Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

Korea Veterans News

20 April 2010

The April 2010 newsletter of the Australian Council of Korea Veterans Associations has provided some details of the planning for the National Ceremony in Canberra on October 23.

October was chosen because the winter months were considered too cold for a national ceremony at the Australian National Korean War Memorial and October, with the onset of spring, was less harsh.

Also there was too little time to arrange a ceremony involving the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and foreign representatives in June for the anniversary of the start of the war. It was found that a group of associations from NSW and Victoria had already established a program for the 23-25 October period, and there was agreement to build on this program. The link with Maryang San in October was also noted.

Revisits to Korea
The newsletter argues it is for the Australian Korean War veteran community to determine the composition of any official Australian contingent revisiting Korea, taking into consideration the criteria applied by Korean authorities, and to select the leader.

Only the Australian Korean War veteran community can make decisions based on such factors as age, volunteer service to the community, likelihood of being available for a later year revisit etc. These criteria are only examples and should be decided by the Australian Korean War veteran community.

Also it should be for the Australian Korean War veteran community to decide on the use to be made of the group travel free travel depending on the numbers in the group. In Canada the benefit of the free travel is shared among all travelling members. Another thought is that where there is sound evidence that a veteran cannot travel because of his or her financial situation, the free travel available through the group travel concession could be made available to that veteran. These are matters which should be determined by the Australian Korean War veteran community.

Objectives of ACKVA

1. To promote the interests of Australian veterans of the Korean War;
2. To encourage communication between Korean War veteran's organizations
3. To represent the Australian Korean community in Australia and abroad
4. To work with the AWM in presenting the public with the Korean War
5. To work for improved representation overseas
6. To work towards preservation of the UN cemetery at Pusan
7. To identify welfare issues for Korean War veterans
8. To improve the public's understanding of the Korean War
9. To promote good relations with the Korean Veterans in South Korea
10. To administer the Revisit program for Korean veterans

Commencement of Financial Year 2010- 2011
On June 1, subscriptions to the Australian Council of Korea Veteran's Associations become due. All those associations that support the activities of the ACKVA are requested to ask their members to ADD the sum of $2 to the subs payable to you and for your association to forward the one cheque to cover all subs payable to the ACKVA.

Without these funds the ACKVA will not be able to continue to pursue the research and enquiries that are of interest and concern to Korean War veterans. Also if you still have the subs you collected last year, would you please forward them to Treasurer, Harry Spicer, 26 Wooroo Street, Albion Park Rail NSW 2527.

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