The Capture of the MV Rostock
The Trust’s story starts when a RAAF Sunderland Flying Boat from No 10 Squadron stationed in England was instrumental in the capture on the high seas of the German ship MV Rostock.
Allocation of Funds
In December 1945, the United Kingdom government announced the allocation of monies from the sale of the Rostock. No decision was made on the RAAF’s share – valued at £229,000 or $AU458,000 – until June 1st, 1949 when the then Prime Minister, Ben Chifley announced the RAAF’s share would be allotted to a special trust for ‘… a purpose of benefit to personnel who served in the war’.
Formation of the Trust
From 1949 to 1953 the Commonwealth Parliament debated the specifics of this special trust with Billy McMahon, in his capacity as Minister on Air, introducing an Act to the Parliament in November 1953. The act, titled the Royal Australian Air Force Veterans’ Residences Act, was given Royal Assent on December 12th, 1953. The newly-created Trust was then intending to be self-funded.
First Trust Meeting
The first meeting of the Trust was held with the first Chair being someone well known to most Air Force veterans, Air Marshal (Retd) Richard Williams commonly referred to as ‘Father of the RAAF’.
Ongoing Legacy
The RAAF Veterans’ Residences Trust provides residences in the form of one and two-bedroom apartments for former members of the Air Force and members of other Services and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless with safe, affordable accommodation.
Over the years, this has been invested to acquire 75 residences throughout Australia. They are located in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart.