Invisible Wounds Australia in Broke, New South Wales | Education

Invisible Wounds Australia

Locality: Broke, New South Wales

Address: PO Box 15 6000 Broke, NSW, Australia

Website: http://www.partnersofveteranswa.org.au

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24.01.2022 After returning from active duty in Afghanistan, then 22 year old Corporal Matt Williams began to experience persistent headaches. The diagnosis a brain tumou...r. For anyone, this would be a devastating blow. For a young man in the Army, it was especially cruel. But Matt didn’t resign himself to his illness. Instead he threw himself into redefining what terminal illness looks like. He’s worked every day to live life to the fullest and raise support for others with cancer. On Monday, Matt became this year’s youngest Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recipient at just 24. His citation reads, Corporal Matthew James Williams. For service to the community through brain cancer awareness initiatives." But it’s been so much more than raising awareness. Matt has inspired thousands of Australians. He’s helped us understand the struggles of terminal illness. He’s shone a light on the importance of community and of never giving up. He’s achieved incredible levels of fundraising, pushing himself to the limits to help others. He’s given his time to speak with school students to Army cadets sharing valuable lessons that have already impacted young lives. We often thank our Defence personnel for their service, for the work they do in uniform. I know I speak on behalf of Australians when I thank Matt for his service, not only as a soldier, but as an advocate, a leader and an inspiration to us all. Congratulations Corporal Matthew James Williams OAM. You can follow Matt’s journey by following him on Instagram and Facebook (willy.beating.cancer) Australian Army Defence Australia 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

23.01.2022 "The only thing stopping Teddy from getting the recognition and credit and honour he deserves is the stubbornness of the bloke living in the lodge."

22.01.2022 It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Leading Aircraftman Robert Phillips who tragically passed away 01 Nov 2020, aged 33. Leading Aircraftma...n Robert Phillips enlisted in to the Royal Australian Air Force to become an Airfield Defence Guard (ADG). Robert was based in Amberley, Qld and leaves behind two young children. Robert was an awesome mate, hardest worker and he was a great father. He was a big brother to everyone. Adored and cherished Father, Brother, Uncle, Comrade and Friend. Forever Loved, Never Forgotten. This is just one of 5 Defence members that have passed away by their own hands the last 2 weeks. A Truely horrific number to fathom. Whether you are serving or ex-serving, know that we are a community that helps each other out. Please reach out to your mate for help if you need it. There is so much out there now to help you and most importantly, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Please get in contact with the below organisations, they are a great help to current and ex-serving members. - Overwatch Australia - Redsix - Swiss 8 - Veterans 360 Australia - Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling Condolences to Roberts family, friends, and the RAAF brotherhood. Lest We Forget #TPE #matecheck

18.01.2022 BREAKING: The PM has backflipped Teddy is getting the VC he deserves. Huge, huge victory for the thousands of people who've refused to let this go. This is th...e right result, and it's only happened because you guys made it happen. Somewhere, Teddy's looking down at the ways you guys fought for him and smiling. I reckon he'd be recognising a little of himself in you too. This is a victory for everyone who's got a little bit they owe to this 18-year-old kid from Tassie. A kid who gave his life for his country, and had to wait 78 years for his country to give him a proper thanks.

16.01.2022 The photograph on this post captured my attention, like the post before. Even in a world full of horror there is acts of kindness. Men of the 4th Battalion, ...Gordon Highlanders (51st Division) feeding a French refugee child in their improvised trench near Locon, 10 April 1918. Lest We Forget. Photograph comes from the Imperial War Museums. Image file number Q 7855.

16.01.2022 Truly a military event to remember. https://iancoate.com/

15.01.2022 A LEGEND LOST: Today, with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of one of the last of WWII's Thai-Burma Railway POWs - Harold Martin, 103 - in Albany overnight.... Harold spent two years enslaved at Japanese prison camps, forced to help construct the Thai Burma Railway - an undertaking that claimed over 12,000 lives. You can catch his moving life story in this short film (http://www.sammblake.com/a-long-way-back-short-film), which is well worth a watch. Stand easy now Mr Martin, your duty is done. May you rest in peace! Defence Australia See more

13.01.2022 This yellow ribbon represents a veteran who has taken his life.There will be hundreds of these tied to trees across Australia today, to mark World PTSD day. Please take the time to talk to someone if you need it, and know you're not alone. We will not forget them.

