Australian Vietnam Veterans Organisations
Revised: 17 December, 2001, by DGSH
Lists Australian Services Personnel and civilians who were killed
while serving their country in Vietnam.
VIETNAM: THE TEN THOUSAND DAY WAR
*********************************
THE VIETNAM WAR WAS THE LONGEST WAR IN MODERN HISTORY.
IT RAISED POLITICAL PASSION AND MORAL CONTROVERSY THROUGHOUT
THE WESTERN WORLD AND PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN SHAPING THE
POLITICAL DESTINY OF, NOT ONLY SOUTHEAST ASIA, BUT OF THE WHOLE
WORLD.
THERE IS STILL MUCH MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE TRUE REASONS
FOR THE WAR, AS ILLUSTRATED BY THE COMPARISON OF HOW BOTH
PERCEIVED AND REACTED TO WHAT THEY THOUGHT (OFTEN ERRONEOUSLY)
THE OTHER WAS GETTING UP TO, THE WAY THE TRAGEDY EVOLVED.
IN VIETNAM, THERE WAS THE TRAUMA OF HAVING TO FIGHT ON
WHILE QUESTIONING THE RATIONALE, AND THEN AFTER - IN THE HOME
COMING - THE DEVALUING OF THE SOLDIER'S SACRIFICE ALONG WITH
THE CAUSE.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT WAR ONLY IN THAT, WITHOUT
NATIONAL VALOUR, THE SOLDIERS WERE LEFT WITHOUT ANY FEELING
OF INDIVIDUAL HONOUR - ALL TOO OFTEN LEFT WITHOUT ANY FEELING
AT ALL, BRUTALIZED BY THE TERRIBLE SAMENESS OF WAR WHICH IN
THIS CASE THEY COULD NEVER REDEEM.
This introduction was provided by Shane Fontana.
Cockscomb Veteran Retreat, Central Queensland, Australia, was built by Veterans for Veterans;
and we welcome all visiting Veterans and their partners to our camp.
By Danny Siggers
"HMAS Perth"
I thought this would be of interest to the USN guys, who got to know our sailors on the "gun
line," as well as for our Mates Down Under...
"The 'HMAS Perth' will be decommissioned on Friday, 15 October, 1999, three weeks after she
sailed into Sydney harbour flying her paying off pennant.
The pennant was 471 feet long representing the length of the ship plus one foot for each year
of service.
"A program of events has been planned, including a reunion of all former members of the ship's
company, organised by the HMAS Perth National
Association. There will be a dinner dance, church service, and a decommissioning ceremony at
Garden Island Naval Facility in Sydney on 15 October.
"For details, please contact Darrell Hergarty at 61 - 02 95609681."
I believe from Darrell that she is to be scuttled off Perth in Western Australia to form an
artificial reef for divers and marine life, alike. A fine ship, and she was a Vietnam regular.
Regards,
Dennis
E-mail contact at:
Dennis Wynne
(Editor's NOTE: Although this Dedication Day has past, the history and
information
of the following notice is of worth to place here for viewers to be informed about this
Memorial.)
The "Sir Colin Hines Memorial" Dedication Day
On Saturday, 14 February, 1998, at The Manduramah Golf Club, a Memorial
will be dedicated and unveiled by Keith Payne, VC, to commemorate
Sir Colin Hines, OBE.
Sir Colin Hines, OBE, was the State President of The NSW Branch of The
RSL and in 1986 was approached by six veterans of the Vietnam War seeking
assistance and advice on conducting a "Welcome Home Parade" in Sydney for
all Australian Vietnam Veterans.
Sir Colin said, "Come in boys;" and, notwithstanding enormous criticism
levelled at him from all quarters of the hierarchy of The RSL, Sir Colin
stood by those Vietnam Veterans and gave every assistance to what was to
become "The Australian Vietnam Forces Welcome Home Parade Committee."
That the 1987 "Welcome Home Parade" stunned all Australians by its success
and the following healing that it produced that continues today
throughout Australia, can be attributed to the foresight and dedication
of one man who stood by the sometimes forgotten standards of The RSL
and put those standards into practice.
Now, some four or so years following his sudden and untimely passing, we
have an opportunity to show our faith to his memory.
A stone Memorial (a large granite block taken from Sir Colin's property
at Lyndhurst, NSW) will be dedicated by a member of The Clergy and
unveiled by Keith Payne, VC, in perpetual memory of Sir Colin Hines, OBE,
at the Manduramah Golf Club, where he spent much of his leisure time
among the people he lived and grew up with. Manduramah is out from Bathurst
along the Carcoar/Blayney Road.
