SUBMIT
“No matter how much people think their story may not matter in the grand scheme of things, if life in the services or post service has had an impact on them, then it’s important. Even things that may appear small in the grand scheme of things matter”
-Ted (Veteran)
Contributing to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
We know the idea of sitting down and having to write your submission to the Royal Commission can feel daunting, like a waste of time or like your story doesn’t matter. The thing is, the Royal Commission is here right now, to provide us with a unique opportunity for cultural change within our Veteran community. Changing the narrative from victim too valuable.
How we do this is by contributing our voice, having a say and letting ourselves be heard.
Some say writing their submission has been a cathartic experience.
Ted (A Veteran from the VSF community) had this to say:
I just want to thank you for your ongoing support of ex service people
It was through hearing Heston’s submissions and ongoing posts that I finally decided yesterday to make my submission to the RC.
For me today I have mixed feelings. On one hand I’ve finally told my story after decades – I set out to make a brief statement and 6 very emotional hours later. I had written and rewritten an essay. As you start to write, you recall more and more things that you had buried away and not necessarily dealt with or wanted to recount. I told of the impact it had on my family and the contribution it made to a marriage breakdown, the suicidal ideations and of a failed suicide attempt. The struggle to re engage with others around me and to get on with my everyday life.
On one hand today I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders but on the other hand I feel like Brutus who stabbed Caesar in the back and was instantly remorseful. But did it for what he thought was for the greater good.
We can’t fix what has happened in the past. But fingers crossed we can change the way things are done going forward.
Ted
A week and a bit out from submitting to the RC. I am still a bit raw, but quietly confident that I’ve done the right thing not only to get the truth out there for things to be done better in the future, but for myself and those close to me.
A subsequent appointment was made with my counsellor and we had the most useful and in-depth discussion we’ve had in all the time I’ve been seeing him – we can finally get to the guts of the matter. I honestly walked out of there feeling like we’d turned a corner. It now feels like it was the catalyst to set off in a new direction. People may need someone to help support them through those initial days after submitting because it is emotional. But well worth it once you get past those initial feelings.
I want to thank Heston especially for showing us that we are not alone. We all have differing stories, but we are still part of something bigger than ourselves. We haven’t been entirely forgotten. No matter how much people think their story may not matter in the grand scheme of things, if life in the services or post service has had an impact on them, then it’s important. Even things that may appear small in the grand scheme of things matter.
Submit
Is it time for you to tell you story?
If you need assistance with your submission, reach out to the team by sending an email to: support@vsf.org.au
Speak | Submit | Support
It is Mental Health Awareness Month at Veteran Support Force and we will continue to share voices and stories to encourage you to SPEAK up, SUBMIT your testimony to the Royal Commission and show your SUPPORT to Veterans by purchasing an Australian Veterans Supporter Pin – CLICK HERE.
I served in the Army for 20 years, and over that time knew several soldiers who committed suicide during their service time.
It was hard for married personnel to be committed to a marriage as well as a commitment to the Military, and the amount of
broken marriages was rather staggering. I am still married, and coming up to 50 years in 2023, but my time in the Army certainly
put marriage to the test.
I also think my time was from the end of the Vietnam war (joined at the beginning of 1971) through to Feb of 1991, and during that
time there were no real overseas deployments, although we did do a fair bit of assistance to the civilian community during natural
disasters, such as Cyclone Althea (Townsville 1971) and Cyclone Tracy (Darwin 1974), as well as other cyclones, bushfire assistance
and flood assistance. The later military service saw the introduction of the National Emergency Service Medal, which I think should be back dated to at least the start of the 1970’s. I believe now would also be a good time to push for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal to be awarded to all who served under her reign too. I know of quite a few soldiers who managed between six and twelve years service, and without overseas trips only have the ADM to show for that service, and the Jubilee Medal would be a great way to say thanks for swearing allegiance to the Queen and the country.
Best wishes from Greensborough, and thanks for all the great work you guys are doing,
Robert (Bob) Lyons.
