A small, respectful gathering at the Orbost Cenotaph marked the Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration on Sunday, August 18, organised by the Orbost RSL Sub-Branch.
The event honoured the service of those who fought in what became Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th century.
Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War began with the deployment of the Australian Army Training Team to South Vietnam in July and August of 1962.
By the war’s conclusion in 1972, nearly 60,000 Australians had served, with 521 tragically losing their lives and more than 3000 wounded.
The national recognition of Vietnam Veterans Day, held on August 18 each year, was officially announced in 1987 by then-Prime Minister Bob Hawke, following the successful “Welcome Home” parade for Vietnam veterans in Sydney.
The date marks the anniversary of the 1966 Battle of Long Tan but now serves as a day to honour all who served in Vietnam.
Orbost RSL president Sandra Porteous led the proceedings with solemnity and reverence.
Though her remarks were brief, they resonated deeply, especially as John Schumann’s iconic song I Was Only 19 played.
The song offers a haunting first-person account of the experiences of an Australian soldier in Vietnam, from the initial stages of training to combat and the eventual return home, marked by the psychological scars of war.
In her address, Sandra reflected on the struggles faced by those who served in Vietnam: “In the years that followed, we come together to remember those who were lost on that fateful day, and now we gather to commemorate all those that served in Vietnam. Days were mapped out in a mosaic of fear and monotony, aching for home but filled with the camaraderie of their mates. All the time, not knowing what the day might bring, not knowing what or who it might take.”
She emphasised the lasting impact of the war on veterans, many of whom continue to bear the emotional and physical costs of their service.
“We respect your valour, your integrity, and your character. You upheld the Australian name and the ANZAC legacy and deserve so much better than you received. Let us say to every one of our Vietnam veterans, today and every day: We honour you, we thank you, and we are sorry that as a nation it took us so long to do so.”
Although Orbost RSL Sub-Branch chaplain Reverend Bevil Lunson was unable to attend, Sandra continued to lead the congregation in the reading of psalms, bringing the ceremony to a fitting close with a sense of reflection and deep respect for those who served.