The Memorial will take the form of a large stone with a Plaque, a Flag
Pole eminating from the stone, an eternal light, and a light post that
will light up the public area of the surrounds of the Golf Club at
night.
Any and all Veterans, family members, and friends of Veterans are invited to attend on
this Dedication Day to remember an outstanding Australian.
Inquiries can be directed to Carey McQuillan at:
cmcq173@speednet.com.au
NOTE
Click on the hypertexts to Web Sites and email forms within the following listed groups to
obtain more information about Australian Vietnam Veterans Programs, Support Organisations,
Associations, and Units.
As some links will take you to other Sites, please "Bookmark" your place here to return or use
your browser's "Back" feature.
1st (Aust) Field Hospital Association
The 1st (Aust) Field Hospital unit was raised in Vietnam on the 1st of April, 1968, and had
an association with the
US Forces through Dustoff Choppers flying the wounded in for emergency treatment and with
the personnel at 36 Evac Hospital Vung Tau (whom we just can't seem to make contact with).
The Hospital's Radio Call Sign was "VAMPIRE."
The 1st (Aust) Field Hospital Association's Web Page is at:
http://www.callsignvampire.org.au/
Denise
Bell,
Secretary 1AFH Assoc.
Australian 104 Signal Squadron
Denis Hare 07-32793414
Brisbane, Australia
Ex 104 Sig Sqn, 1ATF, Nui Dat, 1968
E-mail:
dhare@powerup.com.au
Web Site:
http://www.powerup.com.au/~dhare/104sigs.html
(Featuring 104 Sig Sqn in Vietnam and the Web Book "Pronto in SVN 1962-1972")
547th Signal Troop
Royal Australian Army
Australian War Memorial Council
GPO Box 345, Canberra
ACT 2601
Australia
Tel: 011 612 6243 4211
Fax: 011 612 6243 4325
Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 21
Woden ACT 2606
Australia
Tel: 011 612 6289 6736
Fax: 011 612 6281 6257
The Embassy of Australia in Washington D.C.
1601 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20036-2273
Tel: (202) 797-3000
Fax: (202) 797-3168
Australian Embassy Library in Washington, D.C. E-mail
Web Site: http://www.aust.emb.nw.dc.us/ *
* Please look carefully through the Site before sending us a message. You may find the answer
in the text.
Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia
(VVF Logo courtesy of and from their Web Site linked below)
PO Box 170
GRANVILLE, NSW, 2142
Australia
(Head Office)
Phone: 0296821788
Fax: 0296826134
Tim McCombe is National and NSW President,
Bev Studden is National Secretary.
Web Site: http://www.webmaster.net.au/vvf
E-mail to:
NSW:
vvfagran@bigpond.com.au
Web Site: http://www.vvfagranville.org.au
QLD:
vvfa-qld@worldlink.com.au
VIC:
ilcar@pipeline.com.au
HMAS BRISBANE Association
23 Omaroo Ave
Doonside, NSW, 2767
Australia
Captain Ralph Derbidge, RANR, is National President,
Peter Maher is National Secretary.
E-mail is:
steelcat@acon.com.au
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
Queensland Branch, Inc.
P O Box 340
Kallangur, Qld 4503
Australia
Qld State President:
John P. Smith
Ph: (07) 54985202
Fax: (07) 54985939
Email: vvaaqld@microed.com.au
Qld State Secretary:
Alan Baker
Ph: (07) 32855864
Fax: (07) 32855863
Email: shazbake@powerup.com.au
If anyone wishes to phone any of the numbers from the USA, they would
have to leave out the (07), dial 011 61 74, and then the number.
The "VVAA" Sub-branches in Qld are:
- Biloela VVAA
P O Box 790
Biloela, Qld 4715
Australia
President:
Rick Paddon
Ph: (07) 49922900
Secretary:
Neil Clancy
Ph: (07) 49922151
- Bribie Island & District VVAA
P O Box 1001
Bongaree, Qld 4507
Australia
Email: raemevets@theforum.com.au
President:
Scott Laycock
Ph: (07) 34088368
Secretary:
Colin Thorpe
Ph: (07) 34089490
Fax: (07) 34089490
- Brisbane North VVAA
P O Box 61
Kallangur, Qld 4503
Australia
Email: vvaabnenth@xenon.net
President:
Terry Brooke
Ph: (07) 38866244
Secretary:
Bob Beasley
Ph: (07) 38861811
Email: madbob@xenon.net
- Brisbane Office --
VVAA CITY Office
14th Floor
295 Ann Street
Brisbane, Qld 4000
Australia
Noel Huish, State Advocate
Ph: (07) 32210622
Email: vvaacity@xenon.net
- Burdekin & District VVAA
P O Box 986
Ayr, Qld 4807
Australia
President:
Paul Brice
Ph: (07) 47831369
Fax: (07) 47835636
Secretary:
Don Bailey
Ph: (07) 47836627
- Burnett & District VVAA
P O Box 42
Gin Gin, Qld 4671
Australia
President: Vacant
Secretary:
David Murphy
Ph: (07) 41576319
Email: turfmurph@bigpond.com.au
- Caboolture VVAA
P O Box 1586
Caboolture, Qld 4510
Australia
President:
John Lacy
Ph: (07) 32047860
Secretary:
Bruce Fraser
Ph: (07) 54990508
- Central Qld (CQVVAA) --
For the year 2000-2001:
Main Web Page: http://go.to/bearcatgrunts/
Local Page:
http://www.cqnet.com.au/bearcat/index.html
LOCAL EXECUTIVE:
President - Nick Quigley,
Ex 104 Sig Sqn Royal Australian Signals
Phone: 07 4928 2554
E-mail:
nickq@cqnet.com.au
Secretary - Phil Aplin (Ex 1 RAR)
Phone: 07 4928 6711
Hon Treasurer - Pauline Aplin (Phil's Wife)
Phone: 07 4928 6711
Medals, miniatures, badges and stickers - Jim Drever (Ex 2SQN RAAF)
Phone: 07 4926 1142
Address all correspondence to:
Secretary CQVVAA
P O Box 669
Rockhampton Qld 4700
Australia
Central Queensland Veteran Support Centre
Web Site.
(CQVSC)
Assisting all Ex-Service Persons with FREE Pension and Avocacy services.
E-mail contacts are on the Site.
The main contact is our Manager/Advocate Keith Joyce MM.
His E-mail address is:
rsla@cqnet.com.au
- Granite Belt VVAA
c/o Secretary "Crannagh"
Eukey
Stanthorpe, Qld 4380
Australia
President:
Garry Sutcliffe
Ph: (07) 46843229
Secretary:
Kerry Ryan
Ph: (07) 46837135
- Gympie & District VVAA
P O Box 742
Gympie, Qld 4570
Australia
President:
Terry Reed
Secretary:
Fred Roberts
Ph: (07) 54824926
- Logan & Albert VVAA
P O Box 6197
Woodridge East, Qld 4114
Australia
Email: VVAA_Logan@hotmail.com
President:
Ed Heieck
Ph: (07) 38036240
Secretary:
Tom Welsh
Ph: (07) 32085293
- Redcliffe Peninsula VVAA
P O Box 38
Kippa Ring, Qld 4021
Australia
President:
Bob Long
Ph: (07) 32041717
Fax: (07) 32041717
Secretary:
Brian Shoobert
Ph: (07) 38800880
Fax: (07) 38802711
Email: delrey@powerup.com.au
- Southport & District VVAA
2/8 Inchcape Court
Ashmore, Qld 4214
Australia
Email: vvaasport@radd.com.au
President:
Robin Beard
Ph: (07) 55396001
Secretary:
Rick McIntyre
Ph: (07) 55393426
Fax: (07) 55393426
- South Burnett VVAA
MS 1395
Wooroolin, Qld 4508
Australia
President:
Barry Johnson
Ph: (07) 41685821
Email: bribieis@mpx.com.au
Secretary:
Jan White
Ph: (07) 41638138
- Sunshine Coast VVAA
P O Box 5557
Maroochydore Business Centre
Maroochydore, Qld 4558
Australia
President:
Ted Robinson
Ph: (07) 54794689
Email: tedrobinson@ozemail.com.au
- Toowoomba & South West District VVAA
P O Box 2476
Toowoomba, Qld 4350
Australia
President:
Paddy Boxall
Ph: (07) 46325896
Secretary:
John Ford
Ph: Digital Mobile: 0413138920
Fax: (07) 46300178
- Townsville VVAA
715 Ross River Road
Townsville, Qld 4814
Australia
President:
Ray Carpenter
Ph: (07) 47722161
Secretary:
Noel Pinch
Other sub-branches expected to come on line shortly are:
1. Blackwater
Other possibilities are:
1. Cairns
2. Ingham
John P. Smith, President
Queensland State VVAA
You can email with John at: vvaaqld@microed.com.au
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
Central Queensland
I'm the President of the Central Qld VVAA in Rockhampton. Our mailing address there is:
Secretary CQVVAA
P O Box 669
Rockhampton Qld 4700
Australia
I was a KIWI (New Zealander) on a working holiday in Australia. I was
drafted and served with the Royal Australian Signals in 139 Sig Sqn in
Australia, then was posted to 104 Sig Sqn Vietnam. Tour was November 1968 to
September 1969. My two years in the Army were October 1967 to October 1969.
Serial Number 1733706, Rank Signaller.
Nick Quigley
You can reach Nick at:
nickq@cqnet.com.au
Also, see further information on the Central Queensland VVAA under the sub-branch heading
"Central Qld (CQVVAA) --" above.
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
South Australian Branch
A real "mine" of information: "What's New?" "About Us," "Health Care," "Pensions,"
"Contacts/Links," "Commemorations," "Media/Publications," "Questions/Help."
Thanks to Dennis Wynne, Down Under, for bringing this Site to our attention.
This organisation is for the benefit and use of all Veterans of all conflicts and
their families, including members of the Australian Defence Forces and all auxiliary
associations. Our aim is to provide assistance, support, and resources to Veterans and
Veterans' families and to promote understanding, friendship, and compassion. Sunraysia
Regional Veterans Center can offer Veterans access to expert advice and entitlement explanation
along with preparing all claims.
Mr. Ern Marshall
Vice President
Committee, Mildura RSL
Phone: 61 3 50 232121
Fax: 61 3 50 232191
Ern Marshall's Home Page: "Sunraysia
Vietnam Veterans"
Also view
"The 500 Australians Who Died In Vietnam" on Ern's Site.
Postal address:
Post Office Box 55
Springwood NSW
Australia 2777
President: Jack Lake -- tel/fax: +61 02 47544771
Secretary: Keith Harrington -- tel: +61 02 47518528,
fax: +61 02 47518538
Email:
bmvets@mountains.net.au
Vietnam Legion Veterans Association
Congratulations on the concept of trying to find lost Aussie Vets. If
our association can assist in any way by cross referencing any names,
units, etc., we would be only to pleased to be of service.
Barry E. Kelly C.dec
Vietnam Legion Veterans Association
Queensland Incorporated
P.O. Box 8004
WYNNUM. QLD 4178.
Australia
EMAIL address:
advocate@sunshine.net.au
I am also a member of:
Everyman's Welfare Service
Defence Centre-Brisbane, G.P.O.
640 Roma Street
Brisbane. Qld 4003.
Australia
Barry Kelly
1 Fd. Sqn. RAE.
66/67 (Tunnel-Rat)
Australian Vietnam Veterans' Federation Victorian Branch
Fax Number: (03) 52561941
Iris Cargill (Sec/Treas)
This
file contains background, general information, telephone numbers, and addresses for
various VVCS centres in Australia.
Vietnam and Australian Defence Forces Veterans Association,
Inc.
I am a member of the Vietnam and Australian Defence Forces Veterans
Association Incorporated here on the Gold Coast of Queensland,
Australia. Our association is located at NUI-DAT HOUSE.
NUI-DAT HOUSE is actually a way station for vets referred by doctors,
police, vets affairs, etc., who have lost their way or are down on
luck; both individuals and families are taken in. We help them by way of
medical/legal/entitlements/food, etc., until they are on their feet and
are able to again cope with the outside world.
The house is an old police station donated to us by the Gold Coast City
Council, and our land tenure is 99 years at a nominal fee. Primarily
Vietnam veterans are the predominance of personnel we assist; however,
veterans of all wars are welcome there.
As you can see, we are an incorporated association; and our books and
affairs are audited and checked out yearly to ensure all is well. To
summarise our details:
Name: Vietnam and Australian Defence Forces Veterans Assn, Inc.
Address: NUI-DAT HOUSE, 112 Allied Drive, ARUNDEL,
GOLD COAST, QLD 4214
Phone: 61-7-55947499 (All Hours)
Email: Care of Dennis Wynne: wooley@vtown.com.au
(Note: not on all the time--e.g. 24 hrs--but all email
will be checked daily)
President: Mr Brian Foster (Ex WO1 RAINF) O.A.M.
Dennis Wynne
A very complete and interesting chronology of the participation by the Australian Forces in
Vietnam. Thanks to Shane Fontana for this excellent addition to the Vietnam Veterans Home
Page.
KIWI WELCOME HOME!
The KIWIs had a Welcome Home during New Zealand's Queen's Birthday weekend in 1998
(29 May to 1 June) in Wellington. "Parade '98 - Vietnam Remembered" honoured the men
and women who served New Zealand in Vietnam. It was a time to remember those who gave
their lives and those veterans whose lives have been changed forever. It was also a
time to celebrate the friendships and bonds formed between people who depended
on each other for their survival. This gathering created the opportunity to meet
up with "old mates" and remember friends who could not be there.
Thanks to Mate Dennis Wynne and others Down Under for emailing to us with information and
contacts on this Event.
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