“We Must Stand By Our Mates”: Region Honours Vietnam Veterans Day

At 11am on August 18, the country marked Australia’s Vietnam Veterans Day with a minute’s silence.

Whitsunday RSLs commemorated the day - which coincides with the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, the single largest unit battle fought in the war by Australian soldiers - with their own ceremonies and wreath laying.

The Bowen RSL Sub-Branch was a packed house for its memorial, which included dignitaries like Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, and Whitsunday Councillor Mike Brunker, with Member For Burdekin, Dale Last, an apology.

Sub-Branch President John Eyles officiated the Veteran’s event, welcoming war widows, families, currently serving defence personnel, and the veterans themselves.

Member For Dawson, Andrew Willcox said it was an honour to address the crowd at the Sub-Branch on such a solemn occasion.

“It is a day that is very, very important. The anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966 – a fierce battle which took place at a rubber plantation near Nui Dad in South Vietnam,” he said.

“Where a contingent of 100 Australian soldiers, outnumbered by at least 10 to one, managed to hold off the vastly superior Viet Cong attack. Suffering the heaviest Australian casualties in a single engagement in Vietnam.

“It is an incredible story of winning against the odds; a story that reflects the ANZAC spirit: courage, mateship, tenacity, and humour.”

Mr Willcox took the opportunity to not only honour the past, but to look towards the future – particularly in reference to the treatment of veterans.

“Veterans today are entitled to be treated with professionalism and respect. I hope the current Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran’s Suicide serves as a call to action,” The Member for Dawson said.

“We need urgent action to deal with the backlog of veteran claims and make it easier for veterans’ voices to be heard.

“To find that more current and former ADF Members have died by suicide than in combat in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars shows that the system is broken.

“As a nation, we need to do more for our veterans. We must do better.”

Mr Willcox thanked the veterans for their service: “Thank you for making Australia the best country to live in. If we are truly to honour the ANZAC spirit, we must live by it; as a nation, we must stand by our mates.”

Sub-Branch President John Eyles read the ode after a few wreaths were lain, most notably by ‘Rusty’ Vincent, who laid his wreath on behalf of the Vietnam veterans.

“Lest we forget,” Mr Eyles said.

Bowen RSL observed Vietnam’s Veterans Day “In Memory Of All Fallen Comrades”

Wreaths were lain during the ceremony, which coincides with the reunion of the battle of Long Tan in 1966.

Veteran Rusty Vincent laid a wreath on behalf of Vietnam Veterans on the day

Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox gave a poignant speech on bettering the treatment of veterans

‍