VIP10 Insider, RSL Art Union

INSIDER JOSH PRATT | AUSTRALIAN ARMY VETERAN

$1.8 MILLION GOLD VIP HEROES DRAW T I C K E T S O N LY $ 5

MEMBERS O N LY

Your membership matters.

Thank you for supporting Australia’s veterans and their families.

NOVEMBER 2019 ART UNION VIP10

MESSAGE FROM OUR

ART UNION CHAIRMAN to manage. This has taken an immense toll on both Josh and his family.

Vic Reading Chairman RSL Art Union

Dear valued VIP member, We are proud to bring you the VIP Heroes Draw, exclusively offering you the chance to win $1.8 million in gold.

The Heroes Draw is part of the $4.26 million worth of extra prizes exclusive to you, our valued VIP member. Could you be our next winner? Keep your phone close on the 24th of December!

You can read about our latest Heroes Draw winner on page 7.

This Heroes Draw is dedicated to Josh Pratt, an Australian Army veteran and father of five. He was diagnosed with a degenerative disc disease that results in debilitating chronic back pain making everyday life difficult 2 2

With the support of RSL and the Townsville Mates4Mates Family Recovery Centre, Josh and his family were able to receive physical, financial and mental support to help with recovery.

Today, Josh and Amanda are strong supporters of the Mates4Mates services and even donate their time by volunteering in the Centre cafĂŠ.

We would also like to take this opportunity to introduce John Strachan (OAM), who will take on the role of the new RSL Art Union Chairman from December 11th. John served 38 years with the Army in the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, as well as the Army Reserve and Defence Force Recruiting. John joined the RSL in 1984 and has served in District and Board executive roles since 2004. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1989.

It is your ongoing support as a VIP member that enables the RSL to provide help to Australia’s veterans and their families.

Thank you again for your support.

We hope you enjoy reading this special edition of the Insider and wish you the best of luck in this exclusive VIP-only draw.

John Strachan (OAM) State Deputy President RSL Queensland

Vic Reading Chairman RSL Art union

VIP HEROES DRAW VIP10 VIP08

VIP04

VIP07

VIP09

JOSH PRATT | AUSTRALIAN ARMY VETERAN

Every year, RSL Art Union rewards its VIP customers with two exclusive lotteries known as the VIP-only Heroes Draws that also help fund national RSL initiatives. Previous draws have helped raise millions of dollars for organisations, such as Mates4Mates, helping to meet the growing demand for their services. This Heroes Draw is dedicated to Josh Pratt and his road to recovery.

VIP08 | Joe Devereux

VIP07 | Ashlea Henley

VIP04 | Pennie Looker

VIP09 | Curtis McGrath

VIP10 | Josh Pratt

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J OS H & H I S W I F E , A M A N DA

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER With the support of RSL and the Townsville Mates4Mates Family Recovery Centre, Josh and his family were able to receive physical, financial and mental support to help with recovery.

Originally from Victoria, Josh Pratt enlisted in infantry in the Australian Army in 2001. Encouraged by his grandfather, who had served in the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force), Josh joined the Defence Force when he was just 17 years old. The Pratt family has a very proud history of service dating all the way back to Josh’s great grandfather, who served 4 4

in Gallipoli. During his time in service, Josh was deployed to Timor-Leste on a United Nations peacekeeping mission. He was medically discharged in 2006 and now lives in Townsville with his wife, Amanda, and their five daughters.

“At the time when I discharged, I didn’t realise how bad my injuries were. And as the years went on, it just

kept getting worse and worse. I’d be popping pills and pills just to get to work. Then the pain was taking a toll on all the kids and the wife because I would get home from work, and I could barely walk.”

By his mid-twenties, Josh’s back pain grew progressively worse. He would come home from work and collapse at the front door, unable to move.

Everyday life became unmanageable and he had to be heavily medicated just to get through the day.

“In terms of normal activities, I couldn’t mow the yard or if I did, I’d then be bedridden for two days.”

After a multitude of costly appointments with several specialists, Josh was finally diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. He had previously dislocated both shoulders, sustained multiple ankle injuries and developed arthritis in his ankles, knees and back. The chronic pain was starting to affect him mentally, and he could no longer work, putting the family under financial pressure.

Josh and Amanda decided to move to Townsville in the hopes that the warmer climate would relieve some of the pain.

advocate, Brett Armstrong, could see the family was also struggling in other areas. He was able to offer financial support to help the family on the road to recovery.

“Support like that from the RSL and Mates4Mates is amazing. I think especially Mates4Mates have had a big impact on us. When you go through financial stress, injuries, mental health whatever it is, there is someone there for everything.”

“I’m still on plenty of medication, however Mates4Mates with Lauren, the exercise physiologist, has been great. She’s given me stretches that I do every day to try and relieve some of the pain. But it won’t go, it’s going to be there forever.”

J OS H & H I S DAU G H T E R S

“Thank you to all the supporters of RSL Art Union. All the funding that goes towards RSL QLD and all the support services helps both veterans and their families. If you need help and you’re an ex-serviceman or woman, you can get assistance if you need it.”

