Trust set up for fallen soldiers' families

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Trust set up for fallen soldiers' families

3News NZ

There has now been good news, coming out of something very sad – a trust set up to help the families of New Zealand Defence Force personnel, killed in the line of duty in recent years – from Private Leonard Manning, killed in East Timor in 2000, through to the three soldiers killed in Bamiyan last month.

In fact, 10 New Zealanders have been killed in Afghanistan:

Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker
Private Richard Harris
Corporal Luke Tamatea
Lance Corporal Prayli Dura
Lance Corporal Rory Malone
Private Kirifi Mila
SAS Corporal Doug Grant
SAS Lance Corporal Leon Smith
Corporal Douglas Hughes
Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell

All of them left loved ones behind – parents, siblings, friends, partners, children – some had them all.

The Fallen Heroes Trust, announced today, aims to take care of their partners and children, because they no longer can. It will help families like that of Corporal Luke Tamatea, who John Campbell went to visit in Kawerau today.

If you would like to donate, the account for the Fall Heroes Trust is Westpac 03-0584-0281562-00.

Watch the video for the full report.

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Comments

18/09/2012 11:17:51 a.m.

Aroha wrote:

The Govt should help the families of the fallen soldiers and hopefully they are doing just that. We are not USA we are NZ, peaceful, I always thought my boys should join the war until i realized, why should they fight someone elses war? John keys needs to step up and help our fallen heroes families, the govt can give to the sports heros, why not the real heros who died to defend John keys, and his stupid decisions, we have a stupid govt!! Arohamai to all the families who have lost their loved one.

16/09/2012 8:44:25 p.m.

Joanie M wrote:

When seeing these little girls with heavy hearts and many questions it is hard to forgive the War-shirking - War mongers who think up these insane campaigns. I'll be giving and encourage others to. Fathers wake up!

13/09/2012 4:18:19 p.m.

RolanTheRat wrote:

Got that right Ruth anyfool can shoot her mouth off.

13/09/2012 11:02:41 a.m.

Suzy wrote:

I will definitely be dontating to the fund and encourage others to do the same. Lets get behind this New Zealand, in the same way, we got behind our fallen Miners/Contractors at the Pike River Mine. This video really touched my heart and I want to do my bit to help here. RIP NZ's fallen heroes.

13/09/2012 9:41:47 a.m.

Ruth wrote:

To Rolandtherat and Claire Reid. It is a bit of a low blow to speak ill of the dead and obviously very hurtful for their grieving families. Yes it is part of a soldiers job to go to war , they and their families accept that. Nonetheless what a huge price they have to pay when this happens. Nz troops are there as part of the NATO alliance. .they are trying to establish a non taleban rule. . I guess nothing they do there is affecting you directly so its easy for you to sit and comment from the safety of your comfortable existence.. . After all it is miles and miles away. But spare a thought and some empathy for their families who now have to pick up the pieces. .long after the media have had their day with it. .life still has to go on for them and they must be devastated. you are under no obligation to contribute to the fallen heroes fund. .only those who care will do so. by the same token you really ought to keep your uncharitable mean spirited opinions to yourselves lest you hurt someone who is not really in a position to defend themselves. the ability to be able to speak freely is all well and good. . we are lucky to have that luxury in Nz ,but it should be tempered with common sense and consideration. Any fool can shoot their mouth off. just spare a thought for those left behind.

13/09/2012 8:03:53 a.m.

Kristy Hill wrote:

Thank you for setting up the Fallen Heroes Trust to support the families and injured personnel from the New Zealand Defence Force. It is fantastic that Help for Heroes (H4H) from the U.K has contributed to the Fallen Heroes Trust. I have done a lot of charity work for H4H and I am and will be doing the same for the Fallen Heroes Trust.

12/09/2012 5:51:28 p.m.

Clare Reid wrote:

I have great sympathy for the families of the soldiers who have been killed in Afganistan, however I think we are loosing sight of the fact that they were there as part of their job. We as a country are not at war. If you have a job where you find it acceptable to kill others surely you should expect that you might be killed by those you are trying to outwit. I would expect the Army to have robust support schemes for the familys of its killed soldiers. Usually a person who loses their life in an ordinary work place accident does not have the luxury of TV coverage and the sympathy evoked by this. Are we going a bit over the top here?

11/09/2012 10:13:03 p.m.

Denise Andersen wrote:

RIP fallen ones Arohanui to the whanaus, This week is International suicide prevention week. Let us also remember our Fallen personnel who have died this way Lest we Forget.

11/09/2012 9:38:22 p.m.

Emma wrote:

@ROLANTHERAT Every Soldier who gets deployed has to have a will, so im sure he would have left everything to his girls, and yes the government will be helping them out but not forever, you do sound selfish, if you cant say something comforting or supportive in this situation dont say anything at all!!! i think its great people want to help. i have my own family to raise but have done my bit to help and support these girls, as every little bit helps. RIP Tama, you can rest easy knowing your girls will be looked after xox

11/09/2012 8:53:17 p.m.

katrina wrote:

Carla, how generous of you, I think they were Kawerau.