True Blue History - Gwen Cherne

Gwen Cherne was appointed as the inaugural Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner on the Repatriation Commission in August 2020. The following year in March, Gwen was selected as a member of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. Gwen is committed to representing the perspectives of veteran families in ongoing policy and decision-making across Government. As a single mother with two young children at home, and having tragically lost her husband to suicide, Gwen is acutely aware of many of the challenges that Defence families face. “I am proud to be the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner and to be charged with ensuring the voice of veterans’ families are heard,’ Gwen says. “As the widow and mother of veterans I am very passionate about this work and the important role that families play in Australia’s veteran support system. There is so much we can, and should, learn from families and I will make sure we do.”   Presenter: Adam Blum Guest: Gwen Cherne Editor: Kyle Watkins Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike