G’day,
Is the weather still beautiful as you read this? Last year, we missed out on autumn and, miserably, went from hot to very cold. But, as I write, the day is definitely autumnal.
With Anzac Day approaching, this is story one. I have another, still in my head, for next week.
When a soldier needs a mate
This week, I visited an extraordinary team of seven volunteers doing a job I didn’t know existed. They work from a tiny office next to the RSL car park.
Their job is to advocate for service personnel who need to liaise with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. You see, it is not easy for members of the ADF or retirees from the ADF to seek help from the DVA.
To begin with, there are forms to be filled in by a doctor; 50 pages of questions — and not all doctors have the time or inclination to do this for them. However, the experienced team members — all of whom have a service history — know exactly who to contact to get this initial phase under way. That is just the beginning, with the team members using their contacts in the department to smooth the way.
Paul Blackwell heads this team. Paul is not a young man; he is well into his 70s, with 16 years of experience helping the injured or sick. However, four days a week, he turns up to do what must be demanding work.
He is assisted by the following: Ted Ball is the secretary of the RSL and secretary of this small team. Then there are Marcia Glenwright, Robyn Hunt, Molly Kennedy, Craig Bolwell and Ronnie Blackwell (Paul’s wife). An eighth volunteer will join the group shortly. All of these people have been in the service; this adds up to 130 years in the ADF.
Paul told me there were good relationships between their DVA contacts and the Shepparton team; he called it “mutual respect”. There is also quite an extraordinary team spirit in this small office. It was apparent to me that they liked and respected one another; when appropriate, there was a great deal of laughter.
Shepparton RSL pays all the costs of running this show and provides all the equipment. And now, to the team’s excitement, a car has been provided by the local RSL. The volunteers need one because they travel to Tocumwal regularly and are happy to visit any RSL in the region if requested.
They have 600 clients. That isn’t a typing error. There are 600 people in the region who are being appropriately looked after by the DVA — thanks to these experienced, local volunteers. Their clients are helped, supported and cared for by advocates who have ‘been there, done that’.
With many years in the workforce behind me, I appreciate the value of team spirit when members work firstly for the client and secondly for one another. In fact, in a workspace, there is only one thing better than an effective team: an effective team of volunteers who also work for the love of it.
And there is good news for this team. As the entire RSL complex is being redesigned and rebuilt, a new office for the advocates will be constructed on Wyndham St — immediately south of the main building. Paul proudly showed me the design on his computer. It resembled the foyer of a flash hotel, designed to be easily negotiated by a client in a wheelchair. This is good for two reasons. The staff members will be comfortable and have space for their workload and, hopefully, feel as valued as they deserve. Their clients will instantly recognise that they are with a knowledgeable, professional and respected team.
Currently, there is draft legislation that aims to simplify the veterans’ compensation system in this country. The legislation, which has been released for public consultation, is the next step in responding to recommendation one of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s interim report. Hopefully, it will be introduced by July 2026; the wheels of change turn slowly – and, right now, there are about 87,000 claims still pending.
As I was writing, a reader called, and I told her something about the people I had just met. She asked, hopefully, “Are there advocates to help with Social Services?” Well, not that I know of — as yet.
Paul, Ted and I talked for almost an hour and a half. I’d have stayed longer, except one of our sons was at home, keeping an eye on his father, who is again unwell. I had to leave — but I was privileged to meet this team. I wish the volunteers well, and I want to be there when their new office is opened.
Tank has passed away
In February of last year, I wrote about a returned serviceman named Darryl Macarty, known to his many friends as ‘Tank’. I was interested because, during the war in Vietnam, Tank had been chosen to escort Raquel Welch on her visit to the base with the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby show. Raquel had just passed away, and I thought it was an appropriate time to mention Tank’s involvement.
He said Raquel was “a fantastic girl, easy to talk to, down to earth and really nice”. She was also smaller than he expected.
I’m told he took considerable ribbing about that story and that friends at the RSL called out comments such as “Sorry to hear about your girlfriend!” However, I have also been told that he didn’t appear too upset about the attention.
Previously, this newspaper had dedicated a double-page spread to Tank’s long service in the Royal Australian Air Force. At one point, in Vietnam, he was an air gunner in the No.9 helicopter squadron. The black humour of the squadron suggested an air gunner’s life expectancy was five minutes. A part of the squadron’s duties was removing injured soldiers from the field, and bodies when necessary. After a year in Vietnam, having spent more than 500 hours in the air, Tank was discharged.
However, as with many others, he had trouble adjusting to civilian life and ‘went back in’.
He spent time at every major base in the country and his last position was teaching RAAF cadets in South Australia. He was discharged due to knee injuries in 1994 — after 25 years in the service.
Tank passed away in February, suddenly, while on holiday in the Philippines. He was a relative and close friend of my daughter-in-law, who is the executor of Tank’s will. She was telling me about the complications of getting things sorted, and although he had been quite clear about his preferences, he didn’t expect to die overseas. It all took some time to organise, but he had, as requested, a service at the RSL. Friends arrived from all over the country to celebrate a life well-lived.
While my daughter-in-law was summing up the experience, she mentioned the local RSL and Paul Blackwell, saying how helpful they had been. Over the past few years, I have learned to be curious about everything, so I said, “Who is Paul Blackwell?”
All of which led me to a story I have much enjoyed writing. I thank Paul and his team for a great learning experience.
A supermarket story
There are many photos of shoplifters on the wall of this neighbourhood supermarket, and last Sunday was the third conversation I had with staff members about this growing problem.
On the second occasion, with my rose-coloured glasses firmly in place, I suggested things would improve as the economy improved. These were people with hungry children needing a packet of sausages. She said it had nothing to do with the economy and explained exactly how the thefts were carried out. These people have become very good at it. Their stolen products were on-sold to neighbours and friends solely to buy drugs.
I suggest to any ‘neighbours or friends’ that although they may save a few dollars on stolen property, this is costing all of us. One of the smaller supermarket chains has begun attaching trackers to its high-priced meat. The trackers are removed at the checkout, but if they aren’t, the store can track down the products. It is an expensive solution, but the store reckons it’s worth the cost. And who pays for the expensive solution? The customers, of course. What else can the store do but put its prices up?
However, one thing is certain: the people who stole from this particular supermarket will never visit that store again. Their photos are large and clear.
That’s it for this week. We’ll chat again soon.
May it be easy, my friends
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)