The Oasis Townsville opens to the community

A new, fit-for-purpose hub has opened to help Townsville’s veterans find the support they need.

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A NEW, fit-for-purpose hub has opened to help Townsville’s veterans find the support they need.

The Oasis Townsville, which was officially opened yesterday, will give local veterans and their families a clear pathway to transition to civilian life.

The joint federal and state-funded facility has been operational for just a few days.

Federal Herbert MP and veteran Phillip Thompson said when he transitioned to civilian life, there was little help available.

“I fell into a big black hole, there wasn’t any support there,” Mr Thompson said.

“Friends of mine have done the same didn’t come out of that black hole and many of them have died by suicide.

“Having something like this that links in with the bridge, links in with the veteran services organisations and the families, which is integral. It’s something that will be lifesaving.”

Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper, Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Mundingburra MP Les Walker, John Caligari, Mayor Jenny Hill and former Mundingburra MP Coralee O'Rourke. Picture: Philip Calder

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said her government had “proudly supported” this development.

“This site is incredibly significant in Townsville’s military history used as a Staging Camp during World War II before deployment and also the place many veterans transitioned out of the ADF after their return from operations in PNG,” she said.

Lieutenant General-retired and Oasis Townsville chairman John Caligari said 20 per cent of Townsville’s population was veteran community.

“With a large service community, trying to get an arrangement where we can help each other is relatively difficult, particularly in an area that is so spread out and has such a large number of organisations that support the veteran community,” he said.

“This is about co-ordinating a single point of entry for everyone, particularly those exiting the ADF now.”

LT GEN Caligari said the next step was ensuring everyone knew where the new site was, in the Village at Oonoonba, and reaching out to people who may have become disaffected from the veteran community. 

Originally published as The Oasis Townsville opens to the community