Like most of us vets did during WW2 and then choose to migrate and remain in Australia as Citizens for up to SIXTY YEARS. You will be technically referred to as 'Lower Grade Australians.'
If you put your life on the line in the defence of Australia in times of war, as did friends relatives and other colleagues of mine and who died as a result, also the other men who survived the horrors of war and chose to stay or migrate to Australia at the first opportunity and become Australians by choice, you must pass a stringent test, and on graduation you will be invited to sing, "We are-you-are-wer'e all Australians" etc.
But wait!! That is only until when you apply for The Elusive Veterans Medical benefits 'GOLD CARD'. At this point you will be informed, "Well!! you are not really Australians are you".
This degrading Gold Card fiasco is a blight on the democratic principles of the Australian Federal Govt, This type of discrimination is similar to that shown by Mr Schickelgruber ( The one balled vegetarian fascist's) anti semetic policy, and should be redressed in Federal Parliament at the earliest opportunity.
Our decendants and those of (Dare I say it) other Australian 'Caste's , will reap the benefits from our efforts to make Australia safe and a great place to live.
Vest, Octogenarian. Daily Gaggle. Proud to be Australian.
Friday, 21 October 2005
Thursday, 13 October 2005
Dear Mr Prime Minister Of Australia, The Hon John Howard MP.
I am left wondering, under what circumstances and by whose whimsical conception WHY ? the hard attitudes of consecutive bigoted Federal Governments of the People of Australia, have decreed that, the Magnitude of the Sacrifice and Achievements by the men of the British Royal Navy in the Pacific Theatre of war 1944-1945, by whose actions gave enormous benefit to our country Australia and its people, should be ignominously considered contentious and unequal to Australians 'Born and Bred.
Sir, If such system of measurement exists, it would be purely hypothetical and genetically passed on by successive leaders who have an axe to grind, and who better to dislike than the Boss or Mother Country, from whence we came to do our bit.
To those 'True Blue Australians' who served with us on British ships and those who crewed borrowed British ships I say well done,you deserve your Medical benefits 'GOLD CARD'.
I would also like to thank the Royal Australian Navy for their role in delivering the Mail to the Fighting Ships.
Finally Sir, it is hoped that you will find a new measure, and that, you Sir will find it large enough to enable your Government to pour a little of its comfort towards our members, if only those; who are mostly over 80 years old, and who may be in dire need, or will what's left of the strength and determination of the Brits that survived, be enough to give them the will to make it through without the Gold Card. Vest not Forget.
Sir, If such system of measurement exists, it would be purely hypothetical and genetically passed on by successive leaders who have an axe to grind, and who better to dislike than the Boss or Mother Country, from whence we came to do our bit.
To those 'True Blue Australians' who served with us on British ships and those who crewed borrowed British ships I say well done,you deserve your Medical benefits 'GOLD CARD'.
I would also like to thank the Royal Australian Navy for their role in delivering the Mail to the Fighting Ships.
Finally Sir, it is hoped that you will find a new measure, and that, you Sir will find it large enough to enable your Government to pour a little of its comfort towards our members, if only those; who are mostly over 80 years old, and who may be in dire need, or will what's left of the strength and determination of the Brits that survived, be enough to give them the will to make it through without the Gold Card. Vest not Forget.
Monday, 10 October 2005
THE BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET 1944 - 1946, Known as the FORGOTTEN FLEET.
FLEET STRENGTH AT THE TIME OF THE JAPANESE SURRENDER
BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET AND BRITISH EAST INDIES FLEET
Battleships, 40,000 ton 4. / 2, one French
Fleet Aicraft Carriers 5.
Escort Aircraft Carriers 12. / 16
Heavy & light Cruisers .
6 to 8,000 Tons 10, 2 NZ,1 Canadaian. / 13, 1 Dutch
Destroyers 40, 6 on loan to RAN. / 45, 1 dutch 2 French
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above ships formed the fighting force, except the 6 RAN destroyers on N A S Duties escorting Supply Ships and 'Bringing up the Mail' The "GOLD CARD MEN'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frigates & Sloops 31./ 59, 5 R Indian Navy
Submarines 29. /14
Minesweepers 33./ 31, 15 R INDIAN NAVY
Landing ships - 21.
