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Dedication of the Fromelles Military Cemetery
As royalty and relatives looked on, the last of the 250 soldiers from the First World War recovered from nearby Pheasant Wood was laid to rest on 19 July 2010.
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New Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
The Federal Member for the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, has been appointed Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and Minister for Indigenous Health.
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(PDF 939Kb) |
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Letters to the Editor
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Going to Gallipoli in 2011?
If you, your family or friends are thinking about attending the Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli in Turkey next year, don’t forget to register your interest at www.dva.gov.au/anzac
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Major General Paul Stevens retiring
After a distinguished career in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Major General Paul Stevens AO (Retd) will retire at the end of his current term as Director of the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) in December this year.
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New General Manager, Corporate
Narelle Dotta, who has been Acting General Manager of DVA’s Corporate Division throughout this year, was permanently appointed to the position in September.
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(PDF 195Kb) |
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Pensions rise
Veterans’ pensions increased from 20 September following the latest round of indexation adjustments. Your first full payment at the new rates of pension will be paid from payday 7 October 2010.
New pension rates from 20 September 2010
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Lump sum advance for Christmas
Christmas is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends, but it can also create some financial stress as a result of a spike in expenses.
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Income test changes for Seniors Health Card
Holders of a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) should be aware of changes to the income test which could affect their entitlement to the card.
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Changes to foreign pension rules
If you have lived or worked in a country other than Australia, you may be eligible to claim a pension from that country. Recent legislative changes mean that people who may be eligible to receive a comparable foreign pension can take reasonable action to claim the overseas payments.
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Quarterly Pension Supplement
The Pension Supplement was introduced on 20 September 2009 as part of the Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform package. The supplement is paid fortnightly with your service pension, age pension or income support supplement.
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Indexation
Maximum base pension rates are adjusted each March and September by the greater of the movement in the Consumer Price Index and the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, then compared with Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE).
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Correction
In the June issue of Vetaffairs we featured an article on Page 3 headed Increased Lump Sum Advances.
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(PDF 152Kb) |
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Calling F-111 fuel tank maintenance personnel
The Australian Government has committed $55 million over five years in response to the findings of a parliamentary inquiry into F-111 workers and their families.
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How do you want to receive Vetaffairs?
Do you want to change the way you receive Vetaffairs? An increasing number of our readers say they would prefer to look at Vetaffairs online and they no longer want to receive a printed newspaper in the post. You now have the choice.
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DVA cards issued
All Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Health Cards (DVA cards) have now been issued. DVA commenced issuing new cards to all eligible veterans, war widows/widowers and dependants throughout July.
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Travel allowances rise
The travel allowances for transport, meals and accommodation for eligible veterans, war widowers and their authorised attendants under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Transport Scheme increased on 1 July 2010.
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British nuclear test defence personnel benefit
Former defence force personnel who participated in the British Nuclear Test (BNT) program in Australia between 1952 and 1963 will have access to further compensation and health care treatment from the Australian Government.
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DVA Christmas and New Year closures
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)—including all Veterans Affairs Network and Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) offices—will be closed from close of business Friday 24 December 2010 and will reopen on Tuesday 4 January 2011.
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(PDF 168Kb) |
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Gallipoli 2011
Join other war widows for the Gallipoli Battlefield and Cultural Tour 2011. Organised by the War Widows’ Guild of Australia WA, the tour is scheduled to depart on 11 April 2011 and will return on 30 April 2011
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Quick Facts
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Sitting on a problem?
Talk about it – this important issue is coming out of hiding.
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Veterans’ Heath Week – East meets West in Sydney
War widows came together for a very enjoyable and informative day during Veterans’ Health Week in July.
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Healthy eating at Laurieton and Taree
A grant from DVA for a delicious fruit and cheese platter, supplied by the Laurieton United Services Club, was enjoyed by the war widows who attended the Laurieton War Widows Guild Social Club event.
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Silent Battlefield
My husband is an Australian Soldier and has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), after completing two tours of Iraq. Here is my poem that I’d like to share with Vetaffairs.
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NSW Mobility Parking Scheme – concessions
NSW Gold Card holders approved ‘War Widow’, regardless of age, are now exempt from fees for the issue and renewal of Mobility Parking Scheme cards and are eligible to pay the concession price for replacement cards.
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(PDF 147Kb) |
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Australian memorial in Korea enhanced
A major upgrade to the Australian Memorial at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, Korea has been completed.
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Sandakan Memorial Park
The Governor General, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AO, participated in the commemorative activities for the local Sandakan Day Service held on Sunday 15 August 2010 in Sabah, Malaysia.
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Hellenic-Australian Memorial, Crete
2011 will mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, which was fought by Australian, British and New Zealand troops, with the assistance of the local population, against invading German forces in May 1941.
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Commemorative services in Malaysia
A number of commemorative services took place in Taiping and Ipoh, Malaysia, in June 2010 to commemorate those service personnel who served in Malaysia in all conflicts and particularly those who lost their lives.
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Repairs to Perimeter Walls – Western Australian Garden of Remembrance
OAWG has recently completed repairs to the perimeter walls at the Western Australian Garden of Remembrance.
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(PDF 194Kb) |
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Debunking the myths – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service
Some of the common myths associated with Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service.
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Aged and Community Care Forum
The National Health Aged and Community Care Forum was established as part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) new consultation framework.
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(PDF 429Kb) |
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Dr Killer's column – Losing your partner
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Beware – potential scams
Veterans have been targeted by scam-artists claiming to represent the Australian Government.
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Patients rate satisfaction
The DVA Patient Satisfaction Survey for private hospital care has been in place for 18 months and it’s proving to be an extremely useful way of gauging veterans’ satisfaction with their hospital care.
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Family Study – updates
Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study (VVFS)
The VVFS is investigating the long term effects of war service on Vietnam veterans’ families.
Timor-Leste Family Study (TLFS)
The TLFS aims to determine what, if any, physical, mental or social health impacts there are on military families as a result of military service and of deployment, particularly to Timor Leste.
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(PDF 226Kb) |
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Off the Shelf
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Shrine of Remembrance Exhibition
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Assistance for a valued Indigenous veteran
In early August the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) was approached by the granddaughter of an Indigenous veteran, seeking travel assistance to fly her seriously ill grandfather from Brisbane to his homeland in Bamaga in far North Queensland.
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Were you exposed to asbestos?
The Department of Defence has identified that Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and Australian Public Service (APS) employees may have been exposed to asbestos during their Defence training with 105mm M2A2 Dummy Drill Bags.
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Free Macular Degeneration talks
The Macular Degeneration Foundation is offering free education sessions to veteran groups nationally to increase awareness and understanding of the disease.
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(PDF 122Kb) |
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Publications available now
- Out in the Cold
- Australian Women and War
- The ANZAC Book
- 2011 DVA calendar
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SAS History DVD
The Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) has allowed its history to be documented in a DVD series.
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(PDF 206Kb) |
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New Second World War Galleries open
There is no place like the Australian War Memorial. It commemorates the sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women who have died in conflict. It is the premier archive and centre for research into the history of Australian involvement in war and ranks as one of world’s great museums.
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Welcome to your VAN
Who are we?
We are the NSW/ACT Veterans’ Affairs Network (VAN). The first NSW VAN office was established in Newcastle on 4 September 1945 and it is still going strong 65 years later.
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Gaps in Factsheets – have your say
DVA publishes factsheets on the DVA website to cover common issues such as eligibility, types of benefits, rates and a range of health services.
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Reunions
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(PDF 201Kb) |
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Noticeboard
Medals Lost & Found
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(PDF 738Kb) |