THE Ballarat RSL Sub-Branch and the Ballarat Veterans\u2019 Assistance Centre are both receiving Federal grants to boost their work supporting the district\u2019s war veterans.<\/p>\n
The RSL has been allocated $36,000 through the Building Excellence in Support and Training program to continue their financial work and advocacy, while the Veterans\u2019 Assistance Centre is getting $30,000 from the Veterans and Community Grants program, for the installation of an easily accessible toilet.<\/p>\n
Lynne Redman, RSL support services officer said their bundle will benefit the pension and welfare programs, and they have received about $11,000 more than they did through the grants program last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the main work we do. We have two fully trained pension advocates, and one who\u2019s almost fully trained, and they see ex-servicepeople and put in claims to DVA for them. It\u2019s a lot of work and a complicated system,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money that we raise normally through our Anzac Day token and poppy sales goes to direct welfare to support people, so this grant will assist with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe grant will help keep us going because this year we didn\u2019t have our normal Anzac Day appeal, so the funds from that are much less.\u201d<\/p>\n
Federal member for Ballarat, Catherine King said the Veterans\u2019 Assistance Centre is still very new, but doing valuable work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are already doing a wonderful job supporting a too often forgotten segment of our community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am delighted that this grant will allow the Assistance Centre to install an all-accessibility toilet, ensuring everyone in our community, and particularly all veterans, will be able to take full advantage of what the centre has to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n
In lockdown since Monday, March 23, the Ballarat RSL sub-branch at the Midlands Golf Club is planned to reopen on 7 August.<\/p>\n
President, Alan Douglass said the pension officers, welfare officer, secretary and administration manager are expected to be back on site then, open from 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Ballarat RSL Sub-Branch and the Ballarat Veterans\u2019 Assistance Centre are both receiving Federal grants to boost their work supporting the district\u2019s war veterans. The RSL has been allocated $36,000 through the Building Excellence in Support and Training program to continue their financial work and advocacy, while the Veterans\u2019 Assistance Centre is getting $30,000 from […]<\/p>\n