An Anzac reflection

It was an evening of memories when, just four days before his 93rd birthday, RDNS took Bert Stobart, OAM to the Shrine of Remembrance for a pre-Anzac Day reflection.

As he stared into the Eternal Flame, the former tail gunner spoke to RDNS case manager Megan Spencer about his experiences as a 22-year-old RAAF pilot warrant officer, attached to Bomber Command during World War II, flying sorties over Europe and dropping bombs on strategic German positions.

He also recalled Stalag Luft IV-B, just outside Mühlberg, which was one of the largest prisoner of war camps in Germany and where he spent 18 months.

After the war, Mr Stobart married Noel, his sweetheart from high school, in the 1930s and joined a fledgling airline that was to become known as TAA. He remained there in management until he retired at 65, enjoying an active family life and being second in command to Bruce Ruxton as deputy national president of the RSL. He was president of the Elwood (Melbourne) branch of the RSL and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1988 for service to the welfare of veterans and to community welfare.

Today Mr Stobart receives an RDNS Home Care package, which enables him to stay at home and takes the pressure off his main care support, his daughter Pam, a full time teacher in country Victoria. Noel is in residential aged care, and RDNS takes him to visit her most days of the week.

In the case management role, Ms Spencer, who is also an occupational therapist, facilitates the provision of various types of supports to enable Mr Stobart to live at home. These often include regular visits by  care workers and the case manager, home care, transport to his medical appointments if required, transport to see Noel, carer support and supervision and organisation of meals.

Mr Stobart is determined to remain in the home that he and his family have lived in for 65 years. He admits he probably could not do this without RDNS.

“It is often very humbling and heart-warming to hear the life experiences of some of the people we work with, such as those who have risked their lives during war times, those who struggle with chronic health conditions and those who have very poor support living in their home and community,” said Ms Spencer.

As well as providing aged care for more than 40,000 clients every year, RDNS looks after more than 6,500 veterans around Australia through its many programs.

Photographs by Jerry Galea