Philip & Terri attend RSLWA Help Our Heroes Charity Ball

15th June, 2019

Last night Terri and I, along with Hon. Colin Tincknell MLC and his wife Sandra attended the RSLWA Help Our Heroes Charity Ball at Crown Perth.

As the President of the Lions Club of Whitford, and previously a Board and WA State Director of the Australian Lions Drug Awareness Foundation (ALDAF), I'm involved with many government, charitable, community, sporting groups, associations and individuals, including the RSL and our Veteran community.

Within Lions, we have many Veterans as members throughout the world, and this is no different for the Lions Club of Whitford. As a club, we are very aware of the issues confronting our Veterans and at the United Nations in New York in March, I was very pleased to be able to discuss Veterans issues with our Lions International President, fellow Lions, Ambassadors, their staff and advised of the advocacy the Lions Club of Whitford and I do on behalf of our community, and more importantly, to the problems being experienced by many Veterans today.

In New York I also met with Past International President, Chancellor Bob Corlew, who presented me with the Lions Clubs International Presidential Medal in April 2017 for my dedicated service to those in need, including our Veterans. At the time of being awarded the Presidential Medal, Chancellor Corlew commented that "Philips hard work and compassion serves as an example to Lions, your community and the world around you."

It truly was our honour to be able to attend last night, and equally its been an honour to serve our RSL and our Military, Defence and Veteran community in times of need, including problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs ("DVA"), within Family Law, Child Support and general welfare issues. Requests from Veterans regarding welfare, and that of their families and their own support, help and assistance has been increasing of late, not only to Lions Clubs throughout Australia but also to the RSL, RSLWA, Subbranches, Charities and Veterans support organisations.

Philip Couper