Save Vasey RSL Care: What Family Members are Saying
Letters from Family Members of Residents
I am a current RSL member and the daughter of Walter Bromfield, now deceased, who served both in the Army and merchant navy during WWII. My Mother is currently a resident at Vasey RSL Care in Brighton. My Mother has been in the care of the amazing staff for over 3 years now and I cannot speak highly enough of the care and respect she has received. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of the former and current people living at Vasey Brighton and they all share a deep gratitude and strong feeling of camaraderie as part of the veteran community. The widows of returned solders, along with their families, have also suffered hardship when coping with the fallout of post trauma stress that so many of the soldiers faced after returning from battlefields. The sense of gratitude I have witnessed in the people living, or having lived in Vasey RSL Care is very profound. They, like I do, feel they share a special bond as part of the Vasey RSL Care community and share many memories of past Wars. This is very evident when Anzac Day comes around and also Remembrance Day.
I am extremely disappointed that the RSL is proposing to sell the Vasey RSL Care organisation and I ask you to rethink this action. As a member of the Highett branch of the RSL I have met many returned Vietnam Vets who are still troubled and haunted by war. Many find great comfort in the company of each other and to live out their final years together in a care facility, such as Vasey provide, would give many Veterans great comfort and enjoyment. Don’t take this away. They went to war as a duty and deserve to be respected for this.
The Purpose of the RSL is to provide Comradeship and support to Australia’s veterans and their families. Your Vision is that every veteran is respected and supported, together with their families, and your values are Empathy, Tradition, Integrity, Mateship, Transparency, Compassion and Respect.
If you are to uphold the Mission, Vision and Values of the RSL then Vasey RSL Care residences must remain for present and future clients and their families. It is a valued service to the returned soldiers and their families.
I am writing to you because I am extremely disappointed at the RSL’s decision to sell Vasey RSL Care Homes. This move is abhorrent: Jessie Vasey would roll over in her grave, as she fought tirelessly to provide accommodation for War Widows after her husband, General George Vasey, was killed during WWII. Much later other ex service people (Ian Campbell dec’d – a colleague of my husband’s 1RAR Vietnam) worked hard to ensure there was supported accommodation for Veterans & War Widows. We now have Veterans coming on from more recent conflicts where mental health issues, particularly, have escalated.
My husband was a career soldier for 33 years & had a distinguished military career including war service in Malaysia & Vietnam. He developed PTSD later in life, which led to Alzheimer’s, accepted by DVA as war caused. He passed away on 21 April, at 79, after 21 months of superb love & care in the Secure Dementia Unit at Vasey RSL Care Ivanhoe. I could not have wished for greater respect & dedication of staff. Before he entered permanent care he had two periods of poor respite care (both times I took him out early) at [names removed]. Both establishments profit, rather than care, driven.
I am now a War Widow, aged 74, & grateful for my rewarding life with my husband & good health. A number of his cohort are deceased & their widows are around my age. Where do we go if we become frail as we age?
Younger Veterans should not be placed in aged care. If you wish to change the focus of Vasey RSL Care Homes, then make sure they cater for those men & women who have admirably served their country.
The RSL is a huge monolith & I believe it has strayed from its initial charter. RSL Clubs are important social vehicles for a strata of society, but the lifelong care of veterans should be central to the RSL’s charter.
Service to country has been pivotal to my family: my grandfather served in France WWI; my father Middle East WWII; my mother served in the Australian Women’s Land Army during WWII; my husband’s distinguished service as above.
If you would like to discuss care issues further I would welcome the opportunity.
I contact you on behalf of myself and as the daughter of a 99 year old World War 2 veteran residing at Vasey Ivanhoe.
I read with surprise and disappointment that RSL Victoria and the War Widows’ Guild of Australia have directed Vasey RSL Care to sell their organisation by 2023.
I am not just concerned for my father (2/23 Infantry Division, 9th Battalion) who may not be directly impacted by any future sale, but also for the many younger veterans who will come after him. Indeed service men and women from the Vietnam conflict are currently moving into the age where some may require residential care.
