LAST weekend saw the official launch of a new organisation Australian Families of the Military Research Foundation (AFOM) whose aim is to provide funds for research into the effects military service has on families.
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Importantly for this group the research will not be encumbered by political and/or Department of Defence outcomes.
People travelled from throughout the state, ACT and South Australia to attend the meeting at Singleton Diggers on Saturday.
Founding president is Gail MacDonell from Singleton who is the wife of a Vietnam veteran who served with 7RAR and as a result of the war, suffered from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The effects of PTSD on her own family prompted Mrs MacDonell to undertake a degree in psychology and then follow that with study towards a PhD on the effect of veteran’s combat trauma on families.
She has been invited to give talks throughout the country including to SAS wives, meetings of the Defence Families Association and to gatherings of the Partners of Veterans Association.
What has become clear to her from these meetings and her own study is that there is little research available on the effects of battle not only on the fighters but their families.
She wants the new organisation to develop and deliver well directed research for both the veteran and the family.
In AFOM documents it states that the children of Vietnam veterans have a 300 per cent higher suicide rate than their peers in the general community.
Patron of AFOM is retired Major General, John Cantwell, AO, DSC who said in his statement of support for the group that since his retirement in 2012 he had been heavily involved with issues relating to mental health of former and serving military personnel.
He said the aim of the foundation to fund research into the effects of service on military personnel and their families was something he was very keen to support.
