Many do not receive public tribute

As Anzac Day comes along, Robyn Cresswell, secretary of the local Vietnam Veterans' sub-branch, reflects on the experience of these veterans and the organisations that support them.

On Anzac Day, we applaud those who have returned from the many wars and peace keeping operations in which our country has been involved. They march down our streets to the many memorials scattered around our country where we remember those men and women who gave their lives for their country.

But what about those who returned and for many reasons find it impossible to come out on the day and make the public tribute expected of them?

There are many who find, especially as the years go by and their physical and mental health deteriorates, that they increasingly withdraw from society.

They feel guilty that they survived.

It should have been them who did not return, not "Johnny" who was left behind.

Or the one who is dying from cancer, asbestosis, or the many other physical illnesses brought on by the chemicals and traumas of war.

These men deserve our thanks. They too have paid a very heavy price for the freedom of their country and it's allies.

The Gosford City Sub-Branch of the Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia has an office located at Ettalong where the dedicated volunteers give their time to help these men, women, their families and where the veterans can drop in for a cuppa and the companionship of fellow veterans.

There are fully trained pension officers available to help ensure that they receive the financial assistance from the Government to which they are entitled, whether it be under the Veterans' Entitlement Act or the Military Compensation and Rehabilitation Scheme.

There are trained welfare officers available to help when they need medical help, a visitor to their hospital bed, or just a friend to talk to.

The welfare officers, in conjunction with the local branch of the Partners of Veterans' Association, are also there to support the wives, partners and families of these veterans.

The members and Ladies Auxiliary of this Sub-Branch work hard fundraising to keep this office open and rely heavily on the assistance of the Dept. of Veterans' Affairs and the generosity of the general public in this regard.

The Ettalong Beach War Memorial Club has long been a major sponsor of the sub-branch and supplies office space and maintenance funding for the "Nambus" project run by the veterans.

This bus visits schools around NSW under the auspices of the Department of Education and Training, bringing the day to day life of the Australian serviceman during the Vietnam War to the children.

If you are one of the forgotten servicemen or women who need our help, if you are one of those marching but have not yet asked for help, of if you know of someone who needs support, please feel free to come down to our office on the corner of Beach St and Broken Bay Rd, Ettalong, or contact our office on a Monday or Wednesday morning between 9.30am and 1pm.

At any other time, you can leave a message on 4344 4760 or, in times of crisis, contact the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service on free call number 1800 043 503.

The Gosford City Sub-Branch is available to help veterans and peacekeepers from all theatres of aggression in which this country has been involved and works in conjunction with the Central Coast Ex-Services Organisations' Welfare Network.

Robyn Creswell, April 13