Vets get help

By Lia Bichel
HUNDREDS of veterans affected by horrific memories of war will receive a helping hand from local volunteers.
The Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL has teamed up with Beyond Disability, a not-for profit organisation, to help local veterans suffering from depression and post-traumatic disorder brought on from war.
Beyond Disability chief executive officer Richard Stubbs, OAM, said there were many veterans who would only speak about their feelings with veterans they served with.
In an attempt to encourage veterans to speak about their feelings and communicate with friends or family, volunteers with Beyond Disability will go into their homes and set up a laptop with wireless broadband – and teach them how to use networking tools like MSN messenger.
“Many (veterans) are bullied or branded as malingers,” he said.
“In the army, you are either very brave, or if you crack, you are a coward. Veterans don’t want to speak out about it because they feel they will be called cowards. But the truth is they are genuinely ill and many have seen a lot of horrific things.
“The whole point (of teaching veterans to communicate on laptops) is to move them away from depression. Hopefully, when they are lonely, they can grab a beer and speak with a friend in Queensland.”
Mr Stubbs said his father was one example of a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress or depression caused by the war.
His father served in WW II in the air force, and volunteered as a spotter on a pacific island with a radio, two Gurkhas and some natives in support.
“He was not supplied with any provisions for 18 months,” Mr Stubbs said.
“Japanese occupied the island and tried to kill him every night during the same period. He received no support when he returned, only spoke about the war when he was drunk, and took it out on my mother and me.”
Mr Stubb’s best friend, a Vietnam veteran, also suffered depression after returning from war.
Mr Stubbs said he believed there were about 250 veterans with depression or post-traumatic stress in the Cranbourne area, and over 1000 around Dandenong.
“We have veterans from all over, including Somalia, Korea, Vietnam, Timor, and (now soldiers who are serving) in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.
“About 30 per cent of them show signs of depression and post-traumatic stress.”
Mr Stubbs said he had a long list of veterans who have committed suicide, and hoped teaching veterans to network via the internet would prevent similar incidents from occurring.
Dandenong RSL welfare co-ordinator John Filmer said he believed the program would make a huge difference in the lives of many ex-servicemen and their widows.
“I think this is one of the best programs we have come across, and I believe there are already about five people signed up to receive a laptop,” he said.
“To have the communication in the physical sense with the volunteer and though the laptop, it’s beautiful.”
Mr Filmer also credited Mr Stubbs with the project.
“He is an incredible person and very dedicated,” he said.
Anyone wanting further information can contact the welfare co-ordinator at either the Dandenong RSL on 9792 1535 or the Cranbourne RSL on 5996 2769.