Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Minister for Indigenous Health
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of Anzac.
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Paul Henderson, today joined students from Larrakeyah Primary school to pack care packages to send to deployed troops for Anzac day.
Mr Snowdon said Defence has established a dedicated postal address to enable Australians to send Anzac Day care packages to our personnel serving on overseas operations.
“Care packages can now be sent through Australia Post at no cost, as long as the parcels don’t exceed two kilograms. I’m encouraging all Australian’s to show their support for Defence personnel who have been deployed on overseas operations in the lead up to Anzac Day.
“I’m sure that our soldiers, sailors and airmen will be heartened to receive a small package and know that complete strangers, as well as family and friends, back home are thinking of them on this significant day.
Mr Henderson said Anzac Day, on the 25th of April, is an important date for all Australians.
“It’s important to remember those currently serving overseas on the day the nation honours all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in present and past conflicts.
“Putting an Anzac care package with items such as Anzac biscuits, dried fruit, muesli bars, lollies, books, magazines and DVDs, is a simple and supportive way to acknowledge the work that’s being done by our troops.”
The postal addresses are active until 15 April 2011, and packages will be distributed throughout the appropriate operational areas.
Information about the Anzac Day care packages can be found on the Defence website,http://www.defence.gov.au/anzacday/mail/service.htm
Alternatively, donations can be made to the RSL Australian Forces Overseas Fund (AFOF), which provides packages twice a year to Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police and AusAID personnel serving overseas.
Further information about the AFOF is available on the RSL web site, http://www.rsl.org.au
Media contact:
Alice Plate (Snowdon) 0400 045 999
Lidija Ivanovski (Henderson) 0457 933 856
