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LETTERS OF APPRECIATION (To our team at Leeuwin Advocacy Services) - December 01 - January 02

Each issue of VLSVA newsletter “Logsup” The Australian Navy in Vietnam Veterans’ Welfare Association of Western Australia prints letters of appreciation received from those who have had assistance given by them through the VLSVA Welfare Coordinator.

(To our team at Leeuwin Advocacy Services) — “December 2001 to January 2002”

Advocates: Kevin Gleeson; China Hammal; Sally Low; Ian McCutcheon;  Paddy Peard; Trevor Robbins; John Sanderson; Grattan Shimmen and Philip Steele and special thanks for the 8 volunteers staffing the phone and doing a great job as a “T.O.W.”  Mrs. Kay Phillips; Mrs. Val Gleeson, Mrs. Ken Larson, Ian Dunn, Les Aisbett, Anthony Samiotis and Les De Bonde. Also we must thank John Exley (due to work commitments); John Jenkins (living too remote); Max Kellow, Greg Smith; (sick bay) that they are unable to assist at the moment.

To dear China, Helen and the entire Veterans’ Welfare Association.
Thank you just doesn’t seem enough, for all your kindness & support you have given us since the passing of our darling Greg. We hope to be able to repay your kindness, when perhaps someone else finds themselves in a similar situation. This warm greeting comes to bring many thanks for everything! 

Thank you so much. Joan, Elizabeth & Dimity BAXTER. 

I am writing this letter to thank you for all of the work and time that you have given to my claim for a disability pension. The success of my claim is the result of the dedicated and professional manner in which you represented my case. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteer staff for their courtesy and assistance during this period. My best wishes to you all for Christmas, good health, happiness and prosperity for the future. Please find enclosed a donation which I hope in some way will assist the association to continue the wonderful work you are doing. 

Sincerely, Tom S.

China:   Captain of The Steam Boat; C.E.O.: Rabbit Merchants Worldwide.
Sorry this has taken so long to send this. Thanks a million for all your help. Hope to catch up with you all when I get down that way. 

Regards, Blue Q.
P.S. One Powerball and move on Take away.

Many thanks for handling my claims with the DVA and for your assistance in obtaining an increase in my disability pension. Enclosed herewith is a donation of $20.00 towards the Association. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year in 2002. Thanking you.

Yours Sincerely, John S.

I wish to personally thank you for your valuable advice and support that assisted me with my recent claim with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. I initially visited you in your office on 28 June 2001 and I was impressed with the diligence and caring support displayed by yourself and your team. I have no doubt that my claim would not have been successful had it not been for you and your expertise. It is no wonder that you are held in the highest regard in veterans’ circles throughout Australia. Thank you again, I look forward to meeting with you again in the future.

Yours sincerely, Warren T.

My gratitude for your continued support and mateship to all of us in the Association. Please find  enclosed a donation towards the welfare of members and families in need. 

Yours sincerely, Doug C.

I am writing this letter in appreciation of the fine work your Association are doing, in helping families of service men and woman, who have, and are still serving their country. I was the wife of Peter Gillson who died in Vietnam 1965, leaving a son he never got to hold and only saw photos before he died. In years to come I re-married, and so lost my war widows pension, now through the help of your association my pension will be re-instated early next year. It means so much to me knowing that even though Peter lost his life many years ago, he is still remembered for his roll in serving his country. Once again I would like to thank your Association for his help to see things organized for me to get this pension as soon as possible and I would like to send a small donation to in some way help others in the same situation get their entitlements once again through your help. 

Lorraine Chevalier. N.S.W.

I hope this is not too late for the Children’s Christmas Party, but no doubt you will find good use for it. I have been out of every day activities for 7 weeks or more, as I had to have a total right hip replacement. I am now hobbling around on a walking stick but all has gone well. Excuse the writing but the arthritics are really affecting my fingers. I was most impressed with the new format of  “Mateship” and I look forward to reading it. The work you and your advocates get through amazes me, but what a blessing you are to all the servicemen and them wives and widows. Thanks to you I had so much support from Veterans’ affairs during my hospitalizations and the follow up at home with aids were unavailable. Please apologize to Ken Larson for not being able to come to the John Tonkin Park great day out. It will be quite a while before I will be venturing to W.A. My special love to “Honey Bun” and to yourself and the boys for this Christmas and New Year. 

Sincerely Phyllis Evans.
(Bluey would feel proud of the cover of Mateship with No: 41 leading the way — sadly no more Proud Mary).

The attached cheque is long overdue. It is one of those things, which were put off for another day that never came due to other financial pressures. On reading the letter from a veteran’s son in the latest edition of the Mateship Annual Newsletter, I was made to realize how forgetful I had been. Your assistance was very much appreciated and has helped my wife and I cope in trying circumstances. Also enclosed is my membership application. Once again thank you very much.

Yours sincerely, Ray M.

Thank you China and “the crew” for your time and help in my claim, even when the odds were stacked against you. Money is important but just as important if not more is your presence and willingness to help people no matter who or what they are. I’m sure it is contagious because it encourages others to do likewise, in their own way. All the best and hope all have a great Christmas and New Year. Thanks again. Thanks Kay for helping me with the photocopying and answering the phone. Thanks Ian for answering the phone. Than you all for great phone manner. Thank you Helen for putting up with me for all those years and in all that time not one unkind word. What gems!!! Hope I haven’t forgotten anyone. 

Regards Bob F.

Keep up the good work that you and your organisation do. I have been a TPI for just over twelve months now, without your help I doubt this would have been possible once again please accept this donation of $200 in hope that it may help other veterans’ and their families. 

Yours Sincerely John M.

