Your Pension Office

Disability Pensions - Increases
When did you last review? You may be entitled to an increase.

War Widow Pensions
For all your pension requirements contact your pension office 10:30am - 2:00pm Wednesday. Phone 9870 6604

If you intend to apply for an increase or new disablity you must make sure your doctor will support you, otherwise your new claim may fail. If you are in doubt, ring this office on 9870 6604

Manned by volunteers, all D.V.A. Trained & Approved.

Paul Curran
Pension Office.

Home & Hospital Visiting

Visiting a sick or frail veteran or widow at their home, in hospital, a Nursing Home or supported residential service is a caring gesture usually greatly appreciated by the recipient of the visit.
Due to the provisions of the Privacy Act however, it is no longer possible to be provided with patient lists and visit wards as a matter of routine. This is probably best overcome by the Welfare Office introducing him or herself and asking the management if they would invite patients or residents who are ex-service people and would welcome a visit, to leave their names with reception.
If the hospital does not comply with such a request, visits must be restricted to those who are known to be in hospital or a nursing home or who have personally requested a visit.
Reasonable caution should be excercised if a visit is requested by a third party, although well meaning such requests may occasionally be construed as unwelcome interference.
It is the Sub-Branches responsibility to provide the Welfare Officer with some appropriate form of identification eg Badge or ID Card, which should be shown when making visits.

Funeral Rituals

Funeral Rituals for RSL members - The RSL Segment of the Funeral Service. The rituals are secular and should be conducted by a lay person.
Rituals are included for the following:

Ritual 1 - For members who have returned from active service

Ritual 2 - For former members of the Armed Services who have not been on Active Service

Ritual 3 - For Affilliate members

Ritual 4 - For members of the Women's Auxiliary

Purpose of the RSL Ritual
In celebrating and giving thanks for the life of the deceased, the funeral service assists the bereaved in coping with grief. The RSL segment highlights the services of the deceased to his country both in conflict and in peace so that the bereaved will be proud of the veteran's contribution and the RSL's acknowledgment of it.

Responsibility for the conduct of the Ritual
It is traditional practice for the member's Sub-Branch President to conduct the ritual but circumstances may cause the President to delegate this function to another RSL person or, if appropriate, Women's Auxiliary or Affiliate member. If a Sub-Branch is unable to conduct the ceremony it MUST arrange for someone else to do it (some Sub-Branches have a Civil Celebrant in reserve). The RSL has no obligation to do the Ritual for non-members.

Preparation
Arrange either for a bugler or recording to sound the Last Post or Reveille. Most funeral directors have such a recording. If not, ANZAC House Trading has them.

Ensure sufficient poppies or other flowers are available. Some funeral parlours hold stocks. Replenish suppliers of ritual poppies from Appeals Department at ANZAC House

Research the deceased's service in the Armed Forces and the RSL for eulogy. Sources are family, unit association (get address form ANZAC House). History Sections of Armed Forces Records Offices - Army (03) 9282 4999, Navy (02) 6266 5968, Air Force (02) 6266 5850. For RSL record contact late members Sub-Branch or membership office at ANZAC House.

Contact the Minister or Celebrant to arrange the RSL Rituals in the format of the service.

Give the funeral director or bugler a copy of the Ritual with cue words marked to ensure that the Last Post or Reveille are sounded in the correct place in the service.

Arrange for people to hand out poppies and for one member to move promptly to lay the first poppy after you place yours and say "We place it here in abiding memory".

Conduct of the Ritual
Introduce yourself and express condolences to the family on behalf of the State President and the RSL.

Speak into the microphone and address the congregation except when saying the lines of "0 Valiant Hearts", when it is preferable to address the casket.

When approching the lectern to begin the ritual and when leaving it to resume your seat, halt at the foot of the casket and bow your head in salute.

On leaving the church or funeral parlour, RSL members leave the church and form a Guard of Honour between the door of the church and the hearse through which the casket will be borne during the final hymn.

On arrival at the cemetery again form a Guard of Honour or, if the distance is to great, walk on either side of the casket as it is carried to the gravesite.

Distribution of poppies is at the discretion of the Sub-Branch. Some confine the issue to RSL members, some give to all who wish to pay a final tribute.

Medals are not normally worn except when the deceased is being accorded Military Honours when sericemen will wear medals and veterans should confirm this. If the family asks that medals be worn, the Sub-Branches should accede to their wish.

If Masonic or legacy rituals are being conducted, ask that they precede the RSL Ritual to ensure the the Last Post and Reveille are the finale.