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LETTERS OF APPRECIATION
(To
our team at Leeuwin Advocacy Services) -
October
Advocates: - Kevin Gleeson; China Hammal; Sally Low; Ian McCutcheon;
Patrick Peard Trevor Robbins; John Sanderson; Grattan Shimmen and Philip Steele.
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. Kerry Larson, Ian Dunn, Les Aisbett, Spike Jones, Anthony
Samiotis and Les De Bonde,
Also we must thank John Exley (due to work commitments); John Glass, John
Jenkins (living too remote); Max Kellow, Ted Lincoln, Greg Smith; (sick bay)
that they are unable to assist at the moment.
I have just been notified that I am to receive the War Widow's
pension and I am overwhelmed with both relief and gratitude. Relief because when
my beloved Colin died I was so very lost and alone. A deeply sensitive and
gentle man, he served in Vietnam waters in 1965 and returned terribly stressed.
He was fortunate enough to have mainly shore postings after that until his
discharge in 1971 but his distress after his war service did not abate. He
continued to suffer until his premature death from stress related disease in
1984. At the time my teenage daughters and I were struggling to cope without him
and to recover from the pain we too suffered seeing his. I was not informed of
my rights in regard to his war service and resulting trauma and early death.
Money was extremely tight and my earnings limited as I married at an early age
and did not have any training for employment at the time. While I did receive a
small insurance payment I put most of it away to pay for my daughters' weddings.
I knew I would never be able to afford them otherwise. Gratitude because until
my husband's friend put me in touch with you I was still finding it difficult to
cope financially and I could not see any light at the end of the tunnel. With
your continued support, encouragement and excellent advice I began the seemingly
endless and apparently futile process of applying for the War Widow' s pension.
When my application was rejected at first, I can not understand that the
decision making by DVA that they feel there were no stress in operations
services and over turn evidences by veterans who was there and state the extra
work loads and stress and anxiety experiences by the crew, you told me that you
would appeal. You said you had always got someone a pension that comes to you
for assistance, NEVER any one walk away with nothing and was not going to start
now. There were many times over the 18 months of the appeal process that I felt
sure I could not continue with the battle but your incredible optimism and
untiring support and efforts drove me on. Your persistence and dedication to my
case were awe-inspiring. What can I say China? I can never thank you enough for
what you have done for me. You have a gift for finding the smallest, faintest
ray of hope and nurturing it into a beacon that even I, with so little faith,
was able to follow. I understand that I am not the first person you have helped
like this. I am sure I will not be the last. God bless you China. You are a true
hero. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Yours in eternal thanks. Christiane A.
Special thanks to your team, for your work, and valuable assistance
with my recent successful claim with the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Please
accept my cheque, for the Association in order that others may be helped.
Without you're friendly and professional assistance I would not have reached
this favourable outcome. Once again THANKS. If I can help please
call.
Yours sincerely, Alan R.
Many thanks for your recent note advising the Department of Veterans'
Affairs decision. My wife and I wish to thank you and your helpers for your
efforts made in having my disability allowance increased. Please accept the
attached cheque as a donation to help the Association continue it's superb work.
Best wishes Bill & Barbara C.
I am writing to express my thanks and gratitude for the prompt manner in
which my claim was resolved. The team is an excellent advocate service and it is
by the team effort that I have received a 100% disability pension and a GOLD
card, which has led to an improved life style, not discounting the extra
concessions now available to me, thanks to your splendid effort on my behalf. I
have forwarded a small donation, which in no way reflects the gratitude I feel
for your team efforts on my behalf, but is all I can afford at the moment, after
finally being able to sort out my financial difficulties. On behalf of my wife
and myself, it would be appreciated if you would pass on our thanks.
Yours Sincerely. Laurie & Maureen E.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your efforts when
acting as advocate on my behalf. I feel my chance of successfully completing a
claim on my own would have been severely limited. The fact that the claims were
accepted is due in no small part to your efforts and knowledge. I would also
like to thank your team who continued to assist my case when your workload
became extreme. Thank you all and keep up the good work, there are many service
and ex service personnel that could do with your help. Please accept the
enclosed cheque in appreciation of your efforts. Once again thank you very much
for your assistance.
Yours sincerely. Arthur C.
