50 th Anniversary of Australian Forces Overseas Fund

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1 10 NATIONAL PRESIDENT S NEWSLETTER Issue 10 National President s Newsletter Is sue 10 March 2016 DELIVERING CARE PACKAGES TO PERSONNEL ON DEPLOYMENT IN THIS ISSUE 50 th Anniversary of Australian Forces Overseas Fund by RADM Ken Doolan AO (Retd) In March, the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) continued a special tradition of helping and caring for the service community by sending 2,510 care packages to personnel on deployment. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Australian Forces Overseas Fund (AFOF). The beginning of RSL AFOF can be traced to the decision to provide Christmas parcels to members of the Australian Army serving in Vietnam. Following our withdrawal from Vietnam, RSL AFOF has continued to support Australian Forces on missions abroad. RSL AFOF was formally established on 26 January 1966 at the Sydney Town Hall, amalgamating the earlier fund established by RSL NSW and the Lord Mayor s Comfort Fund. The work of RSL AFOF has been made possible due to the many donations received from ordinary Australians who share our desire to continue this support. Twice a year, we see volunteers from RSL State Branch, RSL sub- Branches and Civilians from the Defence Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs joining with serving members of the Deployed Forces Support Unit (39th Battalion) at Randwick Barracks in NSW to pack parcels for shipment overseas. Many personnel are serving in areas of particular hardship and in conditions quite foreign to those experienced back home. These packages are a reminder of home and that Australia appreciates the contribution our service people are making for the nation. Packing the delivery RSL appreciates the support of 39 th Battalion that provide the facilities to put together care packages to be sent overseas. Thank you to Cricket Australia This delivery was made possible through the generous support of Cricket Australia who raised $10,000 at the ANZAC Test in November 2015.

2 NATIONAL PRESIDENT S NEWSLETTER Issue 10 2 Page 3 History of helping personnel on deployment Since 1966, RSL AFOF has provided parcels to serving members of the Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police posted overseas. The photograph featured in this article was provided by the Australian War Memorial. It was taken in 1971 in South Vietnam. This photo depicts Mr W. G. Osmond, executive officer of the Australian Forces Overseas Fund (AFOF), handing out the Christmas gifts to Australian troops in Vietnam. On the receiving end are, left to right: Private (Pte) Geoff Ward of Willagee, WA; Pte Terry Reid of Zillmere, Qld; Pte. We are delighted to continue to use similar boxes to the original ones sent 50 years ago. The beginning of RSL AFOF can be traced to the decision to provide Christmas parcels to members of the Australian Army serving in Vietnam. In deciding to do so, the RSL National Executive felt that this was one small way in which closer contact could be maintained between the troops and the people back home. The RSL Australian Forces Overseas Fund (AFOF) was formally established on 26 January 1966 at the Sydney Town Hall, amalgamating the earlier fund established by RSL NSW and the Lord Mayor s Comfort Fund. In anticipation of an increased commitment in South Vietnam, State Branches of the RSL were asked to give further thought to the matter, and the National Executive, in October 1965, decided to instigate a committee to organise and coordinate a fund and program for the provision of amenities for troops serving in South East Asia. Each State Branch was requested to take whatever steps where appropriate to raise funds for the program. As a result RSL AFOF was initially established in New South Wales. Due to the continued interest of RSL National member states, RSL AFOF was subsequently expanded to become a National organisation with State Commissioners in The fund continues today providing comfort parcels, recreational equipment and activities to serving members of the ADF on deployment. The majority of the personnel that receive care packages are serving in peacemaking missions on a six month rotation basis. To ensure that each receives the benefit of a package during their period of service, the packages still sent twice yearly. These packages are loosely referred to as the mid-year and Christmas packages. Our commitment to supporting serving ADF members around the globe. The most recent delivery of care packages was sent in late March 2016 to arrive around the Easter period.

