25th-29th JULY 2012   Registration is now open to all Australian and New Zealand veterans of the 2RAR ANZAC Battalions Vietnam 1967-68 and 1970-71.   To register go the 2RAR Association website at www.2rar-association.com.au and either register on-line or download the Registration Form and submit it manually.  If you do not have computer access you […]

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, today announced the retirement of General Peter Cosgrove AC MC (Ret’d) as Chairman of the Council of the Australian War Memorial. Mr Snowdon said General Cosgrove has made an outstanding contribution to the work of the Council for almost nine years, spending four of those leading the Council […]

I cannot let the passing of Benny O’Dowd go without making a few remarks on this remarkable soldier. He served with 67Aust Inf Battalion from its inception in Moratia and with it in BCOF in the occupation of Japan. He was on the strength of 3AR and 3RAR and thus was a father of the […]

STOMP FOR SUPPORT – AUSTRALIA DAY 2012 I would like to share with you an event that I am taking part in with a large number of my Brothers on Australia Day 2012. I am part of a group called RAR (Royal Australian Regiment) BUDDIES and we are all ex serving or current serving Members […]

I am writing to inform you that all DVA offices will be closed from close of business Friday 23 December 2011 to Monday 2 January 2012. The offices will re-open for normal business on Tuesday 3 January 2012. As in previous years, DVA services over the Christmas-New Year period will be provided through the Department’s […]

Over the past fortnight there have been technical issues which have prevented distribution of media releases to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs subscription list. This has now been resolved and media releases issued over this time can be found at http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases.htm Tuesday, 29 November 2011 VA107 BROADBAND NETWORK PROVIDES IN-HOME HEALTHCARE The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren […]

Thursday, 8 December 2011                                                                                                            VA111 FRESH FACES AND PERSPECTIVES FOR THE PRIME MINISTERIAL ADVISORY COUNCIL The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, today announced the new membership of the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-Service Matters (PMAC), to advise the government on a new wave of younger veterans and their families. “To ensure we continue […]

You may be aware of recent public reporting about inappropriate comments made through social media. I am personally appalled and disenchanted with the repugnant comments made by some among us on Facebook. Racist and homophobic comments are entirely unacceptable and completely at odds with Army’s values, including all of the cultural and equity training we […]

It has been a long journey and we have covered much ground. As you well know, our role in Afghanistan is to mentor the ANA 4th Bde and by doing so give them the skills, capabilities and confidence to continue the war against the insurgency and protect the people of Uruzgan. We will not win the […]

This is a US video but its sentiments apply equally to our Aussie heroes who also have fallen in Afghanistan! AWESOME “ANGEL FLIGHT” This video is about a song called “Angel Flight”… It is terrific. The song is being performed with “effects.” Listen to the words of the pilot and the tower, and make sure you […]