Letters
to the Editor
Thanks
for your support
TAYLOR
Anne McGregor was a special little girl who touched everyone who knew
her, from learning to walk and using the play ground equipment at the
Army Logistic Sergeants Mess (ALSM), Bandiana.
Taylor
would brighten a room just because she was in it. Taylor was cheerful,
playful, soft, warm, loving, cuddly and a very brave beautiful little
girl.
Taylor
passed away in our arms on October 1, at only 21 months old in the ICU
at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne.
Candy and
I would like to express our sincere appreciation for all the support
that Defence has given us through this difficult time we have had and
are still having, with the loss of our little girl.
CO PSD
Lt-Col Shaun Fletcher ALTC and the staff led by OC HSW Maj Kim Sullivan
were extremely supportive and genuine to the needs of Taylor while she
was in ICU and allowed my wife and I to be by Taylor's side. I can not
express the feeling of the overwhelming support we have had by my unit.
This support includes the civilian organisation (RMIT and Tenix) and
other personnel.
It makes
me even more proud to be in such a caring, supportive and professional
organisation and a message I am more than willing to tell anyone I encounter.
Once again,
sincere thanks to the staff (military and civilian) at ALTC and a special
thank you to the PMC and members of the ALSM for acknowledging our beautiful
little girl with a wonderful contribution.
WO2 Ross McGregor
Health Services Wing,
ALTC Bandiana VIC
Trend
in DCO
TO ENSURE
total anominity for persons contained within these reports my name must
be witheld, I am an RSM of a battalion.
Let me
say from the outset that the Defence Community Organisation (DCO) does
a tremendous job but as the uniforms diminish from this organisation
so is the effectiveness of their reporting.
In my position
within the battalion I view all DCO reports and in particular I would
like to comment on an alarming trend emerging from reports supporting
posting retentions.
This observation
is based on reports received from several areas and is almost certainly
shared by my colleagues.
These reports
are now not only a one-sided view but an absolute "clutch"
for any possible reason to help the member remain within the area of
their choice, even when totally outweighed by reason and the needs of
the service.
The DCO
investigators must have a responsibility to identify needs of the service
and currently, in some areas, this is being totally ignored.
I believe
that reports like I have been receiving lately have greatly diminished
the effectiveness of the report due to their one-sided nature.
If you
want the reports to be received in earnest, then balance the argument
against the needs of the service. This will ensure they receive total
support from those reading them.
Name and address supplied
Col Ross Boyd, acting Director-General Defence Community Organisation,
responds:
DCO social workers provide social assessments on request, to assist
commanders, career managers and recruiters to make good decisions on
matters affecting their people.
Typically,
assessments are sought to determine whether members have compassionate
grounds for reposting to, or retention in, a locality; suitability for
recruitment into the ADF or for an overseas assignment, and eligibility
to certain entitlements - such as those related to dependants with special
needs.
Frequently
there will be a tension between what the member wants, the needs of
the service and the legal entitlement.
The task
of a social worker, therefore, is not an easy one. Their goal is to
present workable recommendations that will assist commanders and staff
make decisions that will both enable the member to meet their responsibilities
and service commitments, while at the same time, giving regard to the
growing desire of members to balance these obligations with those to
their families.
By and
large, the feedback from commanders is that DCO achieves this difficult
task.
I acknowledge,
however, that there will always be room for improvement. DCO is currently
embarking on a process of organisational renewal to enhance the quality
of its service.
As a part
of this renewal, quality assurance and continuous improvement strategies
are being put in place to better monitor the standard and the function
of reports in the decision making process.
To this
end, I welcome the RSM's feedback.
Noting
that his observations are couched in general terms because of privacy
and confidentiality requirements, I invite him to discuss his concerns
with his DCO Regional Director or Area Manager or to contact me in person,
so that the particular issues can be addressed.
$88,
please
In response
to WO1 Chris Ross' letter (Army, Edition 1085, October 23) I would just
like to say on behalf of the 10,000 or so Defence personnel in the three
brigades, three RAAF bases, numerous Naval installations and the plethora
of other Army depots, bases, units and training areas of Queensland
that the issue of the Queensland Ambulance Tax is quite worthy of the
ink the editor is awarding it.
My only
hope is that you can bring the positive attitude you displayed in the
letter and your WO1 pay level with you on your next posting to Qld.
This may
prevent you from the feeling of frustration of the additional wasted
tax we currently pay each quarter.
And finally,
Sir, despite patiently checking my mailbox each afternoon for the past
fortnight, I am still yet to receive your cheque to me. It is after
all, only $88.
Sgt Lachy McGraa
136 Sig Sqn
Enoggera, Qld
Coverage
for all
THANK you
for your e-mails of September 1 and 12, 2003, on behalf of Ms Sandra
Beatty and Capt John Hymus concerning the Community Ambulance Cover.
I have
been requested to reply to you on the Premier's behalf.