Thank you for your exceptional help in processing my cause with the DVA. Please find enclosed a small token of my esteem with the hope that it will help in a small way with your expenses. Thank you also for a copy of Mateship though it also brought back memories of several shipmates including a special feeling for a close “OPPO” “Spooks” Spooner. I would like to join you all if you could send me an application form. Best of good wishes for Xmas and the future.

Yours Jim & Sandra Shrapnell. Merry Christmas “Thanks Matey”

Thank you for the Mateship, it is a beauty, and well received by yours truly. Please find enclosed a small donation for you to use for your excellent course. China, there is no doubt that you run a tight ship while at the helm of the Welfare Association and the success is shown by the activities that are carried out for the members by you and your very busy and competent crew. Good luck to you all, and I wish everyone a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely Harry L.

Dolly and I would like to thank you very much for your help fighting my claim for T.P.I. Enclosed please find a cheque that may be helpful in helping someone else. Once again thanks China and all the others involved in the Association. 

Yours sincerely Graham & Dolly C.

I wish to thank you and the Association on the very enjoyable occasion of the Annual Dinner Dance and to thank you for the tickets from the Widows and Welfare Fund it was greatly appreciated and we had a wonderful evening. It was a great occasion to catch up with friends and familiar faces too and to see such a huge number there this year and such a fine venue. As usual the evening went all too quickly. I would like to congratulate you and all the hard workers behind the scenes in such an Association and all the time and effort they put into everything. Being in the unfortunate position of becoming one of the war widows in November 1997 with the passing of my late husband Geoffrey Parish it is indeed a great comfort having this particular Association in place and the wonderful role it plays. I am sure I speak on behalf of all the War Widows, sadly enough growing in numbers with the passing of time. Kind regard to all, wishing you a very Happy and safe Xmas.

Thanking you sincerely, Jan Parish.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your efforts when acting as advocate on my behalf. Without your assistance and guidance, I believe my claim would not have been settled so quickly. Please accepted the enclosed a cheque in appreciation of your efforts and once again thank you for your assistance. 

Yours sincerely Greg Baxter.

Once again you and your associates at the Leeuwin Barracks office, have helped me greatly with my DVA claim(s). Thank you very much for your expertise, and tireless support to veterans seeking your help. Please find enclosed an additional donation to assist with the Association’s fine work. Seasons greeting to you and yours. 

Yours Sincerely, Pieter 0.

Special thanks to you and your team for your great assistance with my medical claims. These claims were processed and approved, without your assistance this would not have happened. Please accept my heart felt thanks for your assistance. Please accept a donation of $ 500.00; I hope this can help you and the Association. I wish you all the very best and hope you all have a merry and very prosperous Christmas. 

Yours sincerely, Andrew C.

I would like to thank you and the team for helping me obtain the benefits from DVA. The outcome was more than my expectations and I am most grateful. Please accept this donation.

Yours sincerely Gordon J.

“Thank you” sounds so hollow when attempting to express appreciation for your commitment, dedication and energy in managing my claim. I trust that you will enjoy the bottle of ‘Scotch Whisky’ — for medicinal purposes only! Enclosed is a cheque that I would like to donate to the Vietnam Welfare Association, to assist those in need. Helen. Please accept this bouquet of flowers for the disruption to you and your family whilst China prepared my claim with Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Merry Xmas Rob S.

It gives me great pleasure to write I this letter to you. On behalf of my wife Gwen and myself. We thank you and your team at Leeuwin Advocacy Services, I thank you personally for acting as my advocate and your professional and sound advice in helping me to achieve a successful outcome on my DVA claim for a Disability Pension. Without your dedication and help the outcome may have been different. The work you do with the Veterans is wonderful. Not only the advocacy service but also all the other welfare duty’s you carry out. I will carry out your advice until I make contact with you in February for phase two. In the meantime please find enclosed a donation towards the welfare fund of $250. Gwen and I wish you a very Merry Xmas and Happy New Year. Please keep yourself fit and well to carry on your wonderful work with the Veterans. 

Thank you once again. Darby John M.

We acknowledge your letter dated 7th October 2001, regarding the Veteran Affairs decision on the disability claim and thank you for your efforts in achieving this. We have, at their request, notified Veterans’ Affairs of the Voyager incident compensation details and have received a favorable and fair determination from them. Jon is seeing veterans Counseling in Northam and will shortly be seeing Dr James Fellows-Smith again for reassessment by him and will need further guidance from you in the relevant paper work. Should you think of anything please do not I hesitate to call us. We are well aware of the efforts put in by you and your assistants and once Jon’s claim is finalized we will most certainly assist with a donation to your Association.

Kind regards, Michelle &Jon.W

To all I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation for your acts of kindness and support during a trying time. I was in desperate need of financial and material (furniture etc) help, and I received bucket loads. It was overwhelming. Thank you all and a special thanks to Graham Purkiss, Trevor Robbins, Spike Jones, Paddy Peard and Toby Quinn.

Merry Xmas every one Greg Smith.

It is with great appreciation I enclose a cheque as my donation for our Welfare Association. The time you spent with me, and the very professional way that you compiled and handled my DVA claim was outstanding to say the least. Your commitment, dedication and effort to the cause were unsurpassable. It was quite a shock to achieve 100% with my first bite at the cherry but very satisfying to receive it. Thank you again my old shipmate and keep up the excellent work. 

Yours Aye, Spike J.

Please find this small donation in appreciation for your teams’ hard works in helping Veterans achieve their pensions; your help with mine has been greatly appreciated. I have 70% now, I intend on going all the way. From my family and myself many thanks.

Sincerely Yours in retirement. Alf A.

I am writing to you to thank you for the assistance to my claim from Department of Veterans affairs. Enclosed is a cheque for $300 thus being a donation to the well-deserved organisation and service you provided to me. 

Yours faithfully, Jamie R.