Christmas is fast approaching and with more than 2,200 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed overseas on operations Australians are being asked to spare a thought for our troops who won’t be able to spend Christmas with their families and friends.

The best and most effective way to show support is to send an email message to the troops at supportthetroops@defence.gov.au. These messages are always appreciated by ADF personnel and sending a message that simply says ‘thank you for your service’ can have a tremendous positive impact.

I also encourage members of the community to consider donating to ex-service organisations such as the RSL, Legacy and Soldier On in recognition of the increasing numbers of recently returned veterans. These organisations provide phenomenal support to our ADF personnel, past and present, and their families.

For those who wish to send a care package, the Australian Forces Post Office box address below will be open until 8 December 2014.

 

An Australian Defence Member

AFPO 60

Australian Defence Force NSW 2890

 

Those who wish to send a care package but are short on time may like to consider donating money to the RSL’s Australian Forces Overseas Fund. The RSL provides care packages to Australian troops as well as Australian Federal Police personnel biannually.

I urge all Australians to dig deep and support our serving men and women and their families this Christmas.

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The Australian Government is providing additional opportunities in the 2014/15 financial year for community organisations, environment groups and local councils to apply for Green Army projects. Applications are now open.

Projects must run for 20-26 weeks and may be carried out across urban, regional and remote Australia on public land, Indigenous-held lands, or private land where there is a clear community and environmental and heritage benefit.

The Government is looking for environment and conservation projects that will make a real difference to the environment and our local community, while providing meaningful training and skills to young people.

Green Army projects may involve restoring and protecting native habitat, weeding, revegetation, cleaning up waterways, creeks and rivers, fencing, gully remediation, preventing erosion, protecting and conserving heritage places and values, or monitoring and surveying on Indigenous and non-Indigenous lands.

Applications for projects under this second round of the Programme are now open and will close on Tuesday 9 December 2014 at 2:00pm AEDT. To be eligible, projects must be ready to commence between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2015.

Project guidelines for Round 2 and more information on the Green Army Programme is available at: www.environment.gov.au/green-army 

With several Green Army Projects already underway from Round 1, I encourage community members to consider how a Green Army Project could benefit their town and environment.