Movie and information night for veterans

THE Defence and Veteran Legal Service is holding a presentation on the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide at Star Cinema in Eaglehawk next month.

Set for Wednesday, 5 April, the event will include a pre-screening of the new Bill Nighy movie Living.

DAVLS is an independent legal service that supports Australian defence force personnel, veterans and their families to share their experiences with the Royal Commission.

The Royal Commission was announced in July 2021 and is looking into systemic issues and risk factors relevant to suicide behaviours of serving and ex-serving defence members.

DAVLS lawyer Steven Baras-Miller said it was important to come up with an event people would want to engage with.

“I don’t think I could conceive of a more boring event than watching a lawyer give a PowerPoint presentation,” he said.

“I don’t think I would get anybody turning up, quite frankly. So, I thought we must think of something more interesting than that.

“I thought a film night involving the local community, and getting as many people from the local community along as possible is a better way of doing it.”

Mr Baras-Miller said several Bendigo organisations had agreed to be involved by helping promote the event and being involved in the panel.

“We’ve been talking to Bendigo RSL and Bendigo Legacy,” he said. “As well as a group called Path of the Horses which provides equine therapy for veterans.”

Mr Baras-Miller said he wants to engage with the area’s current and retired defence personnel regarding the Royal Commission without the night becoming “too heavy”.

“We’re not going to be talking about the worst day in somebody’s life,” he said. “We’re not going to be talking much about suicide.

“We’ll talk about the work we do in supporting people with the Royal Commission.

“The other groups there will talk about the productive work they do, working with veterans, working with family members, and current service people.”

The movie night will be held Wednesday, 5 April at 7pm. Anyone after more information is encouraged to reach out to the Defence and Veterans Legal Service.