I know it has been a comfort to Dad and his family that he resides in a facility that not only cares for him very well , but where his years of military service are recognised and honoured. The special days of remembrance and gratitude are observed with family invited to attend. Dad looks forward to this.
Since arriving at Vasey Care, Dad’s general health and mental state have improved. This is no mean feat for a man in his late nineties. This has been achieved by the efforts of the staff and input from his family. Staffing seems to be very stable and my father is shown a great deal of care and kindness in a warm, well lit and positive environment,
If this was a second rate facility that was not providing good care to our veterans and their dependants, a forced sale would not arouse any objection from me. But this is not the case. At a time when the Royal Commission has heard so many horror stories from aged care facilities, I think it would be a backward step for the RSL and the Guild to lose an organisation where our veterans are prioritised and valued.
I have personal experience of the standard of care offered to veteran’s families by Vasey RSL Care. My widowed mother at the age of 95 moved from interstate to a Vasey RSL Care home in Melbourne to be closer to her immediate family. Given that it was a major lifestyle change for her, having lived in the same city her entire life, she was able to enjoy a supportive homely environment for the remaining two and a half years of her life. We could not fault the level of care provided.
Whilst those of her era are passing, current veterans have a huge need for the services which Vasey RSL Care provides. A personal friend of our family who served in East Timor and Afghanistan, now suffering from PTSD and a marriage breakdown, struggles to survive in his regional town. The facilities which Vasey provides are essential to providing support in housing and ancillary services both in Melbourne and regional areas.
I urge the RSL and War Widows Guild to discard the idea of asset sales and address how they can best serve the veterans whom they represent, using those assets to further support services for current and future veterans.
I am very concerned that you wish to sell Vasey RSL Care organisation.
This aged care organisation is the best aged care organisation in the State of Victoria.
It is a very professional and well run organisation and it also employs and trains its staff to the highest level. They are extremely caring and attentive to the elderly people that they care for.
Both of my parents reside in the Vasey RSL aged care in Bundoora.
The staff have given my parents a much better quality of life than they had in their own home when they were trying to look after themselves and dealing with many health issues that they faced.
I have immense respect for the staff that care for my parents and I know the quality of their care would be affected if the Vasey RSL Care organisation was sold.
Please don’t let this happen.
As the daughter, granddaughter and niece of proud Australians who represented this country in WW1, WW2 and Korea I am vehemently opposed to the directive of RSL Victoria and the War Widows Guild to Vasey RSL Care to sell off its aged care network in what can only be described as a cash grab by these organisations.
It has now become clear with the revelation of the recent directives from RSL Victoria and the War Widows Guild to Vasey RSL Care that this has been a calculated plan in the making for many years and that the bottom line is not only the breaking down of the care and support for existing veterans and their families, but all future proud members of our Australian forces.
As I note below, my family alone has a proud history of service to our country and we are just one of hundreds of thousand as such. RSL Victoria and the War Widows Guild should hang their heads in shame at this time in what has previously been a much revered organisation in Australia.
As stated by RSL Victoria…monies procured would be used to OUTSOURCE CONTINUING CARE…are you kidding…the dedicated care of Vasey staff in my mother’s facility is amazing…outsourcing does not work in any facility…residents and staff need the continuity of care to be able to all work together.
In addition to both grandfathers serving on the battle front in France, my own father died at the age of 55 as a result of conditions endured as a POW, shot down whilst serving as a pilot with the RAAF over Europe.
Mrs Vasey and the RSL have had the care of veterans and their families foremost in their principles when no-one else cared.
We need organisations like Vasey RSL to care for the ELDERLY veterans whose voices no longer get heard. Care that is provided with dignity regardless of their financial circumstances.
Vasey RSL Aged Care is known for its FIRST CLASS care and still stands by its principles to this day.
The numbers show that the Veterans numbers will increase to 35,000 in the coming years. I am of the Vietnam War era and know that those Veterans are just heading into that time where they will need Aged Care.
Surely they are not to be neglected yet again?
I wish at this time to register my concern for these plans for the future. Not only for the Veterans but for the people and facilities that go the extra mile to provide, and do the best they can, for the Australian Veterans.
