Letter below in today's Canberra Times (written in response to a letter published earlier this week)
Don Malcolmson's letter (April 18) makes me sad.
I am the descendent of two members of Bomber Command. My Australian father was a navigator/bomb-aimer of Lancasters and my mother a proud Scottish ordnance deliverer-ambulance driver of Bomber Command. Their generation served, accepted the risks and asked for nothing in return.
They married just after Victory in Europe day and settled in Australia, started their lives together and raised four children. Both are now departed.
It saddens me that if they were still alive they would read a letter such as Malcolmson's.
In his later years, my father sought health support for the damage his body and mind had suffered and endured. His acknowledged hearing loss, among his other disabilities, was questioned by a naive assessor when he was challenged as to why he had not worn his ear protection during his flights over Europe.
It is just as naive, but more insulting, that we can now only support the reunion of six surviving members of Bomber Command without carers for the unveiling of a Bomber Command Memorial in London.
It is a reflection on us all that, given the outrageous perks of office and the largesse that politicians, public servants and private enterprise bestow on themselves, that we treat veterans this way. Malcolmson's recount of the terrible losses and risks faced by these men and women supports the case for assistance.
The Australian people are not that selfish or thankless that they would not support these remaining veterans and their carers. Regrettably, our governments and public servant advisers appear blind to these sacrifices and the needs of these veterans.
If our country is so poor, then let's just ask for this horrendous sacrifice:
■ Every member of Parliament and equivalent in the private sector give up one study tour or conference.
■ Every public servant or business executive who is entitled to first-class or business travel give up one outwards privileged journey and travel economy.
If that couldn't pay for this attendance, I would be stunned.
There are many other ridiculous perks of office that are way outside the grasp of ordinary Australians that could be traded in to pay for these men and women to be there for this dedication.
No sacrifice could be greater than what these brave Australians did for us.
I hope Warren Snowden and his entourage read this and feel some remorse as they tuck into the pointy end nibblies on the way to Europe -
Media Release - VA029 -
And Julia Gillard's conscience similarly pricks her as she settles into the 34 SQN VIP aircraft's double bed en route to Gallipoli next week