It is with many thanks that I write
this letter. With your Associations' support and guidance, I have received from
Veterans' Affairs an Intermediate Rate of pension. My physical disabilities have
worsened over the last two years. Over the last twelve months it has become
increasingly more difficult for me to work my small cleaning business. The less
I am able to work the more I have to rely on hired staff, resulting in an
increased financial burden. My worry and anxiety over the problem has been eased
thanks to your help. Whilst I seek a buyer for my business I now have some
financial assistance to help make ends meet. Again thank you for all your help
and support. I hope this $200 will help assist the Welfare Association in
helping other ex- servicemen with their claims.
Yours sincerely. Mark C.
Please accept this donation as
a token of my appreciation for the work (you in particular) and the Association
have done and are doing. I apologize for being so long winded in getting around
to writing.
Cheers, Gratefully, Wayne E.
I would like to express my
appreciation for your assistance with my claim with the Department of Veterans'
Affairs, on receiving a disability pension. Please find enclosed a cheque for
$350, donation to Australian Navy in Vietnam Veterans' Welfare Association of
W.A.
Yours Sincerely Ernie J.
Please find the enclosed
donation for the association Welfare fund to assist in the continuation of the
good work done by you all. I would also like to express my thanks to the team
for the support I received in recently obtain my disability pension from DVA.
Sincerely Kevin W.
Thank you for your help in my successful application for the War Widow's
pension. China is a force to be reckoned with and I am so glad he is on my side
and not the other side. I would never have been successful without his help and
without the support of the Australian Navy in Vietnam Veterans' Welfare
Association. Please accept this small token of my appreciation.
Yours sincerely Chris A.
I wish to express my sincere thanks for the assistance given when applying for an increase in pension from DVA. The professional guidance from the team proved invaluable in the success of my application for TPI and service pension. I am so pleased that the VLSVA has set up The Welfare Association to assist veterans and widows with their claims. I know that many others and I were unsuccessful in doing our own claims for pensions from DVA. Therefore I can truly appreciate the expertise of the team. Please find a cheque enclosed to assist the organisation to carry on the good work.
Yours sincerely Ian D.
Thank you for your help with my claim
so far, I hope in the future I will get the remaining 10% of my claim. We are
sending a donation to you to do with it as you see fit. I will ring you in the
next few weeks.
Yours sincerely Ian & Jean B.
Many thanks for obtaining an increase
in my disability pension and for getting my service pension. This has enabled me
to obtain the Gold Card and the free travel pass (“Real Gold”!!). Once again
I thank the team. Enclosed please find a donation.
Over and Out. J. D.
This is a short letter of thanks for
your assistance and hard work and never giving up, your persistence has paid
off. My wife and I would like to say many thanks on a terrific out come.
Enclosed is our donation to the Association of a Queen Size Patch Work Quilt,
hopefully you can raffle it and raise some money.
Many thanks Tony & Cindy S.
Thank you for your kind letter
advising finalization of my claim with DVA. By any measure an outstanding
result!!. Your dedication and sheer enthusiasm for assisting veterans in their
dealings with DVA, for whatever reason, is awesome !. I had no idea of the
volume of work you and the ANVVWA team have to get through on behalf of former
(and current) members. Ever the optimist, you always seem to be able to put a
smile on the faces of your clients, whatever their circumstance. Please accept
my sincere thanks for your tremendous efforts in resolving my disability claims.
If I can ever be of any assistance to you or the association please contact me.
In the meantime, I have attached a cheque, which I ask you to accept and hope it
will assist with the terrific work of the ANVVWA (WA).
Yours aye Ian M.
When my husband Petty Officer Brian
Alfred Sly died on service shortly after returning from Vietnam on 23 October
1968, we had a two and a half year old son and I was seven months pregnant with
our twin daughters. Unfortunately for us when my husband died I was not informed
of my rights and privileges nor I was given any information on where, or if, I
could get any help. This resulted in me struggling on my own to raise three
young children. I must say it wasn't easy over the years, but the children are
now beautiful young adults and help me a great deal. We are a very close family.
Around 2000, after being told by a few navy friends that I may be eligible for
the War Widows' pension I rang China Hammal of the Australian Navy in Vietnam
Veterans' Welfare Association for help. We had success and I have now been
receiving that pension for ten months. I cannot express my thanks enough to
China for working so hard on my behalf. It is certainly making my life much
easier after all these years. If anyone is thinking of applying for the
Veterans' Affairs pension I would suggest not waiting any longer and get
assistance from an advocate.
Yours sincerely Dot S.