Dear member,
Autumn has arrived, cooler days and lovely nights for sleeping!
PVA Victoria is back in full swing, we have an enthusiastic executive and delegates on board ‘beavering’ away, if you would like to attend our meetings as an observer with input and suggestions you will be made most welcome!
A busy year is well under way; our membership Secretary Pam has taken off with husband Neil to join the nomads touring Australia and are due back about October we wish them “safe journey” in the interim acting membership secretary is Joy Herman, Vice-President (and National delegate on the Ministers Aged Care Forum).
We have with sadness received the resignation of our treasurer Ellen Lovelock, Ellen was our inaugural branch treasurer and has been instrumental in our State branch formation including the granting of Deducible Gift Recipient status by the Australian Tax Office. Ellen will be greatly missed by us all, she is moving to Queensland, when Ellen first found PVA she was going through troubled times, with friendship and assistance she has come out the other side with happiness she didn’t believe possible. Ellen will still be in touch as she has agreed to being appointed our State auditor!
We welcome new treasurer Kathy Wells, Kathy has not long retired from the workforce and has kindly agreed to take over from Ellen, she has vast experience in this area and I am sure the change over will be smooth, Kathy will be a valued member of PVA, thank you, Kath!
We have a huge promotion program in progress; Robyn Christie is our marketing coordinator and has appointed a team with each sub-branch involved to assist her, all is coming together across all facets of the media; radio, press, and TV, you will be seeing adverts, stories and articles pop up everywhere. Robyn would appreciate the involvement of members if you have an interesting item, story, something you would be happy to share please contact Robyn (rchristie62@bigpond.com or 0400550354), she would like to have on hand a pool of items and stories to draw from, and people who are willing to be interviewed by the media in your area, the face and voice of PVA!
PVA have in place awareness visits across the State, the next one will be at 10.00 am on Sunday 28th March in Myrtleford RSL, do make contact with me if you are from around that area we would like to meet with you! Other areas are Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Carers Victoria. Do come along and meet some of your executive and find out what PVA is advocating on behalf of its members.
Vietnam Veterans Family study, please find enclosed February bulletin from the Chairman Brigadier Bill Rolfe; I note that some tiers of the study are being brought forward; the hand that rocked the cradle is continuing to rock the government! PVA and the Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Study Inc (COVVHS) are still closely monitoring the progress of the study to ensure that there are no deviations from the agreed protocols!
Victoria branch has delegates on all the majors veterans community forums should you have an issue or problem that you would like raised do contact me and I will pass it on to the appropriate representative for action. Privacy and confidentiality is paramount, names are never divulged without permission.
We lobby State and Federal governments for all, our health issues are a huge problem, we need to be in the best of health to care for our veterans and children, we save the public purse a massive amount of money. An old worn out car would not be allowed on the road to convey families, so why shouldn’t Carers be kept roadworthy?
A word of warning to those who undertake exercise outdoors, I recently received a phone call from a member asking how to get new teeth for her husband, apparently while doing warm-up exercises outside he took his teeth out and placed them on a table, a bird watching decided that they looked pretty interesting and flew off with them. If you see a bird flashing a Colgate smile please let me know because the veteran wants his incisors back and our member flatly refuses to masticate his food!
The Tasmania AgFest is on the 6th, 7th & 8th May, if you are visiting the AgFest please make yourself known to Wendy and her team in the PVA information booth! A good opportunity for Tasmanian members to invite Wendy and team to your area to promote PVA and the advantages of membership!
The Military Superannuation (MSBS, DFB, and DFRDB) scheme is a very hot potato at the moment, State and National have had numerous calls from members in regards to anomalies and National is vigorously putting partners view to Government!
Remember if you are running a function in your area to make contact with the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Affairs Network (VAN) office, who are there to assist you, we in State office work closely with VAN staff (and Carers Victoria) across the State and are grateful for the assistance that they freely offer!
VicSuper have kindly donated a large photocopier to Victoria branch, we now just need to work out how to use it, will it “take of “ or we may just end up drowned in paper. It was delivered to our Bendigo office by Australian Moving Logistics with utmost care at a reduced cost, we thank them both!
To our widows if you have queries or need assistance do contact our Widow Liaison representative Elizabeth Moore (elizabethmoore6@bigpond.com ).
How would you like a visit to the Melbourne Zoo??
Our events coordinator Jan King has arranged a trip to the Zoo on the 18th March the visit will have one of our branch leaders as tour guide. For a Christmas treat she had arranged a trip for her group that was a huge success. How long is it since you last visited Zoo? Cost will be $10 please refer to the enclosed pamphlet and bring along your Seniors Card, DVA card or Concession Card, This discount is for financial members only who bring the enclosed pamphlet, others will pay the applicable entry price.
Kind regards,
Shirley Matheson
President