3 NATIONAL PRESIDENT S NEWSLETTER Issue 10 3 FUNDRAISING FOR AFOF IN 2015 Cricket Australia s Support Wreath Laying Ceremony The Australian and New Zealand cricket captains paid their respects to the fallen at The Shrine of Remembrance in Brisbane the day before the match. Centenary of ANZAC Ceremony On 5 November 2015, a ceremony was held before the first day of the ANZAC Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. RSL was selected as the charity partner for this match that recognised the Centenary of ANZAC. FAST FACTS $6,500 Amount raised by first AFOF fundraising event in 1966 $10,000 Amount raised by Cricket Australia for AFOF at the ANZAC Test in 2015 MESSAGE OF THANKS While our Australian men and women represent our nation on cricket grounds across the world, we know that you are bravely serving Australia on much more treacherous grounds. Wherever in the world this package finds you, on behalf of Australian cricket, thank you for your service to our country. James Sutherland, CEO Cricket Australia The recent delivery of 2,510 care packages to personnel on deployment was supported by Cricket Australia. On 5 November 2015, the First Commonwealth Bank Test match between Australia and New Zealand was held at the Gabba in Brisbane. Through a partnership between Cricket Australia and the RSL this match commemorated the Centenary of ANZAC and raised funds for AFOF. To recognise the 100 th anniversary of the 1915 ANZAC landing at Gallipoli a wreath laying ceremony was held before the match. The Australian and New Zealand captains participated in the ceremony at The Shrine of Remembrance in Brisbane. This private ceremony was also attended by RSL National President, RADM Ken Doolan. On the day, Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said the Test match between the two nations provided a fitting platform to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of the legendary ANZAC alliance. The ANZAC legend has become part of the cultural fabric of our two nations and we are very proud to be partnering with the RSL to honour it during the Brisbane Test. This was a natural partnership due to Cricket s place during wartime, including the famous Shell Green match contested by the Anzacs as a diversionary tactic during preparations for the evacuation of Gallipoli. More than 450,000 Australians and New Zealanders served in the Great War, including Test cricketer Albert Tibby Cotter who had played 21 Tests and took 89 wickets before enlisting to the Army. Cotter was tragically killed in action in Beersheba in RSL National were grateful for the support given by 7 th Battalion who volunteered to help handing out poppies and accepting donations from spectators. The event raised $10,000 that was put into AFOF to purchase items to go into the mid-year delivery of care packages. A special message of thanks from Cricket Australia s CEO was also included in the packages.

4 NATIONAL PRESIDENT S NEWSLETTER Issue 10 4 Helping personnel overseas stay connected The RSL has been offering serving and ex-service personnel and their families a place to socialise for 100 years. In addition to the programs that are run across Australia, RSL remembers those posted overseas and keeps them connected to home. RSL AFOF is used to send care packages to Australian personnel that are posted overseas. At least twice a year, RSL gathers items to remind people of home and with the help of the ADF these are delivered around the world. The packages contain items to remind them of home such as ANZAC biscuits, confectionary and a letter of appreciation. Last year the AFOF donated more than $9000 worth of instruments and equipment for personnel deployed to the Middle East Region. This included guitars, cymbals, microphones and a new mixer. The donated equipment allows those who have an interest in music to unwind and briefly escape the hardships of their deployment. It also lifts the moral and offers a rare social occasion for all to enjoy when the band performs. We are always delighted to hear back from those who have received gifts at the difference such a small thing can make to their spirits. Thank for your donation of musical instruments it s such a huge benefit to the soldiers there and I know it may my time there so much easier. Many thank you letters have been received over the 50 years of AFOF and they make our day when they arrive at the National office. We are also grateful for the support the ADF provides to deliver the care packages and other gifts to the personnel on deployment. RSL National administer AFOF and RSL NSW branch continues to provide volunteers and funds from their sub-branches that is greatly appreciated. AFOF is funded by donations and the packages are put together by our team of volunteers at a facility provided by 39th Personnel Support Battalion. It is often as hard to deal with a deployment mentally as physically due to missing out on activities that are unique to home. In January we sent a special Australia Day delivery to our troops to help them celebrate on the other side of the globe.

5 NATIONAL PRESIDENT S NEWSLETTER Issue 10 5 Other Programs funded by AFOF RSL AFOF has the flexibility to respond to emerging needs of ADF personnel based overseas. The fund also underpins the RSL Support Pack and Operation Care programs. One of the programs that is funded by AFOF is the RSL Support Packs. These are given to soldiers who seriously wounded on overseas service and require hospitalisation. Since 2010, RSL AFOF has worked through the Chief of Army to provide a Simpson Pack to soldiers injured on operations. The Simpson Pack contains items such as a track suit, t-shirt, shorts, cap, toiletries and a telephone card. RSL saw the need to provide a more extensive pack for those ADF members who are seriously wounded on overseas service and require longer periods of hospitalisation. The identification of this need led to the creation of the RSL Support Pack. This is a cabin-style suitcase with a broader range of toiletries, clothing and other useful items to support a longer hospital stay. First at the NATO medical facilities in Germany and sometimes for another hospital stay when the member arrives back in Australia. Another program that is funded by AFOF is RSL Operation Care. This program is operated in a partnership between two separate entities, RSL and the RSL & Service Clubs Association. The program provides up to one week rest and recuperation at sites throughout Australia for ADF personnel and their family. Those selected are service members who have been repatriated to Australia as a consequence of combat wounds. The needs of personnel based overseas have changed since RSL is pleased to continue to support people on postings and find new help members of this part of our service community. The next edition of the National President s Newsletter will be published on the 29 April 2016.