New Veterans Advisory Council for WA

. Veterans input a first for Western Australia
. Council to provide advice on health, ageing and welfare issues
. On the eve of Anzac Day services, the State Government has announced a new 10-member Veterans Advisory Council to provide input on issues relating to veterans.

“It will be an essential forum for the Government to hear directly from veterans on issues the State Government can address and help resolve,” Veterans Minister Joe Francis said.

Members include former members of all three services from officer and other ranks, plus representatives of veterans’ associations and ex-service organisations. They have considerable operational service, ranging from World War Two through to the Vietnam War and more recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Members include:
Chairperson Max Ball, an Army officer who served in Vietnam
Brendan Maxwell, an Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan
Shane Moyle, a former RSM who deployed to East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan
Frank Sear, served in the SASR and now an executive in human resources
Jack Le Cras, World War Two veteran and president of the Naval Association of WA
Phil Smith, State and national president of the Far East Strategic Reserve Navy Association
Lesley Westlake, State president, Partners of Veterans Association of Australia
Kevin Trent, foundation secretary of the Royal Australian Regiment Association
Graham Bland, president of the WA RAAF Association
John Ryan, former national president of the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen and Women.
Mr Francis said the council would provide advice relating to health, ageing and welfare to ensure the needs of ex-servicemen and women were met.

Fact File
The council will not replicate work of the Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs
It will meet quarterly, with the first meeting in June
Minister’s office – 6552 6500

Background:

Max Ball, Chairperson
Commissioned in 1958 into the Regular Army, Mr Ball served in regimental and staff appointments during his 28-year career. He is a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College and the Joint Service Staff College. He deployed on operations to South Vietnam. He has been a member of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association and Defence Force Welfare Association.

Brendan Maxwell
Commissioned in 2001 into the Regular Army, Mr Maxwell served in various regimental and staff appointments during his career. He was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and received a number of commendations. Mr Maxwell is a director at St Stephens School.

Shane Moyle
Mr Moyle served in the Regular Army for 30 years, much of it with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He served in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. His final deployment was as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian contingent in Afghanistan. Mr Moyle retired from the Regular Army as a Warrant Officer Class 1.

Frank Sear OAM
Mr Sear served 26 years in the Regular Army, predominantly with the Special Air Service Regiment. He served in the Middle East, Bougainville, the South Pacific, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was Australian Defence Staff Military Advisor to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. He is now an executive manager of a training and human resources company.

Jack Le Cras OAM
Mr Le Cras served 25 years in both the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Navy Reserve, attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He served on destroyers in the final two years of World War Two. He is president of the Naval Association of Western Australia.

Phil Smith BEM
Mr Smith served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1963 to 1983, including service during the Indonesian Confrontation. In 1980, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the RAN. He is the State and national president of the Far East Strategic Reserve Navy Association.

Lesley Westlake
Mrs Westlake is State president of the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia. She is a former school principal who retired early to care for a Totally and Permanently Disabled Veteran spouse. She spent a decade helping veterans and war widows in a number of roles.

Kevin Trent OAM RFD
Mr Trent volunteered for National Service. He served with 3RAR and 9RAR in South Vietnam. He later served as an officer in the Active Reserve, retiring in 1997. He was foundation secretary of the Royal Australian Regiment Association. He has been a City of South Perth councillor for many years.

Graham Bland
Mr Bland served in the Royal Australian Air Force for 23 years, retiring as a Warrant Officer Engineer. He had operational postings to Malaysia and Thailand. He is president of the RAAF Association.

John Ryan
Mr Ryan was called up for National Service in 1967. Posted to the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, he served in South Vietnam. In 1971, he joined the Special Air Service Regiment. He retired from the Army in 1989 as a Warrant Officer Class Two. He is former national president of the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen and Women.