13.01.2022 It breaks my heart to have to tell you the sad news that this young veteran couple found life so hard that they have both taken there own lives Unbelievably... sad and gone far to soon . There are just no words. So terribly sad and my heart goes out to their loved ones family & friends Just like to point out that There are different circumstances surrounding this suicide. Heartbreaking R.I.P Mac & Debbs . Together forever .

12.01.2022 We are absolutely speechless... To think we are putting up another memorial post in the space of 3 days is unfathomable. It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Private Shane Holt, from 8/9 RAR, Brisbane who tragically passed away 16 Nov 2020, aged 32. Private Shane Holt, enlisted into the Australian Army in 2011. Shane successfully completed Singleton and was posted to 8/9 RAR where he flourished as an Infantryman. Shane was subsequently deployed on Force Pr...otection Element (FPE-4) to Afghanistan in 2015. Shane leaves behind his partner and 3yr old son. Shanes soldiering skills and dedication to duty were exemplary, however these qualities came second to his reputation as an amazing father and his kind/caring nature. He would always put others before himself. Never above you. Never below you. Always beside you. Brothers by choice. From what we know, this totals 8 Defence members (that we know of) that have passed away by their own hands in the last 2-3 weeks. Whether you are serving or ex-serving, know that we are a community that helps each other out. Please reach out to your mate for help if you need it. There is so much out there now to help you and most importantly, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It’s time we reach out and conduct a matecheck on our mates. Please get in contact with the below organisations, they are a great help to current and ex-serving members. - Overwatch Australia - Redsix - Swiss 8 - Veterans 360 Australia - Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling - Young Veterans Condolences to Shane family, friends, and the RAR brotherhood. Lest We Forget #TPE #matecheckFr See more

09.01.2022 July 27 Korea Veterans Day and the annivesary of the end of the Korean War Lest We Forget

09.01.2022 Very sad to learn about the passing of Harry Buckley, one of our region's most decorated and respected ex-servicemen. Harry was patron of the South Lake Macquar...ie RSL sub-Branch (Morisset), and was a mentor to many. His story was extraordinary. He joined the Merchant Navy at 14 and later spent several years marooned on an island after becoming shipwrecked. He later joined the Army and served (in high ranks) in Malaya and Vietnam, among other places. I won't detail his incredible story here but I plan to honour Harry in the Parliament when it resumes next month, so I'll post the full version then. His funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday), but sadly the number of mourners is restricted due to the pandemic. Along with the sub-branch and all who knew him, I'm hoping we might be able to stage a public memorial service at a later date. My thoughts are with his family and many friends, and with Dan Sloan and all Harry's close mates at the sub-branch who were kind enough to lend me some photos. LEST WE FORGET See more

07.01.2022 CHESTER’S ROBO-DEBT ON VETERANS: Minister Chester again shows his contempt for disabled veterans by failing to rectify their proven unlawful actions. On 8 Novem...ber 2019 Geoff Shafran won his case against the Repatriation Commission in the Federal Court. Justice Logan found the Repatriation Commission, in the preparation of s137(4), had unlawfully included in the documentation forwarded to the VRB, a written OPINION by their own Medical staff. Justice Logan found that only EVIDENCE is to be considered by the VRB and opinions are not considered evidence. Specialists evidence is obtained by actually examining the veteran. Their Medical Doctors write their opinion without seeing the Veteran. This has resulted in the VRB, in many instances, acting unlawfully when deciding upon an appeal by a veteran. How long has the Repatriation Commission and the VRB been acting unlawfully for? We are not sure but it could go back to the inception of the VEA in 1986. How many cases have the VRB rejected due to their unlawful actions? We cannot be certain of the exact numbers but it could run into the tens of thousands. Having been dealt a massive black eye by Justice Logan for their unlawful actions Geoff Shafran, in a Parliamentary petition, EN1172, sought, ‘a Judicial audit, Senate enquiry, or such lawful investigation as the Commonwealth deems appropriate into the Decision and Review practices at the Department of Veterans ’Affairs.’ In a formal response by Minister Chester he said in part, ‘If any individual considers DVA has acted contrary to the operation of s137 of the VEA, and that this has adversely impacted consideration of their claim, we would encourage them to contact DVA directly to address this issue.’ So there you have it, DVA and the VRB have been caught out acting unlawfully and to the detriment of potentially tens of thousands of claims and they REFUSE to undertake any review of claims they have unlawfully rejected. Minister Chester, this mess is your duty and responsibility to fix. This raises the obvious question of how many veterans who have been disadvantaged by an unlawful decision will even know about this Federal Court case you lost? Is it any wonder the veteran community has completely lost faith in Minister Chester. He has ignored the veteran covenant he introduced into Parliament, clearly is not ‘Saluting their Service’ and with his actions and inactions one can only interpret this as saying FO.

07.01.2022 Today, it is with a lot of gratitude and respect in my heart that I want to pay a very respectful tribute to Private number 3036 Clement Gordon Brockie who foug...ht in the 5th Australian Infantry Battalion and who was killed in action 104 ago years agon,on July 25, 1916 at the age of 19 on the Somme front. Clement Gordon Brockie was born in October 1896 in Benalla, Australia, and was the son of James Conn Brockie and Charlotte Brockie, he had a twin brother, John Gordon Brockie and they lived at "Deeside", 367 Kooyong Road, Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia.Clement was educated at Benalla East State School, Victoria and before the war he worked as a carpenter. Enlisted on July 10, 1915 with his brother John on July 10, 1915 in Melbourne, Victoria in the 5th Australian Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcement, he embarked with his unit from Melbourne, on board RMS Osterley on September 29, 1915 and sailed for Egypt where he was disembarked at Tel El Kebir on January 7, 1916 and received his training at Serapeum then he embarked with his battalion in Alexandria on March 25, 1916 for France where he was disembarked in Marseilles on March 30, 1916 before joining the trenches of the Somme front. unfortunately it is here, in the Somme, that Clement met his destiny and was killed in action on July 25, 1916 at 3:00 am during the offensive to take the village of Pozieres, he was only 19 years old. Today, Clement Gordon Brockie rests in peace with his comrades and brothers in arms in Pozieres British Cemetery and his grave bears the following inscription "Dearly loved and sadly missed by all, a noble sacrifice". Clement Gordon Brockie's twin brother,John Gordon Brockie survived the war and died on April 23, 1944 in Finley, New South Wales. Clement, child of Australia, so young and so brave, you belonged to a generation of heroes, so young, you were already, in your heart a very brave man who wanted to serve and fight alongside your brothers in arms, proudly wearing the colors of Australia and carrying on the shoulders the weight of the hopes of all peoples, serving alongside your brother, for your family, for your country, for France, at 19, you gave all the parts of your youth in this war which shattered so many lives, shattering spirits, bodies, drowning your comrades in the mud of the Somme, you fought like the bravest of men, through the darkness of war, you were the light of hope, courage, the sun and the pride of Australia facing the violence and fury of war, in the trenches where so many young men like you gave their lives, you did your duty with great bravery.Full of hope, of life, you saw death every day but also the bravery, devotion, courage, the valiant heart of a whole generation of men who fought with you for France and who fought all together for a just cause, freedom and peace, for a world, a future without war, so that the next generations can live without seeing again the fury and the tragedy of a world at war and today we do not forget , we do not forget what you have done for us Clement, we will always remember who you were, a brave young man and who you are today, a man, a hero and in my heart, with a deep admiration and great gratitude, you will always be one of my boys of the Somme, you will never be forgotten.your name will live forever.