Maintenance/Repair ships 15. /21.
Fleet Oil Tankers 22.
Hospital Ships 6.
Ammunition & Store Ships 43.
TOTALS 245 Ships in all. 222 Ships in all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RN AIR STATIONS 3 BPF/ 8 EAST Indies
BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET AND BRITISH EAST INDIES FLEET
Battleships, 40,000 ton 4. / 2, one French
Fleet Aicraft Carriers 5.
Escort Aircraft Carriers 12. / 16
Heavy & light Cruisers .
6 to 8,000 Tons 10, 2 NZ,1 Canadaian. / 13, 1 Dutch
Destroyers 40, 6 on loan to RAN. / 45, 1 dutch 2 French
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above ships formed the fighting force, except the 6 RAN destroyers on N A S Duties escorting Supply Ships and 'Bringing up the Mail' The "GOLD CARD MEN'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frigates & Sloops 31./ 59, 5 R Indian Navy
Submarines 29. /14
Minesweepers 33./ 31, 15 R INDIAN NAVY
Landing ships - 21.
Maintenance/Repair ships 15. /21.
Fleet Oil Tankers 22.
Hospital Ships 6.
Ammunition & Store Ships 43.
TOTALS 245 Ships in all. 222 Ships in all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RN AIR STATIONS 3 BPF/ 8 EAST Indies
Thursday, 6 October 2005
THE SAGA OF THE UNNATAINABLE GOLD ENDS HERE WITHOUT A WHIMPER OR RESPONSE FROM ANY GOVT BODY.
LEAST OF ALL I EXPECTED SOME RESPONSE FROM THE PERSONS WHO MAY HAVE BENEFITTED BY THE OFFER OF THE VETERANS (AUS)MEDICAL BENEFITS GOLD CARD
So it seems you only have your selves to blame, that, my platitudes have fallen on the deaf ears of the cheats in Canberra.
Oct 4, I received a letter from people who described themseles as an offshoot of the (RSL)Returned Servicemans League. I was offered tickets for the chance to win a posh house in Queensland(Fat Chance) at $5-00 a pop. The benefits from this lottery going to Australian ex Servicemen, like legacy etc. As a British ex service man who fought for Australia during WW2, and not a gold card recipient, I wrote in reply to their letter telling them where to stuff their begging letter, why in heavens name should I be considered unworthy of recognition, yet be expected to pay the beer and poker machine expenses of some of the fit and healthy and some younger gold card recipients I know, who frequent my local clubs and pubs. Don't they get enough?
My main request is for the more senior members of ex Brit/Aus war vets to be afforded medical assistance (Gold card standard) when in dire need, not as a god given right.
Oct 6, Today I recieved a letter from a 83 year old former member of the British Pacific Fleet, there will be some editing, by me.
"When we arrived home behind the front door was your book, which by the way I havent had a chance to read yet,lt was nice of you to send it. It was a pleasure to meet Rose and yourself if only for a short time.1 found Sydney,swarming with japanese, it was just like being in Tokyo. We went to the Anzac Club and also to a new R.S.L.Club to me they were like Casino's hundred's of slot machines, nothing like our exservice club.s. We had a nice day out at Manly which we both liked, we also went on a trip to the blue mountains and the rain forest which went well. We had a good night out on the river boat show cruise, and that was full of Japanese.Over all we enjoyed Sydney, and it was nice to visit Australia. But overall most of our party thought we were made far more welcome in Singapore than Australia. We had a garden party at the high commissioner's house the band of the ghurka regiment was playing music for us. In the evening a memorial stone was was unveiled at the old British Naval base, in memory of Force Z, The HM Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse, and the East Indies and British Pacific Fleet's 1941-1945. The H.M.S.York was along side and the ship's company mixed with us, plenty of beer and wine; which were freebees, unlike the Garden Island fiasco. which in comparison was a shambles to say the least. Good job Rosemary Bowyer was there to save the day with the Whiskey Boat. You didn't meet Shirley my wife, she had an accident before we came away, we were at a service station on the motorvay having a cup of coffee,, on our way from Torquay, when the girl collecting the empties dropped a cup and it broke and cut her foot she went to hospital, and it was found she had severed a tendon and she had to have an operation, it hasn't healed properly and she has no control over her toe, and it drops under her foot, at the moment she will have to have another operation and we have a compensation case on going. + I have put my films in but I haven't had them back yet. I have enclosed a photo of Shirley and myself taken in june this year while we were on holiday in Montenegro. It took us about four days to get over the jet lag, and we both finished with heavy cold's from the air conditioning, Our next big parade is Trafalgar day which we celebrate every year, Every one on parade gets a tot of pussers and a pint of beer. We also have the Welsh Regiment on parade with us and they bring along the Goat, every one keep's feeding him carrots dipped in rum, at the end of the day he has to be carried home. Not much more to say at the moment, will keep in touch as you can imagine you'r book will do the rounds in the Navy club - Billy McGill
So it seems you only have your selves to blame, that, my platitudes have fallen on the deaf ears of the cheats in Canberra.
