Tamworth pausing to remember our Vietnam War veterans

During recent years, attendance at Vietnam Veterans Day services has grown, in particular the veterans themselves, many of whom were turned off military services due to the poor treatment they received on their return home, from both the government and the community.

It’s an experience that North West Vietnam Veterans Social Group president Wally Franklin never wants to see repeated.

“We’ve got to make sure the younger veterans are looked after,” he said.

“We’ll remember the people that were lost in the war and the people that were lost since through their own hand.”

He recalls visiting his brother at a Rockhampton meatworks following the war, only for the meatworks to go on strike until he left the premises, such was the ill-feeling towards the war in Vietnam.

Mr Franklin and fellow vet John Drysdale have since been back over to Vietnam, and tracked down some of the men they fought against – and did the most Australian thing possible, shared a beer with them.

“It was a privilege to have drinks with them,” Mr Franklin said.

The veterans will take comfort in knowing the person sitting next to them at the ceremony has been through the same experience they have – but the wider community is also encouraged to come and pay their respects.

“We don’t talk about the war a lot, we just talk to each other,” Mr Drysdale said.

“Even thought we’re in our 70s, it doesn’t leave you, it never ever leaves your mind,” fellow Tamworth veteran Ray Stevens said.

“When you do talk about the war, you try to talk about the good bits, and try to out-do each other.”

“And the old we get, the better we were,” Mr Drysdale said with a chuckle.

The service will be held at Tamworth’s Vietnam War Memorial on Marius Street, starting at 5pm.