August 18, 2023
Veterans of the Vietnam War, their friends and family members gathered at sites across the South Burnett on Friday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of Australian troops from the conflict.
There were services in Cherbourg, Murgon, Wondai, Kingaroy, Nanango and Blackbutt.
One of the largest gatherings occurred in Kingaroy, where veterans gathered at the foot of the flagpoles in the Kingaroy RSL Club’s car park.
Guest speaker was former South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell who admitted he missed out on becoming eligible for the ballot for National Service by just 17 days.
“Technically, I was too old,” he said.
Mr Campbell recalled his memories of that turbulent era which ended when Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck formally proclaimed an end to Australia’s involvement in the conflict on January 11, 1973.
“The only combat troops remaining in Vietnam after that date were a platoon guarding the Australian Embassy in Saigon. Those six soldiers were the last to leave on June 30, 1973,” Mr Campbell said.
He also recalled his mother’s concern that her three sons may have to go to war.
“The birthday ballot was like a lottery,” he said. “A very unpopular lottery as it turned out.
“There were 16 ballots held from March 10, 1965, to September 22, 1972.
“A pre-decided number of marbles were drawn. Those whose birthdates matched the numbers drawn were then called up for compulsory National Service.
“About a quarter of those called up – some 15,000 out of 63,735 Nashos – served in Vietnam.”
Mr Campbell said the Vietnam War was Australia’s longest war in the 20th Century, and had only recently been surpassed by our commitment in Afghanistan.
A total of about 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, including 15,000 National Servicemen; 523 died (including more than 200 Nashos) and more than 3000 were wounded.
“The first Nasho killed was Errol Noack, a fisherman from Adelaide. His cousin, Emeritus Bishop Noel Noack, is now a resident of the South Burnett, living in the Bunya Mountains,” Mr Campbell said.
He recalled how poorly Vietnam veterans were treated when they returned home.
“They copped a tough deal,” he said.
“They personally had to deal with their role in an unpopular war; in addition to separation from loved ones, the risk of death or injury; and the struggle with health problems as a result of their service.”
It took a long time for appropriate recognition to come for them.
“It was Prime Minister Bob Hawke who declared that Long Tan Day (August 18) would be known as Vietnam Veterans’ Day,” Mr Campbell said.
“So today we proudly pay our respect to all the courageous Vietnam veterans and their families.”
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