The Premier
referred this matter to the Honourable Terry Mackenroth MP, Deputy Premier,
Treasurer and Minister for Sport who has advised that the previous Queensland
Ambulance Service (QAS) subscription scheme relied on voluntary payments
that directly entitled individuals to a particular benefit.
The levy
is different. The levy ensures a secure funding base for the QAS by
collecting an amount on electricity accounts.
This has
enabled the QAS to provide free emergency ambulance transport to all
Queenslanders. Without a secure funding base, this commitment could
not be made.
Because
the levy is not a direct fee for service, it applies to electricity
accounts regardless of the number of people residing in a residence,
their incomes and /or the marital or other status of the account holder.
Everyone who receives an electricity account and does not qualify for
an exemption will be required to pay the levy, regardless of their private
health cover arrangements or if their employer covers them.
If a person
lives in a Commonwealth facility such as a military barracks and they
do not receive an electricity account, they will not be required to
pay the Community Ambulance Cover levy. If a person lives in their own
home or rental property and receives an electricity account, they will
be required to pay the levy.
The question
of reimbursement of the Community Ambulance Cover levy is an internal
matter for the ADF and its employees.
Mr Mackenroth
further advises that health funds were advised of the changes to the
Queensland ambulance cover arrangements, as was the Commonwealth Government
which is responsible for approving health insurance premiums.
The Queensland
Government's decision to provide free ambulance services to Queensland
residents will result in reduced costs to Defence Health. The fund's
decision to effectively share that saving across all members through
its national approach to benefits and premiums is a matter for the fund
and its members.
Under the
Community Ambulance Cover Scheme, all Defence members and their families
who are Queensland residents are eligible to use the QAS. For instance,
if a Defence member or their dependent was unfortunate enough to suffer
an injury or illness while at a public shopping centre and required
emergency ambulance transport, the individual would not be charged for
that service.
Under the
previous QAS Subscription Scheme, if the person was a QAS subscriber
they would not have received a bill.
However,
if they were not a subscriber under the previous scheme, they would
have been sent an account. It would then be a matter for the individual
to arrange payment, whether that be made by themselves, the ADF or their
private health insurer.
When military
personnel are transferred interstate and are no longer Queensland residents,
I would encourage them to check with the local State or Territory ambulance
authority to ensure they and their families are adequately covered in
that jurisdiction.
Rob Whiddon
Chief of Staff,
Premier's Office, Brisbane QLD
Where's
my medal, again
I APPLIED
for the second clasp to my DFSM in September 2002, with my entitlement
being July 2002.
Twice earlier
this year I managed to speak with someone and was given two timelines,
both of which were exceeded.
Friday
October 17, I received an e-mail response thanking me for my inquiry
dated June 24, and that my inquiry would be treated as an application.
The e-mail went on further to say that reserve's applications would
take longer to process.
There was
nothing in the e-mail that actually answered my questions.
I replied
that day stating that I am not a reserve and that my query should not
to be used as an initial application. I also asked for a proper answer
to my initial email.
Monday
October 20, I received another e-mail response thanking me for another
of my enquiries dated July 2, and guess what? - it was exactly the same
letter, word for word, that I received three days earlier and it still
did not address my questions. Obviously a "form" letter sent
to all who dare to send a query.
It is one
thing that these e-mails are taking months to respond to, but it is
not good enough that "form" letters are apparently being sent
automatically, without the person having the courtesy to even read the
query.
Are the
ADF Medals section so under staffed and if so - why?
Capt Allan Gray
QM 16 AD Regt
Woodside Barracks, SA
Karen Creet, Director Honours and Awards, responds:
The Directorate of Honours and Awards (DHA) receives hundreds of medal
enquiries every day, and it is our policy that each query be acknowledged,
even if only with a standard response.
We have
recently revised procedures in relation to the e-mail queries, to streamline
the process and ensure that individuals' concerns are dealt with in
a timely manner.
We have
investigated Capt Gray's application for the second clasp of his DFSM.
Capt Gray's clasp was approved by the Governor-General in February 2003
along with several hundred others.
Unfortunately,
due to what we presume is an administrative error, his particular clasp
appears not to have been sent.
We have
rectified this anomaly, and Capt Gray can expect to receive his second
clasp soon. Honours and Awards apologise for the delay, and for any
inconvenience this may have caused.
Where's
the tax info
I WISH
to draw attention to a financial issue that impacts on a large number
of ADF personnel. Substantial tax exemptions may soon be applied to
personnel who have served, or are serving, in the following regions:
Afghanistan, Albania, Bougainville, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Cook
Islands, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mozambique, Palau, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu.
The Defence
Tax Management Office (DTMO) released a Defgram 98/2003 dated February
27, 2003 which stated that publication of Tax Supplements was imminent.
The supplements are to be based on advice from the Australian Tax Office
(ATO) and the Defence Personnel Executive (DPE), and were to be progressively
released from March 2003.
Since then,
I have been in frequent contact with DTMO seeking release dates for
the supplements. To their credit DTMO personnel have been polite and
timely in their responses. They have not yet been able to specify when
supplements will finally be published.
