitation – Royal Aust Regim  -Invite for 14th Feb

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Virtual War Memorial

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://vwma.org.au/

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ADSO Papers

20240512 ADSO DISCUSSION PAPER 1-2024 Policy Objectives 2022-2025 (003)

20240513 ADSO DISCUSSION PAPER 2-2024 DEFENCE FAMILY CONCERNS

ADSO members,

The attached two Discussion Papers are the first of other ADSO Papers on relevant subjects that from time to time will be sent to you for your consideration to help in the formulation of ADSO’s Decisions, Policies and Operational Plans.

Comments on all our Discussion Papers are invited.

In both Papers I’ve colour coded those policies/issues still alive but not acted upon by Government and others where Government action is afoot. Both Papers will assist your preparation for the After-AGM Discussion Forum on 31 May 2024.

Attachment 1. Current ADSO Policy Objectives

In preparation for the next Federal Election (possible in the time range of November 2024-May 2025) we need to review our current Policy Objectives 2022-2025 and to recognise that both the present Labor Government and Coalition Opposition failed to respond to our

request (April 2022) for their consideration and response before, nor since the 2022 Election.

Note that the Status Table is an example from a previous Election.

Attachment 2. ADSO’S Current Defence Family Concerns

This Paper identifies current Defence Family Concerns. There may be others specific to you own organisation: if so please tell me with a summary for addition to our List.

Note that this document will form the core part of our forthcoming ADSO Update.

Regards,

Ted

Acting ADSO Secretary
0418733887

If I do not answer your call please send a text message to return your call

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Signed Essendon Player Jumper Presentation By Kevin Sheedy

On Friday 5 April the RARA was presented with a Essendon guernsey by Kevin Sheedy

Essendon 1

L to R: Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell /RARA-SA Vice President (and RARA-SA (Burnside) RSL President) Rod Graham at rear / Burnside Mayor Anne Monceaux /Local member for the State seat of Bragg, Jack Batty MP / AFL Legend and former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens

Essendon 2

L to R:  Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens / Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell / Squadron Leader Ash Wright 453 Squadron RAAF / AFL Legend and Former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / WO2 Scott Cawsey LWC – rear / Local member for the State seat of Bragg,  Jack Batty MP / WO2 Jack Marshall AUR / 10/27 RSAR RSM WO1 Scott Hannan

Essendon 3

 

Kevin Sheedy at Rose Park

 

 

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Latest RARA SA Infantryman

Click on the link to you copy of the August edition of The INFANTRYMAN

https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/d4744afb3630991b11a6904c5cb4a560bbbeb665FBP28313339.pdf.html

The link is Virus and Malware free and safe to open.

===============================

For April 2023

https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/17ef59c2ff279366dd632e24cc749c7e9c1f1604202304.pdf.html#page/1

Infantryman December 2022

For  August 2022 Infantryman August 2022 – Copy

April 2022  Infantryman 8 April 2022

and, for December 2021

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

 

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Film posted by John Neervoort

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

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Latest media releases from Veteran Affairs

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

 

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National Servicemen in Combat

An interesting read    National-Servicemen-in-Combat

Courtesy Dave Wilkins OAM and 5RAR Website

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Pocket Book for National Servicemen

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

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DFRDB Matters

100719 version REDRESS OF DFRDB PENSION INJUSTICE FOR FORMER ADF PERSONNEL

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Two Items Worth Revisiting

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

PayRates

Join Army

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RCB Update

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).

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‘He should have died’: the Vietnam veteran who never really returned

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

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