15 September 2022.
I submitted my story and whilst I feel it was good to tell them about it I still feel that it will be worth nothing. The system failed me and all this submitting heartfelt submissions will probably be treated with public respect but internally collated as data set that will be strangled, sifted and sorted into something that resembles a cheap option for the government. Sorry to sound fatalistic but previous experience and seeing what is happening with defence cut backs and the new razor gang going to work now, we will not see what is needed to bring the solutions to fruitition. Pride in serving, comradeship, honour, mateship doesn’t put a roof over your head or help your family when you are out and isolated. I see a very dim future for myself if they don’t do what is needed. I just feel what was it all for and really….. was it worth it
Cheers
I totally agree with you, what’s the use, I only done 6 years as a Navy CD, but seen a done some traumatic stuff. 30 odd years later when trying to get a service pension I had to go through everything again which didn’t help my emotional state.
From the VOAV Col Dunn of62 years.
Everything that has been said, and told of experience here . I fully endorse.
Sadly the Truth of problems that are handled in Defence Department and DVA, will continue with the minefield of Claims. That the legislature has created to frustrate the Veterans.
All the Royal Commission work
that I received in the Interim report
and read on recommendations. Will not be given a passage through Parliament. To be a conclusion for Veterans to accept their Claims and
for their families addressed also.
The Bureaucracy will make sure it
Remains with a slight twinging to appear the Veterans and their families
Have been catered for.
My grandfather and my father were Australian Servicemen. WW1 and WW2. Grandad went to WW1.
Grandad came back from WW1 and started a family. He was an very abusive father, physically and verbally to my dad and dad’s sister, my aunty.
Then dad went to WW2.
Dad came back from WW2 and started a family.
He came back and married mum.
He and mum had 4 boys.
I am one of them, the youngest.
Da died in 1998.
I was born in 1957.
He was physically, verbally and mentally abusive to me my whole life till he passed.
Even when visiting him in the nursing home with severe dementia he would tell me to piss off!
My point is not about me and what happened to me.
But what happens to these men when they come back from a war conflict without any helping hand at all.
These VETS are shoved on the shit pile of Government Agendas.
The last rung of the ladder, and this for defending good over evil in a corrupt world.
The minds of these VETS change when they are in a war conflict, what they see and hear affects them mentally for the rest of their poor lives.
Those who have not had a chance to experience this from their family members, in their lives, have no idea of the effect to their families this causes.
War changes people, and when they come home, it does not miraculously disappear.
War changes the human brain irreparably.
War badly damages family relationships because of their changed minds.
They don’t see things like ”normal” civilians do.
They have a brain filled with horror and black storms which never end.
These VETS, these brave men and women who sacrifice so much of their beautiful lives for us, deserve better.
They are let down by most Governments in our World when they come home, but expected to fight and die for their Governments in war.
This has been going on since wars began.
It has to change.
We must respect our VETS. WE must comfort them and make them feel worthy again.
We must help their minds become less of the storm it is.
They need drastic help now. Not later!
I beg the Government’s of Australia to please help these returned heros now, please.
I now have damage. Why. Because the governments of the day done nothing to help my father on his return from WW2.
See, if it is not fixed, this destroys family life, one after one after one, this cursed monster won’t ever stop destroying our Aussie families.
If the Australian Government of today continue with their apathetic approach to this matter to returned soldiers there will be NO future hope for this country called Australia.
I pray and beg them to show compassion now.
Memories of Mick Muc a member of my platoon killed in action in 1968 are constant. We were involuntary soldiers dragged into the Army with severe penalties for non-compliance. For me it was a disaster and completely shattered my life.
Imagine you will lose your position, be removed from family, friends and your current income despite your objections. Incarcerated with unknown people in unfamiliar areas, told what to wear, when to eat, sleep, the length hair, condition of sleeping area, standard of dress, what you would be paid, with penalties for non-compliance. Subject to hard physical and mental training, taught to kill and possibly killed or injured? You will be controlled 24 hours a day and with no say over your future. Even though you had done nothing wrong. How would you feel?
Physical, mental and social injuries during service resulted and are continuous. Physical stress, anxiety, panic, fatigue, lack of sleep, resulted in me seeking an out with alcohol even though I was a non-drinker
Labelled by DVA as a liar as I was unable to produce diagnoses from doctors and medicos from a 55-year period. Records contained on cardboard cards from medicos which are unable to be obtained. Not being aware of the right to claim until recently it is impossible to meet the technical requirements of DVA.
I had left school at 14 coming from a poor working-class background and had a constant clerical career with good prospects. My level of fitness was low and I’d never had any heavy physical lifting. Great parents who did not consume alcohol and were very anti-violence. They and I loathed the idea of killing or injuring others, and the prospect of my death or injury. None of my friends had been conscripted so I had no idea what would happen and they were very anti-war.
