Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last Wednesday, 4 September, I attended the formal presentation at the Tea Tree Gully RSL sub-branch of the RSL Anzac of the Year 2019 award to Jeffrey Yates OAM. The citation in support of his nomination read, in part:

Jeffrey Wayne Yates served in the Australian Defence Force as a Signals Officer for more than 21 years. He saw operational service in Cambodia in 1993, where his unit was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation. In the Australia Day Honours of 1990, he was awarded an Order of Australia.

Throughout his years of service, he was a mentor to hundreds of soldiers and officers across a wide range of regimental postings. That experience would hold him in good stead for retirement. During his service life, he recognised that soldiers broken in service were looking for help in seeking compensation for injuries sustained during that service. That led to his commitment to help them, and the best way he could do that was to become an advocate.

During his time as an advocate he has worked tirelessly helping hundreds of service and ex-service personnel, submitting claims on their behalf, as well as working for those seeking war widow status. He represents them at the Veterans' Review Board and gives advice and assistance to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Jeffrey Yates is a worthy recipient of the 2019 Anzac of the Year award. I congratulate him on his well-deserved recognition and I thank him for his service.

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