I speak with 20 years of nursing in Aged Care and with currently, three relatives in the care of Vasey RSL.
Please commit to a strong future for Vasey RSL Care
My dad is an old soldier – he will tell you that. He feels comfortable at Vasey because of the military influence, the extensive effort they go to, to make Anzac and Remembrance days special, involving family as much as possible.
My dad followed his brothers to war at only 16 years of age. A boy, a brave boy on an adventure. He went to New Guinea and after the end of war, stayed to help look after Japanese POW’s. Then, on returning to Australia, spent another 12 years in the army.
He inspired his grandson enough for him to join the army in air defence when he was 18. Dad was so proud! And envious I suspect.
The thing is, Dad now has dementia – he can’t remember his wife of 71 years, although he knows the photo he has in his room is of some-one he loved but can’t place, he is forgetting his grandchildren and can’t remember what he had for dinner when he leaves the dining room BUT there is a little pocket in his dementia-ridden mind of foggy and lost memories of a life well lived, called New Guinea which he has never forgotten. In fact, today it is as vivid as it was when he was that brave boy going to war.
His medals are prized possessions and he remembers what they are called and why they were given.
If he had to go into care, he said it had to be Vasey because of the military affiliations.
Nearly all these old soldiers are gone now but there are others from other conflicts and will be in the future. There will always be conflict, always military personnel putting their lives on the line for our and other country’s freedom.
We chose Anzac House for my mother after looking at many privately operated establishments in the south eastern suburbs but decided on Anzac House for the following reasons:
-My mother is a war widow and would likely be more comfortable in an environment where other veterans and their surviving partners were in residence.
-As a not for profit organisation we felt Vasey would be able to offer my mother a better experience in the absence of a profit motive.
-The surrounding gardens, the home setting within them and the RSL history of the establishment provide a tranquil and beautiful environment for the residents.
-First impressions of the staff which were very positive
It is clear to me that these options would not have been available to us in the event that the organisation had been sold and privatised and I wish to advocate against this outcome. It is fanciful to think that war veterans and families will be better off if the RSL sells off Vasey RSL Care and the funds used to outsource care. This is especially so when Department of Veterans’ Affairs projections show that in the 10 years to June 2029, Victoria’s veteran population will increase and that Vasey RSL has forward plans to cater for these veterans. If the RSL is not about providing this manner of care for their constituency, what is their role. Surely not investing in RSL clubs with poker machines to drive revenue
I would like to let you know what Vasey RSL Care Brighton East meant to my family.My mother was a resident for over 6 happy years until she sadly passed away on the 13/4/20 aged 94 years. Mum was in the WAAAF during WWII and was very proud to have served her country and it always meant so much to her to be able to live out her long and happy life life in RSL Care. During Mum’s time at Vasey she was always treated with the utmost respect and dignity and was given the best care possible, the staff are exceptional.
I would urge RSL Victoria and the Guild to please reconsider their decision as I know that it would mean so very much for the residents and their families to have the wonderful staff at Vasey continue to: Serve Those Who Served
Unfortunately, the WWG is supporting the RSL’s bid to sell off Vasey when Vasey RSL Care is the only aged care organisation in Victoria that prioritises veterans.
They provide care for veterans regardless of their financial circumstances.
This is very reassuring for both Veterans and their dependants.
Mum became a member of the War Widow’s Guild after our father died in 1973. She was involved in branch meetings after she retired and served on the committee of the Frankston sub-branch. She was always secure in the knowledge that if she could no longer live independently in her own home, she would be able to get care at Vasey due to her status as both a Veteran and a War Widow.
I am deeply saddened that she is now perceives she is no longer secure at Vasey and that her quality of care may be under threat because of this decision. Your organisation is not just for older women. You would have many members who have lost husbands in more recent conflicts or peace keeping missions.
The part about ‘regardless of financial circumstances’ is more important for widows of veterans, as they often have to cope with the costs associated with bringing up children as well as dealing with the grief of losing their husbands. They need security for their old age as well. Vasey RSL Care is a very valuable resource for veterans and their families. Staff are caring and considerate. They are highly trained and go out of their way to ensure the comfort of residents. Residents are comforted by the fact that many there are either veterans or their dependants. They have the reassurance that their status will assist them in living out their years with the security of being well cared for.
