Charlie Coy 2RAR veterans from across Australia descended upon the Southern Highlands for Remembrance Day weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The group travelled to the Australian War Memorial during their visit and visited local attractions like the Bradman Museum, but it was the Cherry Tree Walk and Vietnam Memorial in Bowral that left the biggest impression.
John and Maria McDonell coordinated the reunion from their home in Moss Vale, intially at the urging of their daughter, Julia.
“We were reluctant at first but my daughter said to us: Oh, Mum and Dad, you can do it! So, we set up a committee and started organising ourselves. We knew we had to have it over Remembrance Day weekend and it was a chance for them to see the Cherry Tree Walk and Memorial in Bowral,” Ms McDonnell said.
Mr McDonnell said the Cherry Tree Walk was an emotional experience for the veterans, bringing up memories of their fallen comrades.
“We placed poppies on the names of the fallen and listened to a recording of the last post. It was quite an emotional experience,” Mr McDonnell said.
Jack and Nancy Trease travelled from Magnetic Island for the reunion, having only missed one since the reunions began in 2000.
“It’s not about Vietnam at all, it is all about mateship,” Mr Trease said.
He and his wife have returned to Vietnam 17 times, building significant relationships with locals.
The couple raised funds to purchase wheelchairs for locals they befriended on their many trips travels to the country who are disabled.
They also sponsored one young Vietnamese woman through her university studies after befriending her father, a shoeshiner they frequented.
“Her father died about six years ago and I gave her away at her wedding last year,” Mr Trease said.
It’s not about