 Poppy
Day is Friday 24 April — Your way to remember
27
March 2009
2009 Poppy Day Appeal
Our annual Poppy Appeal is the RSA’s major fundraising campaign
allowing us to continue the work that means so much to the thousands of
veterans and their families who require assistance from the RSA.
The RSA requires in excess of $2 million to carry out its welfare work.
This includes the provision of glasses, hearing aids and essential dental
work, specialist medical appointments as well as private surgery that
is either not available through the public system or only possible after
a long period on a waiting list. RSA welfare officers transport frail
veterans to and from hospitals for treatment, visit those domiciled in
veterans’ rest homes and hospitals and provide residents with those
little extra comforts that make life that little bit better. Emergency
financial assistance is available where essential need extends beyond
the limitations of government and other community support.
In short, the RSA helps people of all ages, providing financial, social
and emotional help to all those who have been affected by conflict. Beneficiaries
range from children to widows, from single mothers to pensioners, in fact
anyone who finds themselves in need. Recipients need not be members of
an RSA to benefit from Poppy Day Appeal assistance, but must be veterans
or their dependants in need.
Donations made to the Poppy Day Appeal are used to support RSA welfare
services for veterans in the locality in which the funds are raised –
it is a local appeal conducted nationwide.
Some 200,000 people – that’s one in twenty of the New Zealand
population – are eligible to approach us for help.
The 2009 Poppy Appeal campaign highlights the following stark facts about
those in need of assistance from the RSA:
- Over 15,000 veterans with a disability, and receiving War Disablement
Pensions; plus many more who have not made those applications.
- Many veterans without visitors, in rest homes and retirement villages
or in their own homes.
Families who need our support.
- Over 5,000 War Widows who are receiving the Surviving Spouse Pension,
and others who have not made those applications.
- Many new veterans are being made every year with current New Zealand
Defence Force deployments in many parts of the world. With a large proportion
of the personnel under 30, the RSA’s role of safeguarding the
welfare and interests of serving and ex-service people will be needed
for many years to come.
The New Zealand-made RSA Poppy is a national icon, recognising the RSA’s
endeavours to care for war veterans as well as remember those who never
returned from war.
“The RSA is most grateful for the public’s support of the
Poppy Appeal,” said RSA National President Robin Klitscher. “The
Poppy provides the means for every New Zealander to remember on ANZAC
Day and at the same time to support our veterans and their families all
year round”.
Poppy
Day is Friday 24 April — Your way to remember
For more information please contact:
Dr Stephen Clarke
Public Relations Officer
04 384 7994
stephenc@rnzrsa.org.nz
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