Over the phone a DVA (Dept of Veterans' Affairs) recognised pensions officer queried SPARK as to what disabilities he desired to make which he could link to Vietnam "Operational Service" - SPARK indicated that he had no disabilities from his Vietnam service with the Australian Army, he only wanted to apply for a Service Pension which would qualify him for the Gold card. 

Pressing for more information, the pensions officer requested a brief history to assist SPARK and the following information (backed by Statutory Declaration) was provided: 

Conscripted to National Service (the draft) in June 1970 SPARK completed recruit training at the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion Puckapunyal Victoria and was allocated to the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps - he was then posted to the School; of Army Health at Healesville Victoria where he underwent corps training and qualified as a Medical Assistant. 

SPARK  states he then attended a Battle Efficiency Course at Canungra Queeensland and was posted to 11 Field Ambulance - 3rd Casualty Clearance Station and spent six months stationed in Vietnam posted to a United States of America Army hospital in Danang employed as a male nurse.  He stated that he worked under Australian medical staff consisting of a Sgt DUBINSKY and a Sgt WALLACE.  He recalls that his Australian Commanding Officer was a Major KELLY. 

After six months in Vietnam SPARK stated that Major KELLY paraded him and a few other National Servicemen (draftees) in the CO's office to formally advise the men that: "Due to the change of Government in Australia, the ruling party has decided that draftees like yourselves are required to sign on for a further six months active service in Vietnam - those that refuse to comply with this directive will be returned to Australia immediately and forfeit all rights to repatriation benefits"  SPARK stated that he refused to sign the required documentation and that he was returned to Australia soon after and discharged from the Army. 

SPARK is adamant that his discharge certificate clearly indicates that he has NO overseas "Active Service", and he understands that this is his punishment and a Government cover-up for him not complying with his orders and extending his tour of duty in Vietnam. 

The pension officer asked SPARK if he had been issued with his Vietnam medals and the reply was in the negative - SPARK is insistent that his time in Vietnam will never be recognised.  The pension officer offered to make enquiries to enable a proper service history check to be completed with the possible chance of his being issued his medal entitlement and SPARK agreed to this...........as would any deserving veteran! 

Service checks can take up to three months to complete so the assurance was given that this would occur, in the interim SPARK was given the details of the local Dept of Veterans' Affairs advisory office to attend to complete his application for the Service Pension..... he assured the pensions officer he would comply with making the appointment.  

Some three months later in the normal course of following up his work load, the pensions officer rang SPARK to check on the progress of his application for Service Pension only to have SPARK inform him that DVA had ceased all processing of his claim due to the fact that their investigations had shown SPARK held no veteran status..........in other words he had never left Australia during the Vietnam conflict.

It is obvious that SPARK has committed fraud against the Federal Government by attending their Veteran's Affairs office and completing documentation that is meant only for a veteran - to receive correspondence from DVA advising him he is NOT a Veteran confirms that he attempted to gain financial benefits he knew he had no rights to. 

Further checks and balances show spark was a financial member of the Epping RSL until 2005, he provided his service history as serving in Vietnam with 11 Field Ambulance and 8 Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment........absolute fraud...and falsehoods. 

With fraud against the Government in particular the DVA, a statement made by the Minister of Veteran's Affairs last year regarding a WW2 bogus veteran who has defrauded the system of over $400,000.00 leaned towards Federal Police clamping down on such offenders - it is hoped that justice will be felt by this offender - he has not personally gained financially from his attempt, but made the effort to do so.

ANZMI will not collectively hold our breaths for  charges to be laid and heard against  SPARK...we are attuned to constant inactivity in this arena as our website continually publishes. 

SPARK needs to be humiliated and shamed - firstly for disgracing the roles of the genuine medical orderlies and nurses who saved many lives, and held the hands of the dying in Vietnam.  - and secondly for wasting the valuable time of volunteer pensions officers who give their time and emotional expertise to those deserving veterans in need. 

The final words in this case go to a fitting adage provided to ANZMI this past week: