Cobram Barooga RSL sub-branch president John Hanlon, Paul Bownas and Rob Brown.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
The sacrifices of Australian service personnel who served in the Vietnam War will be honoured at a ceremony next week.
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In time for Vietnam Veterans’ Day and facilitated by the Cobram Barooga RSL sub-branch, the community is invited to pay their respects to the many thousand Australians who served in the Vietnam War, with a wreath-laying service at the Cobram War Memorial.
Cobram Barooga RSL sub-branch president John Hanlon said the recognition of the sacrifice Australian personnel gave in Vietnam meant everything to veterans.
“I think it’s very important for them because they went and did a dirty job,” he said.
“They did what all servicemen do: they followed the directions of their commanders and did what had to be done.”
RSL sub-branch members Paul Bownas and Rob Brown are two of the roughly 60,000 Australian personnel who served in the Vietnam War.
A navy officer, Mr Bownas served aboard the HMAS Melbourne, a light aircraft carrier, escorting destroyers and troops to Vũng Tàu.
“The very least I can do is come out, honour the blokes who didn’t come back, and the ones who didn’t come back the same as they went there,” Mr Bownas said.
Sub-Branch president John Hanlon said services like the one to be held on Monday are incredibly important to veterans.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Meanwhile, Mr Brown served as a driver in the Royal Australian Engineers 17th Construction Squadron.
“I was driving supplies from the airport back and forth. I had a few little skirmishes, but I’d rather not talk about that,” Mr Brown said.
For both Mr Bownas and Mr Brown, next week’s service is a powerful way to honour their fellow servicemen and women and pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The service comes as the nation marks the 59th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, one of Australia’s most costly battles during its involvement in the Vietnam War.
It also comes almost one year after the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released its final report, with 122 recommendations.
Of those, the Federal Government has agreed or agreed in principle to 104 recommendations, including to establish the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission.
Beginning in September, the commission will provide evidence-based advice to the government to improve wellbeing outcomes for veterans and improve suicide prevention.
The service at the Cobram War Memorial will begin at 10am on Monday, August 18.
If this article has raised any concerns, contact Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or the Defence Member or Family Hotline on 1800 624 608.
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