I appreciate
the complexity of the issue and the need for liasion between Defence
and the ATO. I am concerned that DTMO promulgation of information on
the supplement has not been sufficiently extensive. Defgrams do not
necessarily reach the wider Defence community and further promulgation
via Defence media seems appropriate, hence this letter.
Direct
contact with ex-serving members would also seem fair.
For many
personnel this issue involves a significant amount of money. It has
been at least 10 years since some of the listed deployments occurred.
The financial implications for some soldiers might be very significant
and affect important life decisions.
The service
is always quick to recover overpayments to soldiers. It would be nice
to have that brisk approach applied to payments to soldiers that are
long overdue.
Finally,
I request that DTMO reply to this letter and advise a release date,
detail how they are going to keep all members (including ex-serving
members) advised and undertake to announce in Defence newspapers when
supplements are available.
Maj John Roberts
4CER
Ringwood Depot, Vic
Editor's Note: A reply from the DTMO will be published in the next
edition
OPSEC?
Not likely
IN RESPONSE
to Defgram 453/2003:
With the
ever-present reform and renaming of military units I bet not even the
combined might of the CIA, MI5 and ASIO would be able to glean any OPSEC
info from my posting history:
School of Army Health (Healsville)? Go-ooone.
2nd Military Hospital? Go-ooone.
1MD Pers Depot Go-ooone.
1st Military Hospital? Go-ooone.
3 Camp Hospital? Go-ooone.
School of Army Health (Portsea)? Go-ooone.
1st Prevent Med Coy? Go-ooone.
Army Malaria Research Unit? Go-ooone.
Tom Travers (ex-WO2)
Army Malaria Institute
Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggerra QLD
Looking
for old mates
Greetings
from the US.
I am a
Vietnam veteran and flew helicopters and I am looking for the following
Australian veterans, some of whom may have been Vietnam veterans: Herron,
Lynton M; Keene , Robert; Partridge, Thomas R.; Williams, Neville G.
These gentlemen
were in the US Army Flight Class ORWAC 69-10 in 1968-1969. I was in
that class and I am working on a reunion and want to find these men.
Any ideas to help?
Here is
our website: www.whitehats6910.com
Jim Godfrey
8120 Sunscape Lane S.
Fort Worth, Texas 76123
817-294-2797 Home
817-371-7033 Cell
jimgodf@flash.net
Ah,
the old AAB 83
ONCE again
I have received a print-out of my record of service and once again 50
per cent of it is wrong. This is in spite of having compiled a small
rainforest worth of paperwork over the years trying to get details corrected.
When will
the "system", Ausmis, PMKeys or any of the other electronic
wizardry personnel management programs, be capable of correctly recording
members details?
My concern
is that retired soldiers in the future, when seeking entitlements, compensation
or pensions, will find themselves arguing with some bureaucrat who will
maintain that the records are correct.
It seems
odd, but not surprising, that when we kept manual records in the AAB
83 they were always correct.
WO2 G. M. Potter
SM GBAD, Arty Trade Policy
HQ CATC, Puckapunyal VIC
Calling
Saharan vets
I REQUEST
your assistance to help locate members of the 5th ASC MINURSO.
This contingent
served in the Western Sahara from November '94 to May '95 and comprised
45 soldiers. The majority of these were from RASigs Units.
We are
attempting to organise a 10-year reunion of these members, however,
I have found over time many contact numbers have just slipped away.
Although
I am no longer a member of the ARA I am hoping that many I served with
on this mission are, or at least read Army either in print or on the
Web.
We will
attempt to formalise details of this event only after we have made every
endeavour to get in touch with our old mates.
David Manning
Ph 0403 008 607
SA Police, Adelaide
E-mail davem_as@yahoo.com
Ask
the Chief
Would you
like to ask CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy a question? It could be about acquisitions
or uniform, operational tempo or a general welfare issue.
As part
of hearing soldiers' views, CA has agreed to start Ask the Chief
in Army newspaper.
He wants
to know your questions so he can answer them in a future edition as
part of his look back at what the Army has achieved and been part of
in 2003.
As with
Letters to the Editor, it is the right of all soldiers to ask CA a question
through Ask the Chief in Army without using the chain of command.
Submit
your questions in e-mail form to armynews@defencenews.gov.au
with "ask the chief" in the subject line.
From
the kids...
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To
an extremely BRAVE person,
I
can't pretend to imagine what you're going through. It's hard
enough to think that it's 'just a job' for you. I don't know
how hard it must be fighting a war. All that aside, you're doing
an amazing job. I undersand that that's what you guys are trained
for. That is some consolation.
I don't really know what else to say except come back safe and
stay sane in all the madness. You have my thoughts and my support.
Lucas, in Melbourne.
PS: if you know Scott Richter (I don't know his rank or unit
but he's there somewhere) tell him his cousin Lucas is thinking
of him THANKS SO MUCH!
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