OTU ASSOCIATION

                            

2 LT Gordon Sharp- Last Post Ceremony – Australian War           

                     Memorial – 18 August 2016

 

Dear Scheyvillians, the close of each day at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, is  marked by a Last Post Ceremony held in memory of an individual Service Person  who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. As Aug 18^th this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, it is fitting that 2 LT Gordon Sharp (1/65) has been so honoured on that occasion.

 

Fellow 1/65 Graduate John O’Halloran grew up and attended school with Gordon in Tamworth and subsequently served with him in 6 RAR. John has arranged for many of Gordon’s family, schoolmates and longstanding friends to attend this ceremony.

 

The OTU Association also plans to be strongly represented. A special wreath will be laid on our behalf by Brigadier David Webster – another 1/65 graduate and Vietnam Veteran. We would invite all Scheyvillians to attend.

 

Commencing at 1650 hrs in the main body of the War Memorial, the Ceremony will take the form of an address by a senior military person followed by the laying of the wreaths then the playing of the Last Post.

 

It is suggested that a lounge suit or reefer jacket, along with all medals, be worn. As the area is exposed to the Canberra elements, appropriate coats and hats should also be taken.

 

Following the Ceremony there will be a get together for everybody in the Carlton Room at the Mercure Hotel (formerly Olims). Dr Brendan Nelson, CEO of the AWM, Brigadier Brewer, Commandant RMC and Maj Orgill, OC of RMC’s Long Tan Company, have been invited. It will be a fitting way to remember Gordon and to catch up with his family , friends and other Scheyvillians.

 

Interstate visitors may wish to stay at the Mercure which is quite close to the War Memorial.

 

Mercure Hotel: Corner Limestone Avenue and Ainslie Avenue, Braddon, ACT 2612

 

stay@mercurecanberra.com.au

 

Tel (02)  6243 0000

 

Could you please let Bernie Gleeson, Association National Secretary, know if you will be attending.

 

berjulgleeson@bigpond.com

 

(03) 0850 1575

 

Mob  0414 702 905

 

 

Frank Miller

Chairman,

OTU Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                               

 

 

 

Would all Scheyvillians attending the Fromelles and/or Pozieres Centenaries in July please advise Neil Leckie at nkaleckie@optusnet.com.au or 0400 573 802

 

 

Alan Pemberton (1/69) and myself (3/68) will be there. Alan will be laying a wreath. It would be good to see all Scheyvillians together at this event.

 

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

Neil Leckie

Editor

The Scheyvillian

0400 573 802

 

 

MEDIA STATEMENT

31 May 2016

 

VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH – HEARING AIDS

The Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA), together with its partners in the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO), welcomed the Government’s announcement on the 3rd May 2016 that the 2016-17 Budget would provide

$37.9 million to extend non-liability health care to all current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). That meant that anyone who had served in the ADF’s permanent forces would now be eligible to have treated such conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and alcohol/substance abuse.

 

The National President of DFWA, David Jamison, proffered that, “as welcome as that initiative had been, it was a bitter disappointment to the whole veterans community that one of the well documented and readily treatable potential causes of anxiety and depression continues to be ignored”.

 

“That being the continued refusal by the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide other than only basic level hearing devices, free to clients, when their irrefutable diagnosed clinical needs demanded devices of a far higher performance and quality to mitigate hearing loss”, he said

 

David further said that, “this denial created the potential for unmistakable social withdrawal symptoms and isolation that develops into anxiety, depression and early onset of dementia1. These mental health issues clearly increased hospitalisation costs2 in the process. Early intervention strategies that include treating hearing loss according to the clinical needs of veterans by providing them with proper hearing aids would overcome many problems”.

 

Contacts
Executive Director: Alf Jaugietis   (0438) 282 284	www.dfwa.org.au	National President: David Jamison    (0416) 107 557

DFWA – Voice of the Defence Community

 

• 1 “In children, hearing loss impairs speech and language development, which in turn undermines academic In adults, it has a negative impact on employment opportunities and social functioning. It can cause social isolation that develops into depression and early onset dementia.”

Garvan Institute of Medical Research

• 2 “Older adults with hearing loss are more likely than peers with normal hearing to require hospitalization and suffer from periods of inactivity and Hearing loss may have a profoundly detrimental effect on older people’s physical and mental well-being, and even health care resources.”

John Hopkins School of Medicine