Pater Patriae to Pro Patria

Father of the Fatherland to Fighting for the Fatherland

What does a brutal war machine from the ancient Roman Empire have to do with a Wellness Centre for veterans and first responders in an Australian regional city in 2023 AD?

Rome’s first Emperor, Augustus, established a military treasury for veterans in addition to the fixed system of salaries and bonuses based upon rank, length of service and retirement rewards.

Right now, there is a project being birthed in the regional city of Wagga Wagga designed to deliver a multi-dimensional system of care for Australia’s veterans and first responders.

So, back to the question of what does a brutal war machine from the ancient Roman Republic have to do with a Wellness Centre in an Australian regional city in 2023 AD?

Just one thing - obligation by government to adequately provide for those who put themselves in harm’s way in the name of their country, in defence of and assistance to the citizens.

Government has a moral duty to look after our veterans and first responders. Grant it, moral duty may not be the right term to apply to the brutal Roman army given the aim was to provide for those who would pledge loyalty to their general in times of conflict.

However, it remains an obligation. Particularly as it relates to mental health.

And that moral obligation extends to all Australians who are the beneficiaries of the risks these people have taken and continue to take on our behalf.

Put aside your opinions on war and focus on the commitment our government owes the people who go to defend our way of life, and who save lives in our communities.

Heaven knows our first responders not only face gruesome scenes that most of us would not be able to cope with, but they are more frequently having to deal with violence inflicted by those who they try to save.

Our society is not the peaceful one we so often like to think it is. Much goes under the radar, perhaps in part because those in charge treat us like petals, too delicate to digest the harsh reality of the world.

Dr Ted Cassidy, of Monarch Mental Health Group, credits our veterans and first responders as a select group of our most resilient citizens, who are then exposed to supernormal levels of trauma.

They are not weak; they are strong.

If they break because of our government’s directives, then they must be cared for.

I’m not suggesting the establishment of an Augustan military treasury, because the Department of Veterans Affairs is the responsible outfit to help those who help us, through the taxes we pay.

But it remains to be asked that if Julie-Ann Finney, along with many other vocal proponents for a Royal Commission into veteran suicide, had not led the way for a Commission to be held, where would we be now?

Federal Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, has urged the Albanese government to recommit the $5 million previously committed by the Coalition government toward establishing the Wellness Centre in Wagga Wagga, after it was taken off the table following the 2022 Federal election win.

McCormack says that ‘It just makes sense to have a well-being centre in Wagga Wagga when $960 million is being invested into the city’s Defence facilities through the Defence White Paper and the region already playing a significant role in our nation’s Defence programs.’

Indeed. Who could possibly argue with $5 million out of an almost $1 billion going to the worthiest of causes as helping our veterans and first responders regain some of that lost resilience.

I urge everyone to support the Pro Patria project.

It may be your son, daughter, brother, sister, or friend who one day will stand up to protect our democracy and our citizenry.

https://www.propatria.com.au/

https://propatriatrust.org/

Finally, in the spirit of historical significance, we perhaps might bear one thing in mind – our service men and women, at the very least, have their memory recorded via grave markings and/or etched on plaques at the War Memorial.

Those poor souls of the ancient world will remain forever unknown.