06.01.2022 On This Day 23 May 2011 SGT Brett Wood MG. DSM. Charlie Commando Company, 2nd Commando Regiment Killed In Action, Helmand Province, Afghanistan "Without Warn...ing" Commando 4 Life See more

06.01.2022 A tribute to our Military Women Lest We Forget. This is a collage of the past artworks I have created featuring our ladies in the military. Sorry that it is ...so limited depicting the roles that woman have played in our services. And apologies for not have a military poem in tribute to our ladies one day I must remedy that. Also, a big acknowledgement to the WRAACs who celebrate their 70th birthday next year. I have the privilege of being married to one of these fine women (top right hand corner of the artwork). https://www.iancoate.com/ See more

05.01.2022 Three years ago today, we gave up on Jesse Bird. We let an Afghanistan veteran die, alone, broken, bankrupt, covered in letters from his own government, saying ...he deserves absolutely nothing. He was wounded by war, but he was broken by bureaucracy. We shouldn't have lost him. We shouldn't let it ever happen again. Lest we forget Jesse Bird. Lest we forget. https://www.lambienetwork.com.au/jessebird

05.01.2022 Judy, a purebred pointer, was the mascot of several ships in the Pacific, and was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and taken to a prison camp. There she met Air...craftsman Frank Williams, who shared his small portion of rice with her. Judy raised morale in the POW camp, and also barked when poisonous snakes, crocodiles or even tigers approached the prisoners. When the prisoners were shipped back to Singapore, she was smuggled out in a rice sack, never whimpering or betraying her presence to the guards. The next day, that ship was torpedoed. Williams pushed Judy out of a porthole in an attempt to save her life, even though there was a 15-foot drop to the sea. He made his own escape from the ship, but was then recaptured and sent to a new POW camp. He didn't know if Judy had survived, but soon he began hearing stories about a dog helping drowning men reach pieces of debris after the shipwreck. And when Williams arrived at the new camp, he said: "I couldn’t believe my eyes! As I walked through the gate, a scraggly dog hit me square between the shoulders and knocked me over. I’d never been so glad to see the old girl!" They spent a year together at that camp in Sumatra. "Judy saved my life in so many ways," said Williams. "But the greatest of all was giving me a reason to live. All I had to do was look into those weary, bloodshot eyes and ask myself: 'What would happen to her if I died?' I had to keep going." Once hostilities ceased, Judy was then smuggled aboard a troopship heading back to Liverpool. In England, she was awarded the Dickin Medal (the "Victoria Cross" for animals) in May 1946. Her citation reads: "For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps, which helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners, and also for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness". At the same time, Frank Williams was awarded the PDSA's White Cross of St. Giles for his devotion to Judy. Frank and Judy spent a year after the war visiting the relatives of English POWs who had not survived, and Frank said that Judy "always provided a comforting presence to the families." When Judy finally died at the age of 13, Frank spent two months building a granite and marble memorial in her memory, which included a plaque describing her life story.

04.01.2022 #Onthisday in 1943 the Battle of Mount Tambu begins as Australian forces advance on Salamaua in eastern New Guinea. Read more: http://ow.ly/QfXj50Arnh2 Photo: T...he wounded returning from the front line along a muddy track. Near Salamaua, New Guinea. Pte Fred Allan and Pte Neville Pretty are the two closest to the camera. (Negative by G Short) See more

03.01.2022 #repost from John Lynam Music Well said Damien Thomlinson. Damien served with the 2nd Commando Regiment. On the 3rd of April 2009, whilst on night patrol in Sou...thern Afghanistan, Damien’s unit drove over an (IED). Damien suffered horrendous injuries in the explosion, which resulted in both of his legs being amputated. He is an outstanding Australian, and his resilience is truly inspirational. https://www.damienthomlinson.com/ See more

02.01.2022 A good thing to remember this Remembrance Day. https://iancoate.com/