By Tanya Steele
Outer East Melbourne assembled for their esteemed veterans at the weekend, honouring the Vietnam veterans in a moving ceremony at the Arboretum War Memorial in Ferntree Gully.
The sound of pipes heralded the arrival of veterans on the march as a community gathered to mark and honour their veterans on the anniversary of Long Tan on Sunday 18 August.
“Welcome all to this very distinguished day,” said Allan Small, Chair of the Committee for the Veteran’s event this year and President of the Outer Eastern Melbourne Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA OEM).
“The 18th day of August has been for many years and is accepted as our day to remember and meet with mates, reflect on memories and absent mates, and as a collective, perhaps, to try and enjoy our life’s foibles – whatever our circumstances tend to be,” he said.
“Some 58 years previously, on this very day, the actions of Long Tan unfolded – likely the most trying, deadly and long-term consequences for untold numbers, not only on that fateful day, but equally in the aftermath, and most unfortunately, the even longer term, even up to the present.”
Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th century, the Vietnam War saw almost 60,000 Australians serve during a decade of conflict between 1962 and 1972.
Tragically, 523 of them died and 3000 were wounded by the time the war ended.
Mr Small said the consequences are regularly transmitted and felt by the many who served their time.
Those traumas, illnesses and tragedies are most likely untold and mostly untold, even unimaginable to the many, he said.
The yearly service is a joint initiative between the Outer Eastern Melbourne Vietnam Veterans Association and the Yarra Valley RSL Sub-branches of Croydon, Healesville, Lilydale, Mt Evelyn, Upper Yarra, Warburton and Yarra Glen and the Outer Eastern and Yarra Valley Sub-branch and the National Servicemen’s Association.
The march and ceremony featured performances by the Rats of Tobruk Memorial on pipes and drums, the students of Knox School Senior choir and strings, the 408 Squadron Air Force Cadets, Tom Steele played the bugle and Father John Dupuche led the service in prayer.
Veterans, their families and friends and many government officials arrived for the service and MP for Menzies Keith Wolohan spoke at the ceremony. Boronia police and Knox Highway Patrol took care of local traffic whilst the march occurred, with St John Ambulance representatives on scene.
The service finished with a rendition of “I was only 19“ by the Knox School Choir and band and Mr Small’s grandchildren helped with wreaths and handing out poppies. To the sounds of the pipes the public came and put forward a token of respect for the veterans, then Father Dupuche closed the formal part of the ceremony. The gathered community was then invited to the Bayswater RSL for refreshments.
“Thanks for coming along with colleagues, friends. I wish you well and a good you well and good health for the future.“ said Mr Small.
