Open Letter to RSL VIC and the War Widows Guild VIC
* 10 June 2020 *
On behalf of around 700 war widows and veterans for whom we provide care and homes, the board and management of Vasey RSL Care call on our founding organisations, RSL Victoria and the War Widows’ Guild Victoria, to publicly commit to the future of our organisation.
We have issued this open letter in desperation, after unsuccessfully working for years to clarify the intentions of RSL Victoria and the Guild.
We believe it is now time to end the uncertainty for the vulnerable members of the ex-service community who trust and rely on us to provide the roof over their heads and the critical care and health and support services they need for their quality of life.
Today we are calling on RSL Victoria and the Guild to commit to five simple words to demonstrate to current and future generations of war widows, dependants and veterans that they have a future with Vasey RSL Care.
Today we ask RSL Victoria and the Guild to say clearly and publicly: ‘We support Vasey RSL Care’.
Our well-considered Strategic Plan for the future is based on a sound business case designed to meet the accommodation and care needs of older and younger veterans. Department of Veterans’ Affairs figures show that in the decade to 2029, veteran numbers in Victoria will increase almost 22 per cent to 37,500. By 2029 the department expects to have 3,700 war widows on its books. Current and future generations want and need the range of services that Vasey RSL Care can provide.
But our call to RSL Victoria and the Guild is about more than just good business sense. This is about respect for Victoria’s veterans and war widows – men and women who have made great personal sacrifices for our country.
Victoria’s veterans and war widows deserve to know whether RSL Victoria and the Guild want to see Vasey RSL Care’s assets sold in favour of outsourced service providers.
They deserve to know whether Victoria’s only specialist care organisation that gives priority access to veterans and war widows has a future.
In April we launched an advocacy campaign to inform and mobilise the ex-service community. RSL Victoria sub-branches and branch officials, ex-service organisations, the war widows and veterans who live in our aged care homes and units and use our care services, our staff and the broader ex-service community have overwhelmed us with their support.
But sadly, statements from RSL Victoria and the Guild – reaffirming their support for a selloff – have provided little comfort for the war widows and veterans who trust and rely on us for their care and accommodation. They are facing a bleak winter of uncertainty.
That is why we say it is time.
Time to end the uncertainty.
Time to show compassion.
Time to commit to those five short words that will mean so much to our war widows and veterans.
Time for RSL Victoria and the Guild to publicly say: ‘We support Vasey RSL Care’.
Yours sincerely
Mike O’Meara OAM Janna Voloshin
Board Chair, Vasey RSL Care CEO, Vasey RSL Care
Please visit the campaign page on our website at www.vaseyrslcare.org.au, get the facts, see who supports Vasey RSL Care and find out how you can take action for a strong future for Vasey RSL Care.
Open letter – view as PDF