Alarm at reported suicide bid

Former Totally and Partially Disabled Veterans of WA president Peter Douglas says the report of an attempted suicide at the club’s ‘‘time out’’ unit is concerning.

Picture by Anita McInnes: Former Totally and Partially Disabled Veterans of WA president Peter Douglas says the club’s ‘‘time out’’ unit should be run by a committee representing ex-service groups.

Mr Douglas said that on August 10 a man staying at the unit, a respite centre attached to the caretaker’s residence, had apparently tried to commit suicide.

St John Ambulance has confirmed a person from that address was taken to Fremantle Hospital on that date, but would not provide any other details.

President Allan West said the incident highlighted what he had believed for a long time, that the club was not equipped to run a time out unit, which should have access to counselling services and a mental health nurse.

Mr West said Totally and Partially Disabled Veterans of WA started off as a social club, but went too far with the respite centre, which the club was not able to run properly.

Mr Douglas — who spent years lobbying politicians and organisations to raise money for the facility, including a $280,000 Lotterywest grant for the time out unit — said it had been h i s dream t o help veterans.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the club’s lease was on Crown land vested in the council ‘‘for the purposes of a veterans’ respite centre’’.

‘‘The lease allows veterans receiving counselling for depression or suicidal thoughts to stay at the respite centre, but the decision to allow them to stay would be a decision for the TPDVWA,’’ he said.

In July councillors voted unanimously to extend the operating hours of the licensed area at the club, despite complaints about noise from the club in the past.

Cr Sammels said the council agreed to the changes, which included ‘‘reducing the finish times on Saturday nights, on the basis that the change in operating hours would better accommodate a more family orientated environment, if noise concerns could be appropriately addressed’’.