Parents carrying on lost son’s campaign
FOR months Karen and John Bird have campaigned for justice for their son, a post-traumatic stress-affected war veteran they say took his own life after being turned down for compensation.
But yesterday, the two grieving parents took a moment with Jesse Bird’s closest mates to reflect on the good times and properly say goodbye to their son.
The TSS graduate and accomplished swimmer and surf life saver’s friends paddled out from Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club at Surfers Paradise to scatter the 32year-old’s ashes in the surf.
Mr Bird said the day was a fitting tribute for a hero, whose death was avoidable.
“If you had to have something like that it was a great send-off,” he said. “A perfect day, the water was really clear and just a lot of good family and friends there.
“It added a bit of closure from the physical side ... he’ll always be with us.”
Family and friends say Jesse spent the best part of seven years dealing with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to recognise his posttraumatic stress disorder and to put him on a pension so he could move on with his life and become a teacher after deployment to Afghanistan in 2009 and ’10.
Since Jesse took his life on June 27, his parents have campaigned hard for significant changes to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs claims procedures.
They have requested a reversal of the rejection of Jesse’s claim for compensation, a commitment to treating and financially supporting all veterans suffering from PTSD and a promise that all military personnel would be assessed on discharge for mental and emotional scars.
“Jesse structured his suicide as a protest about his treatment from the DVA and that was obvious from everyone at the time,” Mr Bird said.
“It’s our duty as parents to continue that. We couldn’t just let it go.
“We don’t want any other veterans to be pushed into the same corner.”
The Birds met with Minister for Veterans Affairs Dan Tehan last month and are expecting a response regarding an inquiry into the handling of Jesse Bird’s claim by the end of August.
A Department of Veterans’ Affairs spokeswoman said the Government had already improved services offered to veterans suffering from conditions like PTSD.
“The Government is now providing access to free and immediate treatment for all mental health conditions for veterans who have served full-time for one day in the Australian Defence Force,” she said.
If you or someone you know is in need of crisis or suicide prevention support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au/gethelp