Commando News Spring17

PERTH CHARITY "BRAVERY TRUST" STEPS IN
TO AVOID PAUPER FUNERAL FOR MILITARY VETERAN
It was a travesty narrowly avoided — an ex-soldier
estranged from his family who had taken his own life
almost ending up in a pauper’s grave because no one
would pay for his funeral.
That was until Perth-based charity Bravery Trust
stepped in to ensure this man — who had served his
country, but like many others, had returned home
broken, damaged and fighting his own internal war —
received a proper farewell.
They even bought replica medals for his teenage
sons, which they proudly wore to his funeral and
promised to wear on Anzac Day.
Even though it was not strictly in Bravery Trust’s
charter, when chairman Peter Fitzpatrick heard about
how the Government and 12 other military charities had
declined to help, his first thought at the prospect of this
veteran being buried in a cardboard box was: “Not on
our watch.”
“How can you say someone is not in need if they’re
going to be put in a pauper’s grave when they’ve served
their country?” he said.
Sadly, this man’s demise is not isolated and he’s one
of dozens of veterans who have taken their own lives so
far this year.
There have been 325 confirmed suicides of people
with at least one day of service with the Australian
Defence Force between 2001 and 2015.
Mr Fitzpatrick estimated that figure would be more
than 400 by now — 10 times the number of soldiers
killed in battle over the same period — and more than
40 suicides alone so far this year.
Bravery Trust was one of more than 400 organi -
sations and people to make a submission to a Senate
inquiry into suicide by veterans, which was prompted by
an investigation by The Sunday Times one year ago. A
report on its findings is due next month.
Bravery Trust, which started in Perth in 2012 and is
lesser-known than other military charities such as the
RSL and Legacy, is an urgent financial safety net for
veterans and their families, helping them pay their
mortgage or rent, utility bills, children’s school fees,
health expenses and providing them with Coles food
vouchers.
The charity spends about $100,000 a month — or
more than $1.1 million last year — to help struggling
families. On top of that, it provides education and
training scholarships for veterans and their partners.
Mr Fitzpatrick said it was a sad truth that we seemed
to be more focused on honouring the dead than sup -
porting the living.
“There’s a lot of focus on Anzac Day, com me mo -
rations of battles, Long Tan and all of that, and some -
times you look at that and say, ‘Wow, we’re really
focused on everyone getting on the bandwagon with
these events’,” he said.
“Everyone loves Anzac Day, but what about those
people who can’t afford to feed their families. Are they
being left behind?
“One veteran said to me, ‘I was prepared to be
wounded, I was prepared to die, but when I came home
I was not prepared to be forgotten’.”
Army veteran Jesse Bird, 32, took his own life last
month and his family believes the rejection of his DVA
compensation claim for post-traumatic stress disorder
that he had been pursuing for years pushed him over
the edge. Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’
Affairs Dan Tehan has ordered a review into that case.
Bravery Trust says it’s aware of three other veteran
suicides since then.
Mr Fitzpatrick said in many cases, former soldiers
were too proud or found it hard to ask for help, and
were forced to wait months for the Department of
Veterans Affairs to process their claims.
Many fell through the cracks after leaving the
“military family”, ending up unemployed, homeless,
experiencing relationship breakdowns and being at risk
of suicide.
But he stressed most veterans returned from duty
and were able to adjust well back into civilian life.
Mr Fitzpatrick said improvements were being made,
but there was still a massive way to go to make the
bureaucracy veteran-friendly and for military charities,
which have a combined annual revenue of $19 billion
compared to DVA’s annual budget of $12 billion, to work
more collaboratively.
“Sure we’re working to address these things, but
with three (suicides) in the last fortnight you’ve got to
say we’ve got to move faster,” he said.
Mr Fitzpatrick, a veteran himself and chairman of the
national SAS Association, said knowing someone had
their backs was just as valuable to veterans as financial
help.
“Because in the military, people have got one
another’s backs,” he said.
RSL WA operations manager Martin Holzberger said
defence, government and charities had roles to play in
helping veterans in post-military life.
A DVA spokesman said the Federal Government had
committed $166 million to overhaul and modernise its
processes and IT systems as it was accepted its
operations and infrastructure were “no longer fit for
purpose”.
He said suicide was an Australia-wide issue and the
ADF was not immune, with the Government committing
to a series of actions last month, including improving
support, processes and culture, after a taskforce review.
The right kind of support at the right time for ex-ADF
members was crucial, which is why the Government
introduced “non-liability health care”, providing quick
access to treatment for “certain physical and all mental
health conditions” and reducing the length of time to
process claims, the spokesman said.
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