Rallying call to honour Vietnam Veterans

Bray Park-Strathpine RSL Sub Branch will honour and celebrate those who served in the Vietnam War during its Vietnam Veterans’ Day service on August 18.

The service will be held at the Memorial Wall – Club Pine Rivers, 1 Sparkes Rd, Bray Park, from 5.45pm.

This year marks 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, with about 60,000 Australians, including ground troops and air force and navy personnel, serving in Vietnam from 1962-73.

The fall of Saigon in 1975 signalled the official end of the war.

During the conflict, 523 Australians died and 2400 were wounded in an attempt to stop the spread of the North’s Communist regime into South Vietnam. The toll doesn’t account for the psychological scars suffered by many who returned to an unsympathetic and, at times, hostile environment.

Bray Park-Strathpine RSL Sub Branch President Dan Grono says: “As our Vietnam veterans grow older, it becomes more important than ever to preserve their stories, honour their service and ensure they are never forgotten.

“This year’s service will honour the legacy of our rapidly diminishing group of Vietnam veterans, with approximately 30 of the remaining veterans aged 72 and over attending from across the Moreton Bay region.

“These men carry not only the weight of their own experiences but also the stories of their fallen brothers-in-arms.

“My main focus is to commemorate and celebrate the veterans that are still with us, while we still can.”

Dan is hoping veterans from across the City of Moreton Bay will attend this year’s service, with family, friends and the community there to support them.

The commemorative program will include wreath-laying, speeches from veterans and involvement from local schools and cadet units.

Confirmed special guests include:

• Federal Member for Dickson Ali France

• State Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd

• Mayor Peter Flannery

• Councillor Jim Moloney (Div 8)

• Councillor Cath Tonks (Div 9)

• Schools from across the district

All are welcome to attend the service, which Dan says is an important date on the nation’s calendar.

A dinner will follow at Club Pine Rivers for veterans and their spouses, sponsored by Moreton Bay City Council and the RSL. Members of the public are welcome to join veterans in the club afterwards.