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Here is the list of Pharmacy Medications available to Gold Card Veterans – but when you visit you doctor, make sure you take the list with you as he / she may not be aware of all these medications being available to Veterans under the RPBS scheme; if you should have any problems ask your doctor to contact DVA Pharmacy approvals on 1800 522 580 for an authority.

Pharmacy Medication List
as of 01 January 2018
(The following is a list of products, that are available on a Doctors prescription, for Gold Card Repatriation Patients)

Skin Care:
Sorbolene and Glycerine Cream, Calmurid Cream, Pinetarsol Solution, Hamilton Skin Therapy Wash, QV Bath Oil,
QV Cream — (DVA Authority required)

Hair Care:
Sebitar Shampoo, Sebi Rinse Conditioner, Selsun Nizoral Shampoo — (DVA Authority required)

Sun Care:
15+ Cream, Lotion, and Solarstick, Ego Sun Sense 50+, Aquasun

Oral Hygiene:
Savacol Aquae Spray for Dry mouth

Allergies:
Telfast, Claratyne, Zyrtec, Phenergan, Drixine Nasal Spray, Beconase Nasal Spray, Rhinocort Nasal Spray, Sudafed, Demazin Tablets

Cough Mixtures:
Senagar & Ammonia, Durotuss

Fibre Supplements & Laxatives:
Nucolox, Normacol, Metamucil, Coloxyl with Senna, Senokot, Movicol powder sachets, Glycerine Suppositories

Dressings:
Micropore Tape, Cutilfilm Plus Waterproof Dressings, Melolin Dressings, Handy Bandages, Cotton Wool, Betadine, Antiseptic, Solugels, Barrier Creams, Disposable Gloves, Prantal Powder, Bactroban Cream or Ointment

Antifungal Agents:
Lamasil cream, Canesten cream, Loceryl Nail Paint, Hydrozole cream — (DVA Authority required)

Haemorroidal Treatments:
Proctocedyl Ointment — (DVA Authority required) Suppositories, Anusol

Ear Preparations:
Ear Clear for Wax, Waxsol, Ceromol Ear Drops

Eye Drops:
Ircal Eye Ointment, Refresh Tears Plus 15ml

Vitamins & Minerals:
Calcium sup Tablets, (Caltrate), Vitamin B1 (Betamin), Magnesium Tablets (Mag-MIn), Accomin Liquid Tonic, Oste Vit-D — (Vitamin D) — (DVA Authority required)
Multivitamins — (DVA Authority required)

Joint Pain & Arthritis:
Metsal Cream or Liniment, Arthro-Aid (Glucosamine) Osteomol 665 Paracetamol (replaces Panadol Osteo Tablets) Voltaren Emulgel — (DVA Authority required) Fish Oil Capsules 1000mg — (DVA Authority required)

Sexual Health:
Viagara, Cialis, Caverject

Pain:
Asprins – Cartia, Astrix Capsules, Cardiprin, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Panamax Co, Panadeine Forte

Weight Loss:
Optifast, Xenical

Various:
Nicorette Patches (Quit Smoking), Vermox, Imodium, Gastro-Stop, Ural Sachets (Urinary Alkalinizer)

*NOTE:
Always check with your GP, as this list changes from time to time. (You could have been paying full price for any of these items without realising you could have them on a prescription, thereby reaching the Safety Net sooner.  Once you reach the Safety Net your prescriptions are free.)

Some Pharmacies are charging discounted scripts.  Be aware; if you take the discounted price, you will reach the Safety Net much later.

THE Oxford Dictionary describes a pedant as “one who insists on strict adherence to formal rules”.

The ADF takes pedantry seriously, with formal officer training at command and staff colleges, and more informal discussions, most usually in sergeants’ messes during Friday happy hour drinks.

Since pedantry has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, particularly among the Fort Zinderneuf senior command, such training may have lost its relevance.

The concurrent resurgence in military teetotalitarianism has forced senior NCO pedantry training to go clandestine.

CLICK LINK to continue reading

Military pedants have much on their plate | Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

In recent developments, South Israel experienced a tragic incident which has sparked international debate. This event, orchestrated by Hamas, has intensified the tensions between the militant group and the Israeli government. Some suggest that the motive behind such acts is to push Israel to the brink of war.

One of the most disturbing reports from this event is the account of a pregnant woman and her unborn child being brutally killed by beheading. These kinds of incidents provoke strong emotions globally and raise questions about humanity, politics, and the ethical considerations surrounding the conflict.

Globally, reactions to this event have varied. Some segments of the Australian left, as well as other international groups, appear to downplay or excuse the severity of the incident, while others condemn it vehemently. Such divergent reactions underscore the polarized views surrounding the Israel-Palestine issue.

