Victorian Veterans Council
Background to the Victorian Veterans Council
Functions
Membership
Victorian Veterans Fund
ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund
The Victorian Veterans Council is a new independent statutory body established in 2006 under the
Veterans Act 2005. The VVC plays an important role supporting Victoria’s veterans and reporting directly to the Premier on issues affecting the Victorian community. In addition to advising the Premier, the VVC distributes the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and the new Victorian Veterans Fund, and advises the Minister for Consumer Affairs on specific matters relating to the regulation of patriotic funds. The Veterans Act 2005 was developed following extensive consultation with the veteran community and replaces the
Patriotic Funds Act 1958. The Victorian Veterans Council replaces the Patriotic Funds Council but is charged with a different range of responsibilities.Background to the Victorian Veterans Council
The Victorian Government has established the Council in response to two significant changes in the community. The first change is that many veterans are getting older. The ageing of the veteran community has a number of important consequences. As people age, their need for care often increases. The total number of veterans is declining as the older generation passes away. Many of these veterans are survived by their widows who also need a higher level of care as they age. The second change is that there is increasing community interest in our military history and the service of our veterans, particularly amongst younger Victorians. The Victorian Veterans Council will help respond to these issues.
Functions
The Victorian Veterans Council will have a number of functions, outlined in the Act. These are to:
- provide advice to the Premier on issues affecting the ex-service community
- distribute the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund to ex-service organisations for welfare activities (this role was previously carried out by the Patriotic Funds Council)
- distribute the Victorian Veterans Fund
- advise the Minister for Consumer Affairs on the regulation of patriotic funds.
Under the Act the Council is required to consult with ex-service organisations in developing advice for the Premier.
The Council promotes collaboration and coordination across the broad range of ex-service organisations in Victoria and assists and advises patriotic fund trustees on options for the use of patriotic funds.
Membership
The Victorian Veterans Council has 11 members, of whom at least 8 must be members of the ex-service community or members of ex-service organisations. The Chair and Deputy Chair must be veterans. There are legislated positions for two important and longstanding ex-service organisations: the State Branch of the Returned and Services League and Melbourne Legacy.
All members are appointed by the Governor in Council. The Department of Planning and Community Development provides the Victorian Veterans Council with secretariat support.
Members of the Victorian Veterans Council are:
- Major General Peter Haddad AO (Retd), Chair
- Peter Liefman, Deputy Chair
- Ms Maree Bowman
- Mr Peter Colliver (Royal Australian Air Force Association - Victorian Division)
- Brigadier John Deighton, AM MC (Retd) (RSL representative)
- Mr David Ford, CVO, AM, GM (Legacy representative)
- Ms Mary Kelly (Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council)
- Mr George Logan, RFD
- Mr Stephen Ryan
- Mr John Wells (Carry On Victoria)
- Mr Robert Elworthy (Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Victorian Branch)
Read the biographies of the Victorian Veterans Council members (Word 27 kb) (PDF 21 kb)
Both the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and the Victorian Veterans Fund are administered by the Victorian Veterans Council. The Council:
- develops public guidelines about the use of this Fund and the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund
- determines what gets funded
- is required to account publicly for the expenditure.
Victorian Veterans Fund
The Victorian Veterans Fund is a new fund established under the Veterans Act 2005. The Fund’s revenue comes from gaming activities on ANZAC Day. Applications to the 2007 Victorian Veterans Fund closed on 9 July 2007.
The purpose of this annual Fund is to provide the veterans’ community with greater capacity to:
- honour and commemorate the service or sacrifice of veterans
- educate Victorians about our history of service in conflicts, including peacekeeping and peacemaking operations
- assist with the education of veterans’ dependants
The Veterans Act also allows the Council to determine other uses of the Fund, with the agreement of the Premier.
ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund
The purpose of this annual fund is to provide practical assistance for veterans and their dependents who are in need. The Fund is distributed to organisations whose principal object is to provide welfare support to veterans or their dependants.
The 2007 ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund will be open for applications between Monday 23 July and Monday 27 August 2007.
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