Surely that is what our veterans and their dependants deserve for serving and often giving their lives for our country.
Both my parents are residents at Vasey RSL East Brighton. My father served in the RAN during WW II.
I read with great concern of the intention of RSL Victoria to sell Vasey RSL Care and to use the funds generated from the sale to buy services for the aged and dependants with disabilities from external providers.
Before my parents commenced living at Brighton Vasey they were receiving services from outside providers and I can assure you that in the main those services were quite unsatisfactory.
Since moving to Vasey their health and well being have improved out of sight.
I have no doubt whatsoever that selling Vasey cannot be in the best interests of Victoria’s veterans particularly given the need for private providers to turn profits (which often prevails over the competing interests of spending money on services, and one only needs to remember some of the appalling cases of privately run aged care facilities being shut down by the authorities).
As I told representatives of a Government inquiry into aged care, Vasey RSL is (unfortunately) the Gold Standard of the industry.
Calls for care services from veterans will only increase in future. Department of Veterans’ Affairs figures show that demand for Vasey Care will remain strong with veteran numbers in Victoria predicted to increase by over 20 per cent over the next decade. Please insure RSL does not sell one of it’s premium services for our returned service personnel. I look forward to hearing from you.
When my uncle, a gold card holder, a veteran of World War 2 and prior to retirement, was Chief Supply Officer at the Heidelberg Repat, died six years [ago], I took over caring for my Aunt as they didn’t have any children.
I live in Western Australia and visit every three months or as necessary. I arranged for personal support with showering etc but it soon became apparent that she couldn’t be left on her own especially overnight.
I looked at other hostels in the area and none were satisfactory Vasey or Sir William Hall Hostel Hostel as it was known then (his wife started the War Widows Guild ) was recommended to me. Thankfully a room became available and Audrey moved in in July 2015. Audrey has received excellent care in a safe, caring environment with dedicated and caring staff. She has every service needed and I am constantly notified of what is happening with her care and nothing is too much trouble.
Living so far away it is a great relief for me to know she is safe. At 93 years of age if the hostel was sold she would not be able to cope; change is enough for anyone to handle let alone the elderly.
For them to state the number of veterans is decreasing and there wont be the need what about the Vietnam veterans who are all ageing and other service people as they age!!
I am both shocked and horrified at the thought of the Vasey RSL aged care group being sold. Many veterans or their spouses are cared for in these facilities and deserve the specialised care that they receive after what they have sacrificed for their country and for younger Australian generations to enjoy the lifestyle that we have.
We should continue to prioritise their care and prevent this sale. Lest we forget.
My Mother has been in the care of the amazing staff for over 3 years now and I cannot speak highly enough of the care and respect she has received.
I have had the pleasure of meeting many of the former and current people living at Vasey Brighton and they all share a deep gratitude and strong feeling of camaraderie as part of the veteran community. The widows of returned solders, along with their families, have also suffered hardship when coping with the fallout of post trauma stress that so many of the solders faced after returning from battlefields.
The sense of gratitude I have witnessed in the people living, or having lived in Vasey RSL care is very profound. They, like I do, feel they share a special bond as part of the Vasey RSL care community and share many memories of past Wars. This is very evident when Anzac day comes around and also Remembrance Day.
I am extremely disappointed that the RSL is proposing to sell the Vasey RSL care organisation and I ask you to rethink this action.
As a member of the Highett branch of the RSL I have met many returned Vietnam Vets who are still troubled and haunted by war. Many find great comfort in the company of each other and to live out their final years together in a care facility, such as Vasey provide, would give many Veterans great comfort and enjoyment. Don’t take this away. They went to war as a duty and deserve to be respected for this.
The Purpose of the RSL is to provide Comradeship and support to Australia’s veterans and their families. Your Vision is that every veteran is respected and supported, together with their families and your values are Empathy, Tradition, Integrity, Mateship, Transparency, Compassion and Respect.
