Partners of Veterans Association of Australia

Victoria Branch President: Shirley Matheson shirley.matheson@bigpond.com

COVVHS

The Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Study site. This site is a must for ALL veterans, their spouse/s and children. The viability of this study will have a flow on effect for ALL veterans.

Our Photo Album

Ladies, Victoria's photo album, have a look.

Branch Links

Click here to go branches and Sub-branches across Australia.

Red Hat Society, Bendigo.

Senate Select Committee into Mental Health.

Item 40 to the Senate Select Committee into Mental Health has been submitted by members of the Sons and Daughters of Vietnam Veterans group

The Presidents newsletter.

Here you find an edited version of the Victoria Branch Presidents quarterly newsletter to Victorian members,

P.V.A. National

This link takes you to our National Home site, with links to other states.

Membership Application Form

Click on this link to download a Membership Application Form.
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President Shirley and some of the members are about to go into ANZAC House for P.V.A Victoria Branch's information day.

Presidents report to 2007 AGM

This year has been another very eventful year for Victoria Branch. It has been my great honour and pleasure to have presided over this wonderful organisation and to have been part of its growth, we are now a very important part of the Victorian veterans’ community; we are being actively sought out to take part in dialogue for the betterment of our community.
We are seeing Ex-Service Organisations coming together in a spirit of co-operation and achieving wonderful results like never before and I believe the influence of PVA is a large part of this.
During this year we have seen some firsts that have emanated from Victoria Branch.
The Quilt Show has been an outstanding success across Australia, the dream of Margaret Rehorn came together with amazing results that will have positive outcomes for PVA well into the future.
The Children of Vietnam Veterans health Study; although we still have a long road to travel with this study it will be of world significance. I was present at the inception, when a mother Sue Parker, took up the cudgels and called a meeting of interested people in Ballarat; at the next meeting in Bendigo a committee was formed with membership representation from all relevant ESO’s, the COVVHS committee with full support of PVA has gone on to successfully lobby the government and the Repatriation Commission out of their apathy towards veterans family’s. The hand that rocked the cradle rocks the government.
The DVD, “We can move on” is being used Australia wide in P.T.S.D groups and counselling sessions. Victorian members are featured in this initiative of Carers Victoria with funding from D.V.A.
PVA Victoria branch members have featured in numerous National TV programs over the past year, one of these was coverage with Ray Martin on the ‘Sunday’ program arranged by another enterprising Victorian member, Carole Doyle.
Our Telelink in partnership with the Blind Association is for geographically and socially isolated Veterans and partners, this facility has been trialed in Victoria for use across Australia, thank you Sherold Kelleher for your application and empathy, a job well done!
During the year Victoria Branch signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” with seven other Ex-Service Organisations for the “Younger Veterans in Residential Care” program (YVinRC) facilitated by RSL Care and an initiative of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Member Joy Herman is our representative through VERTAC.
We have quality delegates on all ESO and DVA forums, each are held in high esteem and have valuable input; I am proud of them all. We have met with Government Ministers and have made some good friends among Departmental Heads and ESO Presidents and their Executive using the woman’s touch without fear or favour, with honesty and integrity at all times, also a big thank you to my Office bearers they are the unsung, behind the scenes, workers that keep State running efficiently
PVA is recognised as a ‘can do’ organisation, remember that your State Executive are just a phone call away we are all readily available we do not hide within a hierarchy. It is pleasing for me to receive phone calls from members, some I have talked to since Victoria Branches inception in October 2003 and some I haven’t met in person but feel like we are old friends.
Our membership is growing exponentially. This year we traveled to Hobart, Tasmania for the quilt show and while there a sub-branch was formed. We are very happy to have them on board. I believe that it won’t be long before they form their own State branch, PVA will then have a branch in every State, a truly national organisation.
I would like place on record my appreciation to the RSL for their generosity of allowing Victoria Branch the use of ANZAC House facilities also a thank you to the RSL sub-branches that have a kindred spirit with our PVA sub-branches and social groups your empathy is much appreciated!
Thank you Heather Evans and Ellen Lovelock for your contribution as Victoria branch delegates on the National Management Committee, our peak body.
We are all volunteers with home and family that must be considered first; during the year our Secretary became ill and as a result I undertook the secretarial duties and here I must acknowledge the work of my husband David without whom the State quarterly newsletters, etc, would not have been possible.
No organisation is an island, without members we don’t have a reason for being, Thank you one and all!
Shirley Matheson


Is there a Support Group near you? See below for contact details.

Jan: 0260 244031 ALBURY/WODONGA
Jan: roger210@msn.com BENDIGO
Jan: 0419 378854 FRANKSTON
Wendy: 0439 001388 GEELONG
Lyn: 03 5628 7692 West GIPPSLAND
Elaine: 03 5383 4519 HORSHAM
Pat: 03 5793 8447 SEYMOUR
Carole: 03 9743 4349 MELTON
Pauline: 0409 063060 BOX HILL


VICTORIA BRANCH OFFICE BEARERS

PRESIDENT: Shirley 03 54417059 anne@netcon.net.au
VICE PRESIDENT: Heather hev75595@bigpond.net.au
VICE PRESIDENT: Carole 03 9743 4349
SECRETARY: Margaret hmrdesign@dcsi.net.au
TREASURER: Ellen 03 97310956 ellenl@internode.on.net





To contact the Victoria Branch Executive


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