
WELCOME FROM THE
VIETNAM VETERANS FEDERATION
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH INC
WHAT WE DO
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
September 21

To all those who have been ailing I wish you all a swift recovery.
The update to the Car Park is now complete along with the line marking. What a great difference it makes for everyone. Please make members aware of the 10km speed limit.
The last BBQ in August was well attended by members and their partners, and a good time was had by all. Covid 19 impacted on the number of attendees at the August BBQ with the numbers reduced to 50 but at the last minute expanded to 75. I am really looking forward to when we are allowed unlimited attendance at our BBQ’s.
We are organizing another information night for the 10th November when we will have two oncology specialists talking to us about different types of cancer along with DVA to answer questions about their involvement with veterans suffering from these maladies. Spread the word as everyone is invited. Just ring the office to book your attendance.
We have had a number of meetings re Camp Andrew Russell and are endeavouring to secure this site on a long-term lease as the Memorandum of Understanding we currently have is with the current owner who is wanting to sell part of his farm. The part he wishes to sell includes the CAR site. We are looking at all possibilities in relation to this conundrum. Some recent visitors to the Camp have offered to cement the floor in the swag shed for nothing. We have accepted their kind offer. Thank you to Bob Haslett for all his work in relation to this offer.
The Food drive for homeless veterans at Andrew Russell Veteran Living (ARVL) has been very successful with one delivery already made and another one to happen this afternoon. I have already received a letter from Nathan Klinge, CEO of RSL Care thanking us for the kind donations along with verbal thankyous from Ryan Ollwitz the Manager of ARVL. This initiative has been very successful and one which we should repeat at a later date.
I attended a Memorial Service for the Malay Borneo Vets at Hilton on Friday 27th August and in the evening a dinner at the Brighton RSL for their Annual “Dugout Dinner”. I took the opportunity to speak with Corey Wingard and David Speirs, two local members, about C.A.R. and forewarned them they would be receiving an official visit from me to discuss our plans for Alawoona and ask them for their help to achieve these aims.
Bob Ellis, Bob Haslett, Debbie Glastonbury, Phil Scroop and I attended the wreath laying ceremonies by Our Patron, His Excellency the Governor of S.A. at the National War Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial on his last day as Governor. He then invited us all back to Government House for morning tea.
My thanks to Fay and Bob Ellis for attending the State Dinner to farewell the Governor and for attending the Dardanelles memorial service on Anzac walk last Sunday.
Both Bob and I attended the DVA DC’s Forum on 1st September where we raised issues about ATDP Training and the perceived conflict of interest with DVA taking over ATDP training and the lack of BEST Grant recognition of the work done by Well Being officers. No real solutions were offered. All we can do is to keep beating the drum until someone listens
Stay well, stay safe, isolate and communicate and we will all get through this difficult time.
Mal Thiele
President
The extra medals awarded to Captain Ian Yerbury have now been included with the ones we originally had and have been mounted and framed. Many thanks to Bob Ellis and his contacts for the mounting and framing of the medals by Paul Coppock of the VVAA.
Stay well, stay safe, isolate and communicate and we will all get through this difficult time.
WHO CAN JOIN

ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Recently, there have been media reports regarding General Practitioners and Medical Specialists rejecting the Gold Card for treatment, or charging a Gap Fee.
If a doctor accepts the Gold Card they cannot then charge Gap Fee. If a doctor states up front before accepting the Gold Card that there is a Gap Fee payment, it is up to the veteran to make a decision to pay that fee, which will not be reimbursed.
There has been a lot of confusion lately over the 12 visits to specialty trearment. There is a 12 visit or 12 months whichever comes first before you have to have a report back to your Dr. whereby he/she can prescribe another 12 visits.
Please notify the DVA of those doctors who are not accepting Gold Cards. They will discuss the matter with the doctor in question and refer you to others that will treat you under the DVA system.
The DVA is currently discussing a new Schedule of Fees with the AMA.
Taking care of your joints
Getting older implies two things, you are less mobile and your joints ache. As well as medication and exercise, there are things you can do every day to help deal with the pain and stiffness and take good care of your joints.
How to reduce stress on your joints
Dealing with pain
As well as medication, there are simple ways in which you can treat your painful joints.
Warmth applied to the affected area can relieve pain and stiffness. Some people buy special heat lamps or creams that produce localised heat, but a hot water bottle can be just as effective. Make sure it’s wrapped in something so it doesn’t burn you.
An ice pack can bring relief to hot and inflamed joints, but you should seek advice from a physiotherapist first. Never apply ice directly to the skin – it can burn.
Stress and muscle tension can make arthritis seem much worse. Many people find that taking a long bath, listening to soothing music or using a relaxation tape can help. A physiotherapist will be able to advise you on relaxation techniques.
Eat healthily
Your body needs a variety of nutrients to stay healthy, so make sure you get lots of fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and beans, dairy foods and cereals such as bread, rice and pasta. This is what is meant by a balanced diet.
Generally, we tend to eat too much fatty and sugary food, such as cakes and chips, and not enough fruit and vegetables. Reducing the former and increasing the latter is often the key to losing weight as well as improving health.
Special diets
There are many theories about whether what you eat affects your arthritis. As yet there’s little scientific evidence to suggest that it does, but some doctors feel special diets are worth trying as long as they don’t mean missing out on vital nutrients.
If you’re considering going on a special diet for your arthritis, it’s important to discuss it with your doctor first.
Some people with arthritis find their condition improves when they give up certain foods. One theory is that this is because of a food allergy or food intolerance.
There are many tests for determining allergies or intolerances, but the only reliable way of identifying foods that could be making your arthritis worse is by systematically excluding them from your diet. This should be done with the knowledge of your doctor.
Helpful foods
There are theories that certain foods and dietary supplements may help arthritis. Some have been tested more than others. For example, there’s evidence that the essential fatty acids found in fish oil and plant seed oils, such as sunflower oil and evening primrose oil, may help some people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Other supplements you may hear about include green-lipped mussels, selenium and garlic. However, there’s little scientific evidence of these having positive effects.
You should discuss taking such supplements with your doctor.
Jim Mavromatis
State Rep Men’s Peer Health Education
PENSION OFFICERS' TIPS
Did you know:
Veterans MATES
Helping Veterans Get the Best from Their Medicines
When was the last time you had a good talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the medicines you take? As we get older we tend to rely on more medicines to help us manage our illnesses and maintain our health. Often we take a range of medicines which, if not taken correctly, can result in additional health problems.
Veterans’ MATES is a new program from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs that helps veterans and their carers avoid these problems and use their medicines safely.
Most medicines are effective when used as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
You may also use medicines from supermarkets, health food stores or over the counter medicines along with those prescribed by your doctor. But medicines taken in the wrong way or at the wrong time can cause harm, even an emergency.
Up to one-third of hospital admissions of older people are due to problems with medicines. People mix them up, use them incorrectly or simply forget to take them.
Thankfully, these problems are preventable and Veterans’ MATES can help.
Veterans’ MATES sends information about different health conditions and medicines to veterans, doctors and pharmacists every few months. So far, materials have covered Home Medicine Reviews, heart conditions, diabetes and arthritis. DVA has joined with Australia’s leading Quality Use of Medicines organisations to deliver Veterans’ MATES to an estimated 16 000 medical practitioners, 5 500 pharmacies and their veteran patients.
You or your carer can begin to better manage your medicines by talking to your doctor and pharmacist about Veterans’ MATES. They can arrange a Home Medicines Review of all your medicines.
Ben, a 78-year-old Korean War veteran, learnt a lot about his medicines after having a Home Medicines Review, which was organised by his doctor. A pharmacist visited Ben in his home, arranged to dispose of out-of-date medicines and helped him organise his tablets. Afterwards, the pharmacist discussed Ben’s medicines with his doctor. Ben felt much more confident talking to his doctor and pharmacist about his medicines after the Home Medicines Review.
To get help with your medicines:
DIARY DATES
LINKS
EVENTS
VIETNAM VETERAN COMMUNITY FUNCTION
The Federation's
MONTHLY BARBECUE
at the clubrooms
Good fun, Good food, Good company
Socialising starts at 11.30am
Food is usually served around 12.30pm – Meal $10.00 ea
Bar Open
See Diary Dates
See Also Special Event
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Review of Mental Health Care in the
Australian Defence Force and Transition Through Discharge
CONTACTS
Vietnam Veterans Federation
The Yerbury Centre,Unit 1
31 – 39 Norfolk Rd
Marion
(08) 8296 2411
Monday to Thursday
10:00am to 3:00pm

WAR MEMORIAL










The Vietnam War Memorial Project
After many months of planning, which commenced on ANZAC Day 2003, the Memorial Project was officially launched in April 2004 with a car raffle and public appeal. The aim was to construct a truly significant memorial to remember the contribution of all those who served in the Vietnam War and to particularly acknowledge the fifty-eight South Australians who made the supreme sacrifice.
The project was a joint venture between the Returned and Services League, Vietnamese Veterans’ Association, Vietnam Veterans’ Federation and Vietnam Veterans’ Association. For the first time these groups joined together as one to ensure that the service of all Vietnam Veterans will never be forgotten. Moreover it recognises the camaraderie enjoyed by veterans of Australia and South Vietnam during the war and which still exists today.