Politicians asked to support Oasis
Rachel Riley
VETERANS advocates have met for the first time at the site of a proposed new 24/ 7 defence services hub to pressure politicians in the lead- up to the election to back the project.
More than 20 representatives from government departments, ex- service organisations and serving military last Friday gathered at the preferred site for The Oasis Townsville at Oonoonba, touted as a one- stopshop for welfare and employment services for veterans and their families.
Retired Lieutenant General John Caligari called the meeting to discuss progress with some of the founders of the original concept after Labor last week committed to offering the empty building for the veterans hub.
There have also been subsequent meetings.
Townsville RSL sub- branch committee member Floss Foster said securing the desired site for The Oasis Townsville had been 12 months in the making.
“It’s important for us who had the dream at the start to keep it alive because we’ve always wanted this and it’s amazing to see the way it’s coming together,” she said.
“You walk around this site and you feel it in your soul.
“It’s really time for us to unite as a collective group and look after our veterans and bring the younger ones into a professional organisation.”
Vietnam Veterans Federation Townsville Inc secretary Chris Mill, said that after previous setbacks with locations, it was gratifying to finally see a bricks and mortar site.
“Way back 10 years ago, we tried to get a hub going and we found a block of land and went through the rigmarole and it didn’t happen,” he said.
“This is a fantastic building and it should enable us to achieve the objective of supporting defence personnel leaving the service, veterans, their families, war widows or anyone associated with defence to have one place to go to regardless of the issue.
“It’s terrible to think about if somebody could have been saved had they felt bad and come here.”
Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club president Gary Lane said if veterans returning from the Second Indo- China War had a similar facility it would have made their transition into society a lot easier. “To have one place to go to get all the services and help you need has always been a bit of a pipe dream,” he said.
“It’s probably too late for a lot of the Vietnam veterans but for a lot of guys coming back from overseas now, having something like this is a great idea.”
TPI North Queensland vice president Trevor Mullins said the focus for the new hub would be on post- 1995 veterans but it would also be open to anyone who had worn the uniform.
“This facility will be governed more towards welfare than compensation and the families and extended families of veterans,” he said. “I see it running in co- ordination with the civilian Townsville Suicide Prevention Network.”
RAAF Association North Queensland Area vice president Ted Mildren said bipartisan support for the hub was crucial no matter who was elected at the state election.
“I’ve seen a lot of people including friends of mine come back from the Middle East totally destroyed and a lot of younger veterans will ask for help once and if they don’t get it they’re gone,” he said.
“So something like this where they can be steered into the correct support, and with followups, is important.”
Other founding members of the original Oasis concept are Vietnam Veterans Association Townsville sub branch president Peter Hindle, VVAA Townsville sub branch vice- president ‘ Lofty’ Evans, Diggers Military Motor Club Townsville Chapter president Graeme Berghoef and The Patriots Townsville.