Changing lives through conversation

WILLIAM Dobell said the most important step veterans can take is to speak up.

“Talk, someone will listen,” he said. “Always talk.”

Mr Dobell has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to veterans and their families.

He has been the president of the Ballarat sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia on several occasions and was a founding member in 1980.

Mr Dobell said that following the Vietnam War, many veterans knew they needed help and support but did not know where to go.

This is what inspired him to establish the Ballarat sub-branch.

“Vietnam veterans in the 70s knew we were sick, but we didn’t understand why or what it was,” he said. “It took some years before they told us it was PTSD; they wouldn’t tell us.

“You would go to Anzac Day, and someone would tell us how life’s a struggle for them, so we decided we needed to put together a self-help group.”

Mr Dobell was a founding member of the diggers retreat drop-in counselling centre in Ballarat in the 1990s, a veteran liaison officer from the early 2000s and a counsellor and supporter of Vietnam veterans and ex-service personnel for 50 years.

He also contributed to the introduction of the veterans and family counselling service, Open Arms.

“We were instrumental as a whole, the national body and every sub-branch, in getting what is today Open Arms,” said Mr Dobell.

“Open Arms is what used to be the Vietnam Veterans counselling service and we forced the government to put it in place.

“That’s helped a lot of people and it’s helping younger veterans today.”

Mr Dobell said his drive to advocate for change came from hope to leave a legacy for future veterans.

“Younger veterans today have got a very, very high suicide rate,” he said. “I’ve dealt with a few that did suicide and that bites, but it only gives you an incentive to work harder.

“I’d like to see that change.”

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, visit beyondblue.org.au or call their 24/7 hotline on 1300 22 4636. You can also visit lifeline.org.au or call them on 13 11 14 and help for young people is available at kidshelpline.com.au or by calling them on 1800 55 1800.