Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney are delighted to offer a special rate for members.
Available for download is the ANZAC Day members' accommodation special.

Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney is a five star intimate boutique heritage listed building in the heart of the CBD. The stunning sandstone façade of the building dates back to the 1800’s, the building was once home to Fairfax newspapers and the Bank Of New South Wales.

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Radisson Plaza ANZAC Day Special

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Please would you consider adding these recent statistics to your web sites and/or news magazines for several months until the study’s closing date has passed, at probably the end of December, unless of course the Minister chooses to extend it.

Current registration numbers, in key participation groups, are at 20 Nov 08:

Group	Current numbers	Minimum target*	Optimal target*
Random Sample Vietnam Veterans	2279	3000	5000
Children of Random Sample Vietnam Veterans	2494	1800	5000
Random Sample Vietnam-Era veterans (control )	1237	3000	5000
Children of Random Sample Vietnam-Era veterans (control)	706	1800	5000

*Please note, these numbers are "targets" which allow us to gauge how the numbers are progressing, but we are aiming to have as many participants as possible.

As you can see we still have some considerable way to go before our target figures are reached. We are especially keen to see more of your members enrol to help the study succeed. I appreciate a certain amount has already been done by you in this matter but I feel one last effort might be warranted at this late pre-Christmas stage. People must be made to understand this study will provide a unique opportunity to leave a lasting benefit for our veteran community for many generations to come.

To not wish to participate, if entitled to do so, is I believe a crime against everything we stand for as proud Australians. Please call 1800 502 302 OR check out www.dva.gov.au/vvfs to be a part of the registration group.

Have a safe and family friendly Christmas.

Regards,
Rod.

Dr Roderick Bain MBBS FRCA FANZCA
VVFHS Consultative Forum Member
RSL (NSW) Vice President
Tel 02-93808774
Mob 0417604450

Dear President,

Australian War Memorial Agrees to Change Wording on Agent Orange Text Panel
You will know that we had a disagreement with the Australian War Memorial over the wording of the Agent Orange text panel in its recently opened Vietnam War gallery. We are pleased to report that friendly negotiations in the spirit of wanting to ‘get it right’ have resulted in agreed re-wording. Within the text panel’s limit of 120 words, we agreed that the Agent Orange story should be told in historical sequence ending with the present situation of the acceptance of Agent Orange’s cancer causing potential.

Here are the new words:

Both the United States and Australia used defoliants in Vietnam to destroy the jungle which sheltered the Viet Cong. Agent Orange, containing the poisonous substance dioxin, was the most widely used of several herbicides. After the war, numbers of Australian veterans became concerned about mounting evidence of possible health effects of their exposure to these chemicals. Vietnam Veterans’ organisations agitated for government recognition of their case. The Evatt Royal Commission reported in 1985, absolving chemical agents from responsibility for veterans’ health problems. Veterans strongly disagreed and continued to pursue the issue. Subsequent studies found links between exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and some cancers and other diseases. As a result, veterans have successfully pursued claims for compensation, and continue to do so.

The Vietnam Veterans Federation, on behalf of Vietnam veterans, thanks the Australian War Memorial for agreeing to implement these changes in the coming months.

Tim McCombe
National President
Vietnam Veterans Federation