Oct 4, I received a letter from people who described themseles as an offshoot of the (RSL)Returned Servicemans League. I was offered tickets for the chance to win a posh house in Queensland(Fat Chance) at $5-00 a pop. The benefits from this lottery going to Australian ex Servicemen, like legacy etc. As a British ex service man who fought for Australia during WW2, and not a gold card recipient, I wrote in reply to their letter telling them where to stuff their begging letter, why in heavens name should I be considered unworthy of recognition, yet be expected to pay the beer and poker machine expenses of some of the fit and healthy and some younger gold card recipients I know, who frequent my local clubs and pubs. Don't they get enough?
My main request is for the more senior members of ex Brit/Aus war vets to be afforded medical assistance (Gold card standard) when in dire need, not as a god given right.
Oct 6, Today I recieved a letter from a 83 year old former member of the British Pacific Fleet, there will be some editing, by me.
"When we arrived home behind the front door was your book, which by the way I havent had a chance to read yet,lt was nice of you to send it. It was a pleasure to meet Rose and yourself if only for a short time.1 found Sydney,swarming with japanese, it was just like being in Tokyo. We went to the Anzac Club and also to a new R.S.L.Club to me they were like Casino's hundred's of slot machines, nothing like our exservice club.s. We had a nice day out at Manly which we both liked, we also went on a trip to the blue mountains and the rain forest which went well. We had a good night out on the river boat show cruise, and that was full of Japanese.Over all we enjoyed Sydney, and it was nice to visit Australia. But overall most of our party thought we were made far more welcome in Singapore than Australia. We had a garden party at the high commissioner's house the band of the ghurka regiment was playing music for us. In the evening a memorial stone was was unveiled at the old British Naval base, in memory of Force Z, The HM Ships Prince of Wales and Repulse, and the East Indies and British Pacific Fleet's 1941-1945. The H.M.S.York was along side and the ship's company mixed with us, plenty of beer and wine; which were freebees, unlike the Garden Island fiasco. which in comparison was a shambles to say the least. Good job Rosemary Bowyer was there to save the day with the Whiskey Boat. You didn't meet Shirley my wife, she had an accident before we came away, we were at a service station on the motorvay having a cup of coffee,, on our way from Torquay, when the girl collecting the empties dropped a cup and it broke and cut her foot she went to hospital, and it was found she had severed a tendon and she had to have an operation, it hasn't healed properly and she has no control over her toe, and it drops under her foot, at the moment she will have to have another operation and we have a compensation case on going. + I have put my films in but I haven't had them back yet. I have enclosed a photo of Shirley and myself taken in june this year while we were on holiday in Montenegro. It took us about four days to get over the jet lag, and we both finished with heavy cold's from the air conditioning, Our next big parade is Trafalgar day which we celebrate every year, Every one on parade gets a tot of pussers and a pint of beer. We also have the Welsh Regiment on parade with us and they bring along the Goat, every one keep's feeding him carrots dipped in rum, at the end of the day he has to be carried home. Not much more to say at the moment, will keep in touch as you can imagine you'r book will do the rounds in the Navy club - Billy McGill
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