If you are to uphold the Mission, Vision and Values of the RSL then Vasey RSL care residences must remain for present and future clients and their families. It is a valued service to the returned soldiers and their families.
I write in relation to the proposed sale of Vasey RSL Care.
I have had three veteran relatives cared for by Vasey RSL over the last 30 years and my war widow mother currently resides at the Brighton East home. I always been amazed at the incredible consideration and care given to residents who have given so much on their lifetimes.
I am afraid that the sale of the care homes will lead to poorer outcomes for veterans and their partners over time as bean counters typical of commercial care home operators take over
I am writing to firmly protest the proposed sell-off of Vasey RSL Care in Victoria. My 95 year- old mother, who is currently a resident of Vasey RSL in Frankston, was an active member of both the Returned Service Women’s division and the War Widow’s Guild, serving on both committees for many years. She was also assisted by Legacy after my father’s death and was always reassured by the knowledge that the RSL looked after Veterans when the time came to need residential care.
This facility is important for Veterans and gives older Veterans a sense of security and the reassurance that they will be looked after in their old age, regardless of their circumstances. The RSL Mission statement states: “To provide the best possible support and services to all generations of Veterans in Victoria.”
Vasey RSL Care is the only place that prioritises veterans and their care in Victoria and selling it off is short-sighted and will lead to the eventual loss of secure benefits for younger veterans who have served in places such as Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Department of Veteran Affair’s projections show an increase of 21.8% over the next 10 years. Stop this push to sell off Vasey RSL Care homes and assets so that residents, like my 95 year-old mother, may have peace of mind in their remaining years.
The email indicates that the RSL and the War Widows’ Guild want Vasey RSL Aged Care facilities to be sold.
Why would they want this to happen?
My mother is a war widow and has been in Vasey Bundoora for 2 months, she is there because it is affiliated with the RSL/War Widows and she thought that the care would be better because it is not run as a profit making institution. I agreed with her sentiment and over the past 2 months this expectation has been confirmed.
The WW1 and WW2 veterans have gone but we still have Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, (etc etc) veterans and families to cater for over the next 40-50 years, so the facility will still be needed. I must admit I was gobsmacked when I found this out and I wonder if you are able to find out why all this is happening and why this important support service for veterans and their families will no longer exist if sold to private enterprise. The other Vasey RSL facility in your electorate is the one in Ivanhoe.
I am a veteran form the Vietnam War and I find the RSL is again working to screw us over.
The RSL has for years deserted Vietnam Veterans and this seems like another attempt. The RSL has always said Vietnam was not a war and as such they do not recognise us.
Now they want to sell off future care for Vietnam Veterans.
We are now all over 70 and needing the services of Vasey Care.
My mother proudly served in the WAAAF and is enjoying her final years in the Vasey Brighton facility.
The RSL have cancelled ANZAC day this year and that is another ‘kick in the guts’ for Vietnam Veterans.
Sorry I digress.
Please make sure that I can enjoy the same benefits as my mother.
Make sure that the RSL supports ALL Veterans.
My father, a Returned War Veteran would be turning over in his grave at this suggestion and as POA for my blind mother, l am incensed at this proposal.
The documents mailed to my mother from the RSL and the Guild, portray yourselves as both caring and long term supportive organisations. I fail to see how this is the case now. Whilst l can understand to need to raise monies to support initiatives from both your organisations, taking the easy way out isn’t the appropriate pathway. It is my belief that this path will back lash on your external fund raising once the community becomes aware of your intended activity.
History remembers many things, War, Financial Depressions, Plagues and poor decisions made by individuals who are meant to provide leadership during times of hardship whether this is at organisational, State, Federal or even in business. The entity you represent has a proud history of support over many years and hopefully many more to come.
While, l and many others are grateful for your long term efforts in the past for our parents and grand parents, this proposed solution isn’t appropriate. l firmly recommend that you withdraw any such direction or request regarding the sale of these properties and refocus your efforts more effectively elsewhere or face a significant public backlash on the subject and significant scrutiny on the subject.
Follow the links for the letters and emails from other groups within our community:
