2019 ANZAC Appeal launches in NSW
Announcement posted by Defence Care 11 Apr 2019
Encourages everyone in NSW to be part of the ANZAC family
#ANZACFamily
Sydney, NSW, April 11, 2019– The 2019 ANZAC Appeal has been launched today in NSW with the theme of ANZAC Family. In support of the Appeal, RSL sub-Branches from around the state will be encouraging people to donate to receive a token (pin) or donate online to help raise funds to support Australian veterans and their families in need.
RSL NSW continues to support veterans through RSL WBI and its services arms, RSL DefenceCare and Veteran Sport Australia. In 2018 alone RSL DefenceCare, a charity and not-for-profit organisation, provided over $724,000 in direct financial assistance, lodged over 2,000 claims with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, represented 180 new Veteran Review Board appeals and provided 132 counselling sessions.
Following the success of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, the newly launched Veteran Sport Australia program subsidises the costs of sporting and other recreational activities to help improve the health and wellbeing of veterans with injuries and illnesses. The impact of such programs is now widely recognised as an important way to improve veterans’ mental and physical health, self-confidence, sense of community, camaraderie and social integration.
James Brown, RSL NSW President:
“Over the past few years we have commemorated the earliest ANZACs - those Australians and New Zealanders who served and those that gave their life for their countries. Following this commemoration, we now turn and look to our more recent past and to the present – those Australians that embody the ANZAC spirit today – the same strength, the same sense of family. We look at those Australians currently serving and make the same connections to the very first ANZACs.
“These modern ANZACs and their families need our support; from physical and emotional support, to rehabilitation and advocacy, and this is why the 2019 ANZAC Appeal focuses on the ANZAC Family.
“Our family in whatever form – be it the family joined by service, or the family joined by blood, to the family born of friendship – these families support the individual. We are stronger when we are united – this is the ANZAC Family.
“The funds raised from the ANZAC Appeal will be used to support the work of our state-wide professional veterans’ welfare organisation, RSL DefenceCare, which is taking calls from veterans and their families in need every day. And the newly created Veteran Sport Australia, supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families through sport and recreation. Sub-Branches will receive a payment for their fundraising efforts that can be used to support the work they do in their local area.”
Damien Thomlinson, RSL NSW and 2019 ANZAC Appeal Ambassador and Afghanistan veteran:
“My family has been instrumental both during my time in service and as I continue in my journey of ongoing recovery and rehabilitation. This includes my military family and my actual family and friends. They provide the support I need as I continue.
This network of family is vital to all our servicemen and women. The ANZAC Appeal will help with funds to look after their welfare, and to make sure that whatever difficulties they have, someone will be there to help them.
This ANZAC Day we call for you to join us and pledge your support by donating to the ANZAC Appeal and be a part of the ANZAC family.”
Rachel Kerrigan, 2019 ANZAC Appeal Ambassador and Afghanistan veteran:
“Without sport and the family I have made through sport, at best I would still be 119kg, on 30 tablets a day, struggling to leave my house with PTSD controlling me and my life. Focusing on sport has given me back my drive, my motivation, my passion and created a support network that has helped me take control of my life again.”
“Sport provided the sense of family that I was missing and provided me with a pathway and goals to achieve again in my life.”
ANZAC Family
This year’s Appeal aims to highlight the ANZAC Family – the veterans and those around them who support them, whether they are the traditional family unit, a sporting family like Invictus, or the community that rallies to be there for them.
The spirit of ANZAC is about mateship and family - a family of veterans, their supporters and always being there for each other. No matter the situation, the spirit of ANZAC continues, the family continues.
All Australians have a place in this family. From those serving currently to returned veterans, their families, their friends and those that support them – we are all part of the wider ANZAC family.
People around NSW can support the 2019 NSW ANZAC Appeal by donating in person or at www.anzacfamily.com.au
ENDS
Photography and Footage of James Brown, Damien Thomlinson and Rachel Kerrigan are available HERE
For more information or for interview requests, please contact:
David Wolf
Closer Communications
david@closer.com.au
0411 111 787
RSL NSW continues to support veterans through RSL WBI and its services arms, RSL DefenceCare and Veteran Sport Australia. In 2018 alone RSL DefenceCare, a charity and not-for-profit organisation, provided over $724,000 in direct financial assistance, lodged over 2,000 claims with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, represented 180 new Veteran Review Board appeals and provided 132 counselling sessions.
Following the success of the Invictus Games Sydney 2018, the newly launched Veteran Sport Australia program subsidises the costs of sporting and other recreational activities to help improve the health and wellbeing of veterans with injuries and illnesses. The impact of such programs is now widely recognised as an important way to improve veterans’ mental and physical health, self-confidence, sense of community, camaraderie and social integration.
James Brown, RSL NSW President:
“Over the past few years we have commemorated the earliest ANZACs - those Australians and New Zealanders who served and those that gave their life for their countries. Following this commemoration, we now turn and look to our more recent past and to the present – those Australians that embody the ANZAC spirit today – the same strength, the same sense of family. We look at those Australians currently serving and make the same connections to the very first ANZACs.
“These modern ANZACs and their families need our support; from physical and emotional support, to rehabilitation and advocacy, and this is why the 2019 ANZAC Appeal focuses on the ANZAC Family.
“Our family in whatever form – be it the family joined by service, or the family joined by blood, to the family born of friendship – these families support the individual. We are stronger when we are united – this is the ANZAC Family.
“The funds raised from the ANZAC Appeal will be used to support the work of our state-wide professional veterans’ welfare organisation, RSL DefenceCare, which is taking calls from veterans and their families in need every day. And the newly created Veteran Sport Australia, supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families through sport and recreation. Sub-Branches will receive a payment for their fundraising efforts that can be used to support the work they do in their local area.”
Damien Thomlinson, RSL NSW and 2019 ANZAC Appeal Ambassador and Afghanistan veteran:
“My family has been instrumental both during my time in service and as I continue in my journey of ongoing recovery and rehabilitation. This includes my military family and my actual family and friends. They provide the support I need as I continue.
This network of family is vital to all our servicemen and women. The ANZAC Appeal will help with funds to look after their welfare, and to make sure that whatever difficulties they have, someone will be there to help them.
This ANZAC Day we call for you to join us and pledge your support by donating to the ANZAC Appeal and be a part of the ANZAC family.”
Rachel Kerrigan, 2019 ANZAC Appeal Ambassador and Afghanistan veteran:
“Without sport and the family I have made through sport, at best I would still be 119kg, on 30 tablets a day, struggling to leave my house with PTSD controlling me and my life. Focusing on sport has given me back my drive, my motivation, my passion and created a support network that has helped me take control of my life again.”
“Sport provided the sense of family that I was missing and provided me with a pathway and goals to achieve again in my life.”
ANZAC Family
This year’s Appeal aims to highlight the ANZAC Family – the veterans and those around them who support them, whether they are the traditional family unit, a sporting family like Invictus, or the community that rallies to be there for them.
The spirit of ANZAC is about mateship and family - a family of veterans, their supporters and always being there for each other. No matter the situation, the spirit of ANZAC continues, the family continues.
All Australians have a place in this family. From those serving currently to returned veterans, their families, their friends and those that support them – we are all part of the wider ANZAC family.
People around NSW can support the 2019 NSW ANZAC Appeal by donating in person or at www.anzacfamily.com.au
ENDS
Photography and Footage of James Brown, Damien Thomlinson and Rachel Kerrigan are available HERE
For more information or for interview requests, please contact:
David Wolf
Closer Communications
david@closer.com.au
0411 111 787