Last Friday was Vietnam Veteran’s Day, but this year was special.
This year we commemorated the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
I had the privilege to spend some time at Cockscomb Veterans Bush retreat at Cawarral as well as a function on the Saturday night in Emu Park RSL.
It is well known that 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam and of those around 15,000 were conscripted through the National Service Scheme.
It is well known that upon their return the Vietnam Veterans were not welcomed as returning heroes as our soldiers had been before but rather as pariahs who fought a war the world had long since turned its back on.
In my speech at Cockscomb last Friday, I said this: Shamefully, the men who fought so hard for our country didn’t receive the thanks and recognition they so rightfully deserve when they came home.
It wasn’t until 1987 that veterans received the welcome home they rightly deserved.
Today, and for every day that you have felt you’ve been forgotten and your service to
our nation has been unrecognised, I want to say on behalf of my fellow Australians,
sorry.
Each and every Vietnam Veteran paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country and those who are still with us continue to live with the physical and emotional scars from their service.
For that, I thank you.
Thank you for your service to Australia.
You left your home and family behind for the steamy jungles of Vietnam under the order of the government of
the day.
I was surprised to learn also that some RSL clubs (not in Central Queensland) also snubbed the returning Vietnam veterans, so much so that this year RSL NSW apologised for their treatment of Vietnam Vets all those years ago.
Tony Fryer, 74, honorary secretary at St Marys RSL, was aged 21 and served for nine months in Vietnam in command of an armoured personnel carrier 1971-72.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald “About two weeks after I got back, I walked into a sub-branch of the RSL in Newcastle and I didn’t get past the front door,” he said.
“There was a couple of guys on reception, and I said I’d like to join.
When I said I’d just come back from Vietnam they said: ‘Ah, no, go away mate, that wasn’t a real war’.
The irony of course is that now many RSL’s are run by veterans of the Vietnam War and that is a good thing.
These days we not only remember the Vietnam veterans for their service to our country in war, but for their ongoing service to our community in peace.
I was also glad to hear late last week that the community of Gleneden have been saved.
Glenden’s future has been on the line for a number of years.
Throughout this time, I’ve actively participated in lobbying not just to Glencore and QCoal to keep the town of Glenden, but also to the State Minister and Premier.
Finally last Friday after much pressure from the community of Glenden, myself, and state colleague, the Member for Burdekin Dale Last, the state government will take action to save Glenden.
This is wonderful news and I congratulate the community of Glenden.