Incarcerated in Kapooka for 12 weeks controlled 24 hours a day, subject to strict discipline, hard physical work, long hours, taught to kill and not knowing the future, divorced from family and friends. Constantly hounded to comply and just get on with it, not only by the military but other members of the platoon. There was very limited time outside the camp, but when out it was apparent there was a growing hatred outside for members of the Army.
With no idea what would happen I was sent to Wodonga where our leave was cancelled. Half way through the course I was sent to Puckapunyal where we were expected to be sent to Vietnam which didn’t happen. Finishing the course, I was sent to Walgrove.
At Walgrove I was constantly on exercises starting at Singleton, Richmond, Rockhampton, Townsville, Ingham, Port August, Whyalla, Nowra and Melbourne.
These exercises were very fatiguing, dirty, dusty, hard and dangerous. On one exercise half our unit were injured. Isolation from family and friends, poor food living in the bush. The work required urgent heavy lifting and extensive flying at the rear of aircraft or under helicopters without protection, which was dangerous, dirty, heavy, urgent and very stressful. There was constant pressure to lift, carry and move very heavy loads. On DZ’s there was constant fear where the parachutes would land and difficulties collapsing the parachutes, then quickly moving the heavy cargo. Downtime was infrequent the only infrequent escape was the wet canteen.
Army service broke my relationships, with my girl-friend, friends and significantly shattered my family relationship. Members of the public despised those from the military and it was extremely difficult socially. After two years I was informed on was on the ready reserve for 3 years, too much.
One day in the next out. Although I was completely changed, I was expected to return to clerical work. I went back to that job but had to take frequent breaks, upsetting me and seeking alcohol at lunch-time. Within a couple of months, I had to get away. I sailed away overseas and drifted for two years trying to come to terms with my mental and physical problems which have never left me despite the extensive treatments.
I have just stumbled across this website. This was because, I had just penned an email to DVA. My claim was submitted in May 2021.
In May 2022 I was sent some forms to complete and given about two weeks. I completed the forms in the time frame required and these were submitted to my advocate who sent them via electronic means to DVA. It is now almost October and I have received no feedback.
To make matters worst, in May 2022 the forms sent to me to complete were for another veteran and I was able to read what his ailments were (breach of medical confidentiality). My advocate was informed and he informed DVA of the mistake.
I am 75 years of age, and the time is ticking, maybe they DVA would rather I step right from the “stage of life and this mortal coil”. Of course, I would rather a few more years of relatively good health, if the list of health issues DVA have could be regarded in that light.
I served 12 years as a tank crewman both at the Armoured School and the Tank Regiment (1AR) . I discharged in 2002 to try to save a failing marriage but it proved fruitless eventually. In those days when you got out you were on your own. No advice on DVA, no support networks, no social media to reach out. If you were geographically isolated you were really on your own.
As a tankie, I didn’t know it at the time, but the world of heavy armour was to take its toll over the years. Tracklifts, turret lifts, all the heavy maintenance plus the rigours of travelling across rough terrain for years in a steel box and all the infantry stuff we did in the wet season etc all added up physically. With noone to advise, I suffered through the physical toll as it added up over the years and then the mental toll crept in as well. Although not employed on warlike operations I had done some operational deployments and these ghosts appeared at some point in time. Again, I fought through it alone, not co-relating anything. Only since social media has become the norm do I realise there were so many others in the same predicament. And some of those have taken their lives because of similar predicaments.
Through a rubbish transition into civilian life, physical impairments and mental struggles, things could have been so much better. Its time the effort was put back into us. We signed up and served for years and it seems once that tenure is up, good luck to you! Maybe its better these days, maybe not.
I made a submittion quite long time ago
In essence
1 DVA should provide psychological assistance to all Armed Service Personal from recruitment for their entire natural life both inside and after their service concludes
Psychological impacts are carried with the person after Armed Service concludes therefor the DVA should be responsible for this ailment and therefore provide the psychological consultations to those personal to assist them to life as good a life a they can
Knowing assistance is at hand with no impact on promotion or other consequences both in the armed forces and outside the forces would assist in greatly reducing self harm and deaths
Yes there will always be officers with power that will hold fast that anyone with psych problems cannot cope
These personal need to be tutored of this bias and if no change in attitude is made then they need to know what personal consequences they will suffer from their decisionmaking