Army nurse Margaret Ahern ‘dishonoured’ in Department of Veterans’ Affairs bungle

The family of an Australian Army nurse who served in Vietnam say her memory has been dishonoured after bungles by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs following her death.

The family of a revered Australian Army nurse who served during the Vietnam War say her memory has been dishonoured after bungles by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs following her death.

Lieutenant Margaret Ahern was a member of the first cohort of Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps, dubbed “the Fab Four”, to serve in Vietnam, arriving in May 1966.

When she died on July 27 this year after being discharged as a Major, her family notified the Department of Veteran Affairs and began the bereavement process.

They were told their mother’s estate would receive as well as the making and installation of a headstone next to her late husband – both of which were bungled.

Major Ahern’s son, who asked not to be named, told The Courier-Mail a DVA spokeswoman was “very specific” about the amount the estate would receive.

“The initial information they provided was incorrect,” he said.

Major Margaret Ahern was a member of the first cohort of Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps. Picture: Supplied

“I was notified by mail, mum received only 15 per cent of what DVA originally pledged.”

When he questioned the mistake, he was told by the department’s assistant director that there was no recourse for getting the original misquoted amount due to legislative reasons, but that the team would be retrained.

Major Ahern’s children were devastated, the experience placing additional stress on them as they mourned their mother.

The family was also told by the department’s Office of Australian War Graves that a headstone for Major Ahern would be made and placed next to their late father’s.

This became yet another unfulfilled promise, with Major Ahern’s son later told a headstone could not be made for a marked grave.

“They said, however, I could do it myself at my own cost. I told them this was contrary to the previous advice given and they would not budge,” he said.

Then Lieutenant Margaret Ahern with a Vietnamese child. Picture: Australian War Memorial

Major Ahern became the centrepiece of a war public relations exercise when an image of her holding a Vietnamese child was widely circulated among Australian newspapers at the time of the conflict.

The photograph captured by Barrie Gillman became so renowned, it was later etched into the Australian Service Nurses National Memorial.

It was also recently used on an official Federal government endorsed poster commemorating last month’s 50th anniversary of Australia’s end in the Vietnam War.

“It is abhorrent for DVA to use Mum’s image to celebrate Vietnam, only to dishonour her memory through defective management of these cases,” Major Ahern’s son said.

“She was celebrated and then defiled through this.

“My sisters and I would accept the information we were told if it was correct in the first place, but the information was given to us without being checked for accuracy.

The poster commemorating the Vietnam War featuring the photo of Lieutenant Margaret Ahern.

“I don’t want to put any veterans above others because they’ve all done their part, but to use her photo and stuff her over, it’s having your cake and eating it too.”

Major Ahern’s son is now speaking out in the hope that it prevents a repeat experience for other veteran’s families – particularly those who may be mentally suffering.

“Veterans are 10 times more likely to die by their own hand than killed in combat,” he said.

“I think the Australian public deserves to know that at a time of a royal commission into suicides by Defence members, DVA are still causing preventable struggles to the lives of Veterans and their families.”

The DVA extended its sympathies to Major Ahern’s family, saying the payment mistake was a human error.

“She was a remarkable Australian,” a DVA spokesman said.

The “Fab Four” – Lieutenant Colleen Mealy (second from right) with, from left, Lieutenant Margaret Ahern, Captain Amy Pittendreigh and Lieutenant Terrie Roche, watch 2 RAR leave on a heliborn assault.

“The department strives to provide accurate information to all callers.

“Regrettably, mistakes caused by human error do occur on occasion.

“Should DVA become aware that a client has received incorrect information, we will work to resolve this as quickly as possible through direct contact with the client to provide the correct information.

“The government is undertaking a process of simplifying and harmonising veteran compensation legislation, to provide greater clarity and consistency around entitlements for veterans and their families.”

Major Ahern returned to Australia in May 1968 and was posted to Australia’s 1st Military Hospital in Yeronga, Brisbane.

She later served in Papua New Guinea, returning to Australia in February 1972, before being discharged in April, working at the Brisbane military hospital and later at Redcliffe Hospital.