MONBULK RSL member Ted Beard recently visited Cockatoo Rise War Veterans’ Retreat at Bairnsdale.
The facility is the only one of its type in Victoria and caters for the respite, rehabilitation and care of war veterans.
The retreat provides a place where veterans and their partners can share time together and with mates in a safe, secure and peaceful environment.
The museum at the retreat gets much interest from groups of school children and others.
Mr Beard is seen looking at one-day ration packs and trying on a complete set of webbing used in the field in Afghanistan today.
Fully loaded the webbing’s weight is about 46-50kgs.
Mr Beard served with the Royal Australian Ordnance Corps from 1969 to 1971 and was posted to Vung Tau and Saigon, South Vietnam.
