near Rockhampton, in sunny Queensland
Cockscomb has been helping vets and their families since July 1997
Everything you see has been created by Veterans for Veterans. The land is generously ‘lent’ by one who recognised their urgent need, and acted.
Those war veterans who need semi-remote sanctuary are ideally catered for, with all facilities to hand, friendly access, and sixty acres to disappear into for awhile
Contact
Allan Evans on 07 – 4934 4941
or try Nick Quigley on 07 –
4928 2554
Visit Cockscomb
Cockscomb Camp near Rockhampton is one such example. Bruce Acutt, consulting psychologist and DVA approved practitioner, has a big ‘backyard’ in the bush – he is doing his ‘bit’, and then some. He has allowed the veterans to create their own base there, right in his backyard. It’s close enough to civilisation if a quick trip to hospital is needed, yet well away from the regular world. There are rare sounds of civilisation. The veteran-created facilities cater well to a variety of health challenges. The vision of our veterans, combined with this man’s generous heart, has created a remarkable safe haven. Cockscomb is accessed not only by veterans from all over our country, but also by veteran wives and children - sometimes retreating with the veteran, at other times retreating to Cockscomb by themselves, when the veteran at home is just too much to cope with.
The Ex Military Rehabilitation Centre in South Australia is a self funded charitable welfare organisation of volunteers dedicated to helping not only Australian ex-military personnel, but also the wider community, including those who are financially disadvantaged, physically disabled or mentally impaired. This group of committed veterans, ex-service people, their families and their supporters purchased the township of Mootatunga in the SA mallee in 1991. They have literally built the Mootatunga/Karte bush retreats from the ground up, with occassional help from grants and ‘chain gangs’, and an enormous amount of personal effort, even taking on tenders for demolition work to give them the funds and materials they have needed. This project goes from strength to strength, helping thousands of individuals to create a better life for themselves. Their activities include assistance with legal affairs, employment, transport, pensions and welfare; classes are held in ceramics, leatherwork, computers, photography, woodworking & metal fabrication; and a weekly radio show is also part of their program to keep the Veteran Community informed of issues that concern them.
These stories are repeated time and again in all the retreats. Those who are involved in them know the benefit of these retreats and rather than wait till the existing veterans are all dead, they are helping them now, when it is needed.
