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The above press release by the Hon Bruce
Billson MP has generated much debate through the media
since its release on 18 Apr 2007. It has been
aired on TV, been in most capital city and other
newspapers and has hit the internet via Veterans email
circles so the word is well and truly out there amongst
the real veterans. One of those
reports is below. Please read it and then see our
answers below
Well there you have this particular media
outlets views on matters bogus veterans and fake medal
wearers with comments from several people, one being a
psychologist who seems to have hit the nail on the head
and one fellow in particular, Ian Cavanough a veteran of
A Company 2 RAR, Vietnam who appears to condone his
mates wearing fake [tin] medals. So who is right
and who is wrong here?
Are the genuine veterans who are happy
with their issued entitlement of medals for their active
service right in not condoning the wearing of tin medals
amongst their official rack?
Is the psychologist right in stating that
the wannabe who has no service at all and wears medals
he never earned is the only one who longs for prestige,
respect or even hero status? We think that
the veteran with the war service who puts up fake medals
is also in this category and is not happy with what he
did.
Now it gets confusing as the two members
who we have on our tin pages and show again under here
were Infantry. We at no time gave out their
identity, unit or where the photos were taken, but Cav
has now released that to the media and right across the
veteran chat areas on the internet and identified them
as members of his company, A Company 2 RAR and states
that one did two tours of duty. He has even named
them. Why would someone who did two tours
crave wearing tin medals that mean nothing??
Cav is indeed a strange man.
He once applied to join ANZMI and seek out those who
steal our Service and Honour. We still have
his application to join us. We rejected him
for reasons we wont explain but maybe this is why he now
supports tin wearers. He also accuses us of
accosting a woman who was with his group at an ANZAC Day
service in 2004. Rest assured Mr Cavanaugh
that we NEVER accost anyone. Not even the
tin wearers or those who claim service they dont have.
We work silently gathering our information on bogus
veterans and those who wear non entitled medals and tin
and put them here on the internet until such time as the
government will charge them with the appropriate
offence. We will give him one thing though.
He is persistent and takes what he considers is the
wrong thing done to his mates to anyone who will listen
in veteran circles on the internet where he is always
shot down by those diggers who tell him that medals
other than those earned should not be worn on the rack
of official medals.
He complains about ANZMI displaying their
picture. Have a look below and see if you can
identify them. His easy way out of this would be
to tell his mates [one of two tours of duty as an
Infantryman] to remove the tin from their official rack
and if they need to wear them, rack them up separately
on the right breast where the other veterans can see
them and give appropriate recognition. To date he
states he hasn't told his mates they are on the site.
Why? Does he want them to continue being
displayed? Simply put Cav, tell your
mates to get them off and keep them off their left
breast and they will come off the site. Then
you wont be ridiculed by all those you pour your heart
out to on the internet and then accuse them for being
ANZMI and against you.
Below are the "offending photos"
Why would Infantry diggers want to wear this rubbish.
It does not change your active service, it only makes
you look a fool in the eyes of others who served in the
same theatre of war. Basically Cav, get
over it. Tell your mates they are making fools of
themselves and to get the rubbish off their official
rack. You
claim you went on to become an officer (albeit in the
ARES) so use your
ability to explain the facts to your mates.
Perhaps you need to print off the Minister's press
release so they can read it and see you are not having a
go at them, but instead are trying to get them back on
track as proud veterans wearing only their entitlement.
There are enough bogus veterans in our
ranks that need exposing without your mates making fools
of themselves with tin. Genuine veterans
should not appear on these pages. You cant change
history and you cant enhance your medal entitlement
without ridicule from the wider veteran population.
Only you can work out what side of the fence you are on.
The balls in your court.
Cav consider yourself
privileged that we have answered you via this page.
Normally we allow people who complain when they are
wrong to self destruct within the veteran email areas
available on the net. Feel fortunate that we have
offered you the advice above. Heed it and tell your
mates what to do and when we confirm they have done it
they will be removed, but watched to ensure they dont
rack them back on their left breast in the future. We
are, as you have confirmed before, everywhere
and we will see your comments on the net.
For the media looking at the site before
ANZAC day please visit the tin pages
here.
These pages will give you an idea of the bogus medals being
worn. We would appreciate a copy of your photos
for display after ANZAC day. You might also want
to pay particular attention to the chest of the National
Serviceman's Association in your area to see all the
rubbish they wear to pretend they are veterans.
For those of Mr Billson's staff who read these pages
please pass this on to him also.
To cap off the sentiments of real
soldiers about wannabes, a poem by Paul, an unknown
Queenslander. Good on you Paul, whoever you
are.
This is published in the
public interest, particularly that of the Vietnam
Veteran Community. All information presented here is
fact and the truth. Reports from private citizens are
supported by statements of fact and statutory
declarations. |
Press Release