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We have received the following email from Garry Ryan 2/69.

Dear Webmaster,

Sadly I wish to advise of the passing of Ian McCallum on 22 Feb, after a long battle against Parkinson’s Disease. A family service will be held on 3 Mar and the family have requested privacy. A Good and True Australian.

Regards

Garry Ryan 2/69

0428 555 247

…

Dear Victorians, a notice from the Victorian Branch of The Duntroon Society>

Good morning. I trust you are keeping well.

Just a reminder, for those who haven’t already responded, to reserve your place at the DunSoc table for the forthcoming MCC Military Veterans Group Luncheon on 8 March:

You will be treated to a two course lunch with a four hour beverage package in the Members’ Dining Room.
We will hear from special guest speaker Fred Smith. See attached biography.

Time: 12.00pm for 12.30pm
Location: Members Dining Room Level 2, Members Reserve
Dress: Jacket and tie for men and equivalent standard for women, (no denim, please)
Cost: $85.00

Bookings will close at 5.00pm, Friday 24 February 2023 unless sold out prior. There will be strictly no refunds after this time. Payment is required at the time of booking. Bookings are to be made with the Secretary at dunsocvic@gmail.com and cc’d to the Treasurer at jgc009@aol.com with a copy of the payment receipt. Payment details:

Account name: The Duntroon Society Victoria Branch
BSB: 633 000
Account: 125 492 215

Please include names and dietaries when booking.

A new entry for your diary:

Wednesday 17 May – the next DunSoc Vic Happy Hour+

A casual social get-together to refresh old friendships and make new connections. RACV City Club, Carbine Bar. 1400 – 1630hrs

Best regards,

Konrad Ermert
Secretary
Duntroon Society Victoria
230308 MVG Luncheon guest speaker profile – Fred Smith.pdf

ROYAL COMMISSION INTO VETERANS SUICIDE – DEFENCE & VETERAN LEGAL SERVICE

The Defence and Veteran Legal Service was set up specifically to assist veterans and their families make submissions to the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicides.

They are showing the film ‘Living’ at various locations around the state, the first showing being:
Cinema Nova Carlton, Sunday February 26, 4.15pm

Other Victorian viewings are:
Regent Cinema Ballarat, Sunday March 5 4.30
Wallis Cinema Mildura, Sunday March 12 4.15
Astor Cinema Ararat, Tuesday March 21 6.30
Horsham Centre Cinema, Wednesday March 22 6.30
Capitol Cinema Warrnambool, Sunday March 26 4.15
Star Cinema Eaglehawk, Wednesday 5 April 7 pm.

The event will begin with a presentation and panel discussion about the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Many of Defence and Veteran Legal Service clients leave the ADF and find it difficult to live in the civilian world, cut off from their network and suffering PTSD and other injury and illness. This is compounded by the fact that to get their entitlements they are often required to live in a negative space where they have to prove that they have PTSD, prove that they are injured and, in some cases, even prove that they are dying. When they are trying to find a way to be living, society often wants them to live in a space where they are dying.

The film ‘Living’ was selected because the subject matter relates well to the work Defence and Veteran Legal Service are doing. In the film a public servant who has lived a cloistered life gets a diagnosis of terminal illness. Rather than going to a dying frame of mind that society expects he starts truly living for the first time in his life.

Defence and Veteran Legal Service believe a good outcome of the Royal Commission will be finding a way to help veterans and their families to be living.