“When we got to Townsville, we had nothing. We were in a hole, both emotionally, financially, mentally. Just everything was down in the gutter.”

A friend of the family had recommended that they contact the Mates4Mates Family Recovery Centre in Townsville, which supports both current and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force, as well as their families. Originally seeking help for physical rehabilitation, RSL QLD

Through Mates4Mates, Josh started to receive both physical and mental support for his chronic back pain.

The Centre also provides services to keep the whole family active, including yoga, after school activities, kids’ boot camps, and even art classes.

“Even though I can’t do a lot of physical activities, it’s more the movement and keeping active that helps with recovery. Keeping a healthy mind helps with the pain as well.”

Through his time with Mates4Mates, Josh has also become aware of other people facing similar challenges and has become a strong supporter of the services. Together with his wife Amanda, Josh is regularly donating his time by volunteering at the Centre café.

“The amount of help down there is phenomenal. All you need to do is ask and you’d be surprised with what they can do.”

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EXCITING NEWS! WE’VE ENHANCED OUR VIP CLUB AND IT’S BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER. VIP CLUB BENEFITS

MEMBERS

Guaranteed entry into all 10 prize home draws

Never miss your chance to win with guaranteed tickets in all ten prize home draws per year.

Two $1.8 million gold VIP draws every year

Access two member-exclusive VIP Heroes Draws a year for a chance to win $1.8M in gold bullion.

Each draw is dedicated to a deserving veteran.

Bonus weekly draws worth $5,000 each

Every week is a chance to win $5,000 cash in the VIP-only $5K Pay Day bonus draw.

Bonus quarterly draws worth $100,000 each

Each quarter is a chance to win $100,000 cash in the VIP-only Quarterly Cash bonus draw.

That’s over $4.26 million in prizes exclusive to VIP Club members!

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All draws subject to State & Territory licensing approval. Terms & conditions apply. Find out more at www.rslartunion.com.au

NONMEMBERS

VIP09 WINNER Noah Simpson*, from Perth WA was the lucky person to receive that life-changing call.

“You’re joking!” he exclaimed as Deborah Pescott, Operations Manager at RSL Art Union delivered the $1.8 million news.

Deborah continued to explain that as a $50 book buyer Noah will also receive an additional $85,000 in gold! “I absolutely can’t believe it.

I never expected to win!” he exclaimed.

When asked how he would spend the money, Noah selflessly explained he would give some winnings to his children to enjoy, possibly donate some to charity and of course buy something special for his wife. *Names changed for privacy reasons.

Keep your phone close on 24 December as it could be you getting the next call!

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SNEAK PEEK Have a look at our exciting upcoming draws!

DRAW 372

$100K QUARTERLY CASH

DRAW 373*

WIN an absolute beachfront apartment + $350,000 gold!

WIN $100,000 cash in the VIP-only bonus draw. It’s part of your $4.26 million VIP-exclusive prizes.

WIN a $2.8 million Hamptons inspired beach house!

$2,355,726

$100,000 CASH

$2,877,857

TOTAL PRIZE VALUE

TOTAL PRIZE VALUE

TOTAL PRIZE VALUE

Draw open 11 December 2019 Drawn 29 January 2020

Drawn on 4 February 2020

Draw open 22 January 2020 Drawn 4 March 2020

Australia 1300 775 847 (1300 RSL VIP) New Zealand 0800 450 970 International +61 7 3088 5878 E: vip@rslartunion.com.au • www.rslartunion.com.au/VIPClub

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BROCVIP10317

VIP Heroes Draw 10 (VIP10L) is conducted by Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) ABN 79 902 601 713 of ANZAC House, 283 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 under QLD Licence No. 29819 and ACT Permit No. R19/00381. Close date: 8pm (AEST) Wed 18/12/19. Draw Date: Public draw 10am (AEST) Wed 24/12/19 at ANZAC House, 283 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006. Promoter: Vic Reading, Locked Bag 4032, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006.

Proceeds are for the purpose of veteran welfare and support in Australia. 1st prize $1,800,000 gold bullion. The maximum number of tickets is 2,250,000. Winners notified by Registered Mail. Results published on Fri 27/12/19 in ‘The Courier Mail’ and ‘The Australian’. Selling costs and market variations apply when selling gold bullion. Some items shown in pictures are for display purposes only. To be entered into VIP Heroes Draw 10, an entrant must be an active VIP member as at 12.01am (AEST) on draw open date (20/11/19), have a valid entry in VIP10 and be 18 years of age or over. Sales agents have been appointed by RSL Art Union for the sale of VIP memberships, which they may receive a commission-based contribution between 0.1% and 4.7% of the total gross proceeds from each art union draw, depending on the sales agent, as amended from time to time. Draw 372L QLD licence No. 29819, ACT Permit No. R19/00395, VIC Permit No. 10646/19, NSW Permit No. GOCAU/2218, SA Permit No. M13766. Close date: 11.59pm (AEST) 21/01/20. Draw Date: Public draw 10am (AEST) 29/01/20 at ANZAC House. Information is correct at time of printing. Terms and Conditions apply. Please refer to our website for up to date details, and Terms and Conditions at www.rslartunion.com.au. *Subject to State & Territory licensing approval