Community gathers to remember Vietnam War

A LARGE crowd gathered at Torquay RSL last week to pay their respects as Australia marked 50 years since the end of its involvement in the Vietnam War.

August 18 is commemorated annually across Australia as Vietnam Veterans Day and is also the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.

The event was shifted from its usual location at the Vietnam War plaque outside the Surf Coast Shire offices in Torquay North in anticipation of higher attendance.

Speakers at the service included Torquay RSL president Bob Brackin, retired RSL chaplain Peter Ellis, and several studetnts from Torquay schools.

Attendees at the event included Corangamite federal member Libby Coker, Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, and Surf Coast Shire councillors Gary Allen, Paul Barker and Rose Hodge.

“We honour and thank all those who served in the Vietnam War, and we are so sorry that it has taken such a long time for us to recognise your service and the sacrifice you made,” Ms Coker said in a statement afterwards.

“War is not something any of us want, but we should always thank and recognise our servicemen and women who are ready and willing to step up for our nation.”

The Vietnam War was Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th century.The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 marked the start of Australia’s involvement in the war.

By the time the war had come to an end, almost 60,000 Australians served during a decade of conflict between 1962 and 1972. Of these, 523 of them died and 3,000 were wounded.