Page 3761 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 26 August 2009
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month’s national congress, Bill will be stepping down as president. Bill has served as president since 2003 and has ably led the organisation through this time. I would like to record my thanks to Bill, a resident of Ginninderra and a high profile Canberran, for the tireless work he has contributed to the cause.
There are a number of other organisations across the ACT that are also committed, and do so tirelessly, to the welfare of veterans. As the shadow minister for veterans affairs said, there is an umbrella organisation of these ex-service organisations called the ACT Kindred Organisations Committee. This committee includes all ex-service organisations that want to be represented and brings issues of importance to the veteran community to the attention of the ACT government and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
The organisations currently a part of the ACT Kindred Organisations Committee are: the Australian army training team in Vietnam; the ACT Returned and Services League; the ACT Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Association; the ACT Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Wives Association; the Defence Force Welfare Association; the Korea and South East Asia Forces Association; Legacy; the National Servicemen and Combined Force Association; the Naval Association of Australia ACT section; the Partners of Veterans Association; the ACT Royal Australian Air Force Association; the Royal Navy Association; the Veterans Assistance and Advisory Office; the Vietnam Veterans Association; the Vietnam Veterans Federation; the War Widows Guild; and the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service Association ACT.
Some of the particular issues of concern to the Kindred Organisations Committee at the moment include parking at the Canberra Hospital, the veterans park development, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs medical cards acceptance at Canberra Hospital and the impact that medical clinic closures is having on the veteran community. In addition to this sort of advocacy, the Kindred Organisations Committee also ensures that the veterans community is well informed of what government services and welfare services are available to them and how they can best access them.
Through their participation on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs deputy commissioner consultative forum and their pension and welfare courses, they are able to ensure that the relevant issues are communicated to veterans through the relevant ex-service organisation. To Pat McCabe, the chairperson, and Margaret Smith, the secretary, thank you for all the work that you do for the ex-service community, and I wish you well in your future work in addressing issues on behalf of the veteran community.
I would also like to mention the work of the Morshead Home for Veterans and Aged Persons. This home is particularly focused on the care and welfare of those in our veterans community. Thank you to the chief executive, director of care, and all the staff who do such a wonderful job for our ex-service community at this organisation.
The decision by the Canberra Liberals to appoint a shadow minister for veterans affairs is indicative of our commitment to serving and ex-service men and women and their families. The opposition is determined to get their priorities right, including
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