Gembrook’s Neville Bryant is “cautiously optimistic” about the Federal
By Paul Pickering
A GEMBROOK war veteran says the Federal Government must hand over the reins of its world-first study into the health of children of Vietnam veterans to the primary stakeholders: the veterans themselves.
Having written repeatedly to La Trobe MP Jason Wood calling for the study to be commissioned, Neville Bryant – who was left totally and permanently incapacitated after serving as infantry soldier in the Vietnam War – last week admitted to being “cautiously optimistic” about the August launch of Vietnam Veterans Family Study.
While he applauded Mr Wood’s lobbying efforts, Mr Bryant said he feared that the study would stray from the interests of families – like his own – that have been affected by the war.
Mr Bryant’s specific interest in the study revolves around the health problems suffered by children of veterans who were exposed to dioxin – a toxin contained in the herbicide spray known as Agent Orange.
He says that his own experience supports the long-held suspicion that a Vietnam veteran gaining weight before conception could reduce the health risks to their children.
While Mr Bryant admitted that the theory – which he says proposes that the extra layer of fat absorbs the toxins in the blood – “seemed laughable on the surface”, he soon came to believe that it was true.
After his first son was born, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Mr Bryant intentionally gained almost 30 kilograms before his subsequent two children were born.
He says that his two youngest children are extremely healthy and “kicking goals all over the place.”
Mr Bryant noted that many of the health trends experienced by veterans’ families have only come to light in recent years, because the passing of time has made veterans more willing to socialise with each other and share their stories.
But, Mr Bryant says, in order to provide the answers the veterans really want, the government – and specifically the Department of Veteran Affairs – needs to allow ongoing consultation on the progress of the study.
“We (the veterans) are the stakeholders in this inquiry, yet we have very little say in which direction it’s going to go,” he said.
Mr Bryant said the study needed to have more emphasis on statistical comparisons between the health problems experienced by the children of veterans and those of the broader community.
While Mr Wood said he was confident that the study would achieve the desired outcomes, he was keen to acknowledge Mr Bryant’s concerns.
“As I see it, the veterans are always right,” Mr Wood said, adding that any issues the veterans had should be addressed by the government’s researchers.
Mr Wood said the study would involve around 200,000 participants – both parents and children – over an eight-year period, with preliminary results available as early as next year.
“The study will identify protective factors and characteristics which help build resilience in families of veterans,” Mr Wood explained.
“This will lead to improved services for the families of future service personnel.”
