Help is at hand for veterans in need

A Rockingham army veteran has called on the wider defence and military community to call out if they need a helping hand, with a support structure in place in Baldivis.

The Totally and Partially Disabled Veterans of WA has a 6ha property on Mandurah Road, with a group of volunteers in place to run the not-for-profit organisation.

Secretary Justin O’Keeffe was in the army for seven years and said adjusting to civilian life could be difficult without assistance.

“Once you are a soldier, you are a soldier. Or a sailor, or an airman. Once you’re that, you’re that,” he said.

“It is very hard to go back.

“We count on more of our mates because they have been through what we have been through — traumas, problems.

“We can help people in many different ways, whether it is with veteran affairs — we can give them back that camaraderie and mateship that a lot of us lack once we leave.”

Treasurer Pamela Perkins said the support structures offered by the group were open to current military personnel, veterans, police, peacekeepers and their families or friends. “Our aim is to let the younger veteran community know what we are about and let them know they can come and join with their families and bring their friends,” she said.

“They need to know there is a support group there for them.

“It is also for the wives and the partners of veterans — they need help too.”

Mr O’Keeffe said the group had six permanent units on the property that were permanently full and had a waiting list. There is hope that a further 12 will be established in the near future.

“We have a lot of homeless veterans. That is what I want to see fixed, that we have somewhere to put veterans that need emergency housing,” he said.

“We do have a lot of people ringing us asking for emergency accommodation. It varies, some weeks we get absolutely none and other weeks we get four or five in two days.”

The group is based at 1677 Mandurah Road, Baldivis. For more information phone 0447 301 377 or email tpdvsec@gmail.com.