Half a century on: Vietnam veterans commemorated

A crowd of about 70 mainly Vietnam veterans, their families, and members of the public gathered to commemorate 50 years since the withdrawal of Australian troops from the Vietnam War.

Many wore Vietnam veteran scarves alongside their medals, as they paused to remember their time in Vietnam, as well as their mates, and those who did not return home.

This year, four crosses were planted at each end of a cross on the ground in front of the flagpoles.

Three of the crosses marked the names of the three Goulburn Valley men who were killed in action during the Vietnam War – Stuart Barnett, Ronald Coxan and Donald Aylett.

The fourth cross was in memory of the more than 520 Australians who died in the Vietnam War.

Mr Begley spoke of the 55,000 Australians who served during the Vietnam War, with 18,000 of those who returned home after the war having since died.

Guest speaker, Vietnam veteran and former Shepparton resident Shane O’Keefe spoke of commemorating the half a century since Australian troops were withdrawn from Vietnam.

He spoke of those killed, but also the more than 3000 wounded.

Of those wounded, two-thirds were conscripted to fight in Vietnam.

Mr O’Keefe also spoke of how Vietnam had changed the lives of those who went, but also those who stayed behind in Australia.

“We honour the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam veterans,” he said.

“It is also a reminder of the enduring impacts of war on individuals and their families.”

Mr O’Keefe spoke of the profound psychological trauma many Vietnam veterans suffered from – which in the 1980s was defined as post traumatic stress disorder.

He also told of the role Vietnam veterans in the 1990s helped establish what is now a modern nationwide advocacy service for all war veterans.

At the service, the Last Post was sounded, the ode read, and the flags raised before the Vietnam veterans headed off to the RSL for the chance for a catch-up with old mates.