August 18, 2025
Small groups of Vietnam veterans, their family members, friends and invited guests gathered at sites across the South Burnett on Monday to mark Vietnam Veterans’ Day – and the 59th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
The original Long Tan Day was held in memory of the 18 Australians killed at the battle of Long Tan on August 18, 1966, but the day has long since been expanded to recognise the service of the almost 60,000 Australians who served the during the Vietnam conflict – and the more than 520 who died.
The Kingaroy service was held in the car park of the local RSL Club, in front of the flagpoles and a wall that bears the famous Australian Army insignia of the Rising Sun badge.
Guest speaker was local resident Barry Krosch who joined the RAAF at the age of 18 and served in Vietnam at the Cam Ranh Bay airforce base.
He shared some wartime experiences, including his surprise at how many Kingaroy friends also ended up in Vietnam.
One of his favourite wartime photos shows Barry and two of his friends, who all grew up close to each other in Kingaroy, arm-in-arm and enjoying a VB.
The Kingaroy commemoration also included a wreath-laying ceremony, the playing of the Last Post, and a short talk about the Battle of Long Tan by Vietnam veteran John Wilson.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day was also marked in several other South Burnett towns.
In Blackbutt, the local sub-branch held a wreath-laying service, while in Nanango, a service was held at the Cenotaph, on the corner of Henry and Drayton streets.
In Murgon, a service was held in the Veterans’ Memorial Park in Gore Street followed by lunch at the nearby Veterans’ Drop-In Centre in Stephens Street.
