ROBE may feature on the itinerary of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first official tour of Australia after an invite from federal MP Tony Pasin has been formally acknowledged by a senior operational member of the British royal house.
The federal MP wrote to Prince Harry earlier this year to extend an invitation to meet with the veteran respite service – Robe to Recovery – to “see firsthand the benefits this fantastic program is providing to our veteran community”.
The letter has attracted a response from Prince Harry’s assistant private secretary.
Mr Pasin said the royal response requests his letter be “kept on file” should an opportunity arise.
Earlier this week, Kensington Palace announced the royal newlyweds would travel to Australia and three other countries as part of a royal seven-day tour planned to coincide with the 2018 Invictus Games, held in Sydney in October.
Mr Pasin’s letter, written in March, notes the ex-serviceman’s attendance to the international adaptive multi-sport event in which wounded, injured or sick armed service personnel and associated veterans participate in sports.
The correspondence, written on behalf of Robe to Recovery founder and respite coordinator Jacqui Bateman, also included an overview of the veteran respite program and a testimonial from a veteran who recently participated in the program.
“Robe to Recovery is a proven and successful community-based program that provides the opportunity for veterans, their partners and families to spend quality time together in a beach-side holiday location away from the pressures and stress of their day to day challenges,” Mr Pasin wrote.
“In 2017, Robe to Recovery hosted 12 veterans, their partners and families for short respite stays and there are plans to increase this number in 2018.
“As patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, I have no doubt you are fully aware of the support required for veterans returning from armed conflicts around the world and I commend this local innovative program to you.”
Ms Bateman said she was excited by the prospect of the royal visit, saying it would catapult the community-based initiative into the global spotlight.
“If Prince Harry did come to Robe, it would be great publicity for the initiative,” she said.
“We would love it if the program went national as there are a lot of little holiday towns like Robe that could help returned veterans and their families.”
Ms Bateman said she would support Mr Pasin’s bid to get the newlyweds in the region and was planning to write a further letter outlining the Robe to Recovery program.
Mr Pasin will again extend an invitation to the royals ahead of the October tour.