Australian Prime Minister Albanese, known for his strong support of Palestine throughout his political career, has given what some describe as a lukewarm condemnation of the incident. His responses are closely watched and critiqued by both supporters and detractors. In the backdrop of these tensions, there are Australians facing economic hardships, and critics argue that domestic issues should be prioritized.

It’s also noteworthy that many world leaders have met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss this and other matters. However, PM Albanese’s interactions with Netanyahu seem limited. Leaders from Germany, Britain, the USA, France, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Italy, and Latvia, as well as representatives from the European Union, have reportedly met with Netanyahu. Yet, there’s no confirmed meeting between Albanese and the Israeli leader.

PM Albanese’s frequent international visits, often referred to with the moniker ‘AirBus ALBO’ by some, have raised eyebrows given the absence of a trip to Israel since his election. The reason for this remains a topic of speculation among political commentators.

In conclusion, the incident in South Israel and the ensuing global reactions serve as a grim reminder of the complexities of the Middle East conflict. With the world watching, leaders and nations grapple with their positions, trying to balance diplomacy with moral responsibility.

The following arrived in my inbox this morning from a network member. To be honest I didn’t have the time to view it all but thought it might be of some interest to some of you.

Ten things we learned about national security this week (mailchi.mp)

They’re not happy in Gaza ..
They’re not happy in Egypt ..
They’re not happy in Libya ..
They’re not happy in Morocco ..
They’re not happy in Iran ..
They’re not happy in Iraq ..
They’re not happy in Yemen …
They’re not happy in Afghanistan …
They’re not happy in Pakistan ..
They’re not happy in Syria ..
They’re not happy in Lebanon ….

By Ernie Chamberlain

“Australian official history accounts of the Battle of Bình Ba in early June 1969 omit that – apart from occupying the village of Binh Ba on Route 2 north of the 1 ATF Núi Đất base, the communist forces (ie 33rd NVA Regiment, D440 Local Force Battalion), planned to ambush the expected 1 ATF relief force as it moved north up Route 2 to Bình Ba.

According to a 33rd Regiment history monograph, the initial plan was for the “33rd Regiment to conduct an ambush battle on Australian forces lured north from their Núi Đất base – in the area of Route 2 from the Sông Cầu hamlet up to Đức Mỹ hamlet”.

Several Vietnamese accounts relate however that their planned ambush was not initiated ie: as the Australian relief force was “spread out in groups of two-and-three vehicles and did not fall into the Regiment’s ambush – so the (33rd NVA) Regiment’s tactical headquarters decided not to attack.” … and: “At 6am on 6 June 1969 – just as we had planned, the Australian forces from Núi Đất sent their tanks north to relieve Bình Ba. However, as the enemy was spread out in groups of two-and-three vehicles, and did not fall into the Regiment’s ambush formation, the headquarters of the Regiment decided not to initiate the ambush attack.” And: ““the Australians did not enter our ambush formation as planned.”
During a briefing at the 33rd NVA Regiment’s 50th Anniversary reunion in Hanoi in 2019, the Battle of Bình Ba was depicted on a “mounted” marked map – that also noted the site of the “un-initiated/”unsprung” Route 2 ambush.

A few years ago, I acquired a colour photograph of a 33rd NVA Regiment veteran – Hoàng Đình Chiến, giving a briefing off that map to fellow NVA veterans in Hanoi on the 33rd Regiment’s special ambush planned to destroy 5RAR south of Bình Ba. Chiến was purportedly the last living of the NVA combatants at that Battle.”

Regards, Ernie

[email protected]

ED: From my inbox.

Dear Andrew Hastie,

I watched your segment on the Bolt Report where you discussed the possible causes for the major shortfall to recruiting targets.

What was missing from your argument, whether inadvertently or deliberately was the “Wokeness” direction in which our military is being driven.

You did allude to the fact that recruits might be too far from home and thus disinclined to join.

You didn’t mention the progressive reduction in entry standards applied to new recruits especially women, nor the disparity in the qualifying period.

You didn’t address the pursuit of the LGBTIA agenda (fingernails, high heeled shoes and rainbow military badges) that seem to take centre stage.

You didn’t mention the requirement for a significant proportion of ADF food to be “Halal” certified to comply with and appease a minority group.

You didn’t talk to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion quota being imposed at the expense of the Masculine Anglo-Saxon majority from which you historically recruited.

But worst of all you didn’t refute the current Tall Poppy syndrome that seeks to denigrate the very essence for which the ADF once stood.

To the contrary you failed to stand up for the courageous men like Ben Robert Smith and Heston Russell and many others who put their lives on the line for Australia.

Instead, you allowed the court of public opinion lead by the MSM to smear them.

Instead of obfuscating Andrew – Address the real issues – lest you be remembered as the unworthy successor to Stephen Smith who started the ADF demise.

ED: Feel free to add your comments.