Veterans Care Association Inc.
Care for Veterans, Families and their Supporters
Gary Stone –President - (+61) 0403 270 515
Veterans Care Newsletter November 2014 Number 1
Dear friends, thanks for supporting this new ministry. I hope that news of what God and we
are doing will bring joy to your heart and satisfaction knowing that we are improving the
lives of veterans, their families and those who support them. From our Veterans Care
Association formation meeting on 29 June we have been operating on a number of fronts
simultaneously.
Direct pastoral care to veterans has been a task Gary has engaged in, visiting vets in
hospital, mainly with cancer, but also meeting them in their gathering events at RSL subbranches, Corps Associations, and conducting memorial services. Most vets present with
multiple, body mind and soul wounds, and Gary’s explanation of the need for holistic health
to promote wellbeing gets many heads nodding.
Engagement with those supporting vets has involved meetings with the Qld commissioner
for DVA , Alison Stanley, State Pres RSL Terry Meehan , all Mates4mates staff, and Premier
Campbell Newman . Military Brotherhood and with various RAR associations. The concept of
holistic care is known to them but getting spiritual/pastoral inputs into current programmes
will take time as some practitioners/service providers will not move out of their space (or
reject the notion of the value of the spiritual).
Providing education on holistic health has been Gary’s passion and presentations have
been delivered to current serving Army groups at Enoggera and Canungra, Military
Brotherhood, The Gap and Samford RSL, Shed Happens, Mates4Mates and S African Vets
assn.
Gary’s book Duntroon to Dili has been launched on 28 Sep by Archbishop Mark Coleridge at
a wonderful function organised by VCAI members and 320 books have been gifted or sold to
individuals and kindred organisations, with Brisbane and state libraries ordering 12 as well.
Gary Stone | [email protected]. | Reg. Assoc. No IA42264 | Reg. Charity No. CH2629
26D Boogard Place, Clagiraba QLD 4211 | www.VetransCare.com.au | BSB 034034 A/C 324703
Veterans Care Association Inc.
Care for Veterans, Families and their Supporters
Gary Stone –President - (+61) 0403 270 515
The book has been a great intro and pastoral outreach. Numerous affirmations have come
in that it has helped people understand what’s happening in themselves or their family
members. A Vietnam vet who bought the book approached Gary after reading it and told
him, “ For 40 years I have struggled with PTSD but your story has introduced me and
challenged me to explore the missing ingredient in my life – FAITH. You’ve got it and I now
want it!”
Gary reminds us that battles are won by tactics, but campaigns are won by Logistics. In the
support area, Treasurer Geoff Fry and Secretary Rob Vicary, have done massive amounts of
paperwork to get the association incorporated and registered ( No IA42264) and have
charitable tax deductible donation status (CH2629). We have a budget developed and
Westpac BSB 034034 account 324703 which we hope people will want to provide a monthly
direct debit into, to support the meeting of ministry costs/expenses involving car operation,
phone, internet, computer, printing and professional development, which are costing Gary
approx $250 per week/$1000 per month. There are also some one off set up costs of a new
laptop and printer needed to replace the Defence ones Gary has been using. We have
developed membership and donation forms which Secretary Rob will distribute. Various
administrative assistance, finance and prayer support has been provided by Tony Grlj, Peter
Devenish Meares, Bruce Bonney, John and Gaye Hull, Phil and Robyn Locke and others.
Thanks friends, your support is really appreciated.
Future activities will involve more pastoral, provider engagement and educational ministry
and developing our funding base. Gary has received 4 speaking engagements for Feb and an
invitation from Mates4 Mates to be Chaplain for a wounded veterans Big battlefield bicycle
ride in France in June. In parallel with this Gary and Lynne vacate their Gap house on 26 Nov
and relocate to the Gold Coast in temporary accommodation until their new residence at
Clagiraba is ready in April 2015.
Thanks you for your support and interest. This is truly a work of charity and love by a team
of caring Christian people. God delights in what you are doing, and many veterans and their
families are benefitting.
Gary Stone | [email protected]. | Reg. Assoc. No IA42264 | Reg. Charity No. CH2629
26D Boogard Place, Clagiraba QLD 4211 | www.VetransCare.com.au | BSB 034034 A/C 324703