The Operation CARE Benevolent Fund has received a substantial boost with a donation of $40,000 by the RSL NSW State Branch, through its United Returned Soldiers Fund 2009 ANZAC Day Badge Appeal.

The RSL & Services Clubs Association, the Returned & Services League of Australia and the Department of Defence joined forces in 2006 to establish Operation CARE.

The scheme provides up to one week’s ‘Rest and Recuperation’ at sites throughout the country for selected Defence personnel and their immediate family, where the Defence member has been repatriated to Australia as a consequence of wounds received in combat operations.

The aim of Operation CARE is to assist wounded Defence personnel and their immediate family to recover from both the physical scars incurred from combat, by providing them some quality time together in a relaxing and stress-free environment.  It is also extended to the widows of those servicemen killed in action.  More than 20 recipients have so far benefitted from the program.

The project has been made possible by member clubs of the RSL & Services Clubs Association in New South Wales which along with the State Branch of the RSL and local RSL Sub-Branches have generously donated almost $200,000 to fund the scheme which is in keeping with the clubs’ objectives to support our ANZAC traditions.  Donations to the project have also come from Tooheys Brewery ($10,000).   The NSW State Branch of the RSL, through its United Returned Soldiers’ Fund, has donated more than $100,000 via the 2007, 2008 and 2009 ANZAC Day badge appeals.

The project is overseen by the Operation CARE Benevolent Fund with a three person Board including the former Chairman of the RSL & Services Clubs Association, Tony Jeffcott, National Secretary of the RSL, Derek Robson, and General Manager of Twin Towns Services Club, Rob Smith.

Commercial law firm Thomson Playford Cutlers provided specialist legal assistance in establishing the program. The firm, which has a strong relationship with the clubs industry and acts for many large clubs and associations, provided this valued service pro-bono.

In launching the program in October 2006, Australian Defence Force Chief, Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston, said the program would improve morale and retention of personnel and strengthen the relationship between veterans and current personnel.

“We hold our forebears in great regard and for them to be doing something like this for the young people who go out there today and serve is a huge step in the right direction and certainly adds to morale and hopefully will be another thing that supports the need to retain people in the ADF”, he said.

Association Chief Executive, Graeme Carroll said that in a best case scenario it was hoped that Operation CARE was never required, but unfortunately the vagaries of war and other deployments are such that people do get wounded and need to be repatriated back to Australia.

“This program provides these personnel with some respite so they can go away with the family and reflect on what has occurred prior to going back into active service.

The wife of the first recipient of the program said that Operation CARE was just what they needed to help them reconnect again and give them the chance to relax.

“We were both really grateful for this weekend away and I think most of all, it was especially nice to think that the RSL and services clubs and the military cared enough to do this for us. It is things like this that really help with retention of people in the defence forces”.

Operation CARE has been developed by the RSL & Services Clubs Association from a proposal put to a National Conference of RSL and Services Clubs in 2005. It has been refined through discussions with the RSL and the Australian Defence Force and was launched in October 2006.

Operation CARE reinforces the importance of the relationship between the Australian Defence Force, the RSL community and the RSL and Services Clubs.

Donations to the Fund by Clubs is eligible expenditure for NSW clubs under the Community Development Support Expenditure (CDSE) guidelines for recipients resident in NSW.  Donations to the project by the public can be made by cheque and made out to Operation Care Benevolent Fund and mailed to PO Box 557, Hurstville, NSW, 1481.

Photo (l to r): National Secretary of the RSL, Derek Robson, Association CEO, Graeme Carroll, Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston and then Association Chairman, Tony Jeffcott at the Operation CARE launch. (Photo courtesy of Canberra Times).

Inquiries for donations can be directed to Association CEO, Graeme Carroll on (02) 9579 4555.

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