Graeme Watts to lead veterans welfare group

Kevin Rickwood was elected secretary and Ivan Standen was elected treasurer.

Mr Watts is also centre manager while John Martin is purchasing office and Neville Cousins is the auditor.

Other committee of management members are John Grace, Brian Milner, Sue Milner, Rod McNab, Kevin Stephens, Norma Reynolds, Noel Tucker and Dave Rackett.

Mr Watts said it had been another successful year assisting veterans and serving and ex service personnel and their families.

He said the centre was successful in gaining a grant from the Veteran Affairs Department for $3604. “We had applied for $7830 with the shortfall intended for spending on capital equipment,” he said.

Mr Watts said the centre had asked ex service organisation within the area of operating to assist with funding to meet ongoing costs which ware not covered under government grants.

“These costs consist of rent and one off items,” he said.

Mr Watts said contributions had been received from RSLs at Pakenham, Longwarry, Drouin, Warragul, Trafalgar, Central Gippsland Legacy and the West Gippsland Vietnam Veterans Association.

He said the Vietnam Veterans Association also had assisted with $2000 for the purchase of computer equipment.

“During the past year the centre had a total of 446 inquiries seeking information for themselves or their dependants.

“Because of these inquiries 96 interviews were held by pension offices to lodge 35 claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs along with 157 questionnaires, three appeals to the Veterans Review Board and one to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

“The annualised revenue for 2016 our centre generated for veterans, members and their dependants living in Baw Baw Shire was $2.49 million.

For veterans and members who live outside the shire the amount was $2.18 million. These amounts do not include the service pensions or war widow’s pensions or the benefits of the DVA gold or white medical cards,” he said.

Mr Watts said the volunteers contributed more than 2000 hours for the past year or about 40 hours a week.

“These figures demonstrate that the service from our voluntary organisation are indeed required within and outside the Baw Baw Shire Council area,” he said.

Mr Watts thanked the volunteers at all levels for “their valuable time and effort.”

Mr Standen said the organisation had to rely heavily on other service organisations for funding as government grants and assistance were not as forthcoming as in the past.

He said despite operating on a shoe string budget the organisation was “going well.”

Guest speaker Senior Rights Victoria community education officer Gary Ferguson discussed elder abuse.

Mr Ferguson said the organisation had been established by the State Government in 2009 as a result of an aging population.

Of Victoria’s 5.5 million population 14 per cent are aged over 65. By 2021 this will rise to 20 per cent.

He said because the population was aging there was a greater increase in elder abuse.

“It is up to organisations such as ours to protect the rights of the aged and prevent elder abuse.

Mr Ferguson said people had to understand that older people could still contribute to society.

“More than 50 per cent of volunteers in Australia are aged over 65. Aged people are still contributing to their local communities,” he said.

He said elder abuse occurred in the form of mistreatment and abuse which can include financial, emotion/psychological, sexual, neglect, physical and social.

He said in most instances the person knew and trusted the abuser and many of the people abused were able to make decisions for themselves.

Mr Ferguson said the organisation was able to offer assistance to people being abused. He said when contacted one third was direct from the person being abused, while 30 per cent was from a family friend and 26 per cent from a service provider.

Most abuse related to financial issues. Forty three per cent are adult sons and 28 per cent adult daughters.

Mr Ferguson related an example where a man who had required short term respite and rehabilitation following a medical event discovered that his son was trying to sell his house without his permission.

He said Senior Rights Victoria was able to intervene to prevent the sale and organise for the man to make his own decisions about his long term care.

Anyone wanting assistance can contact 1300 368821 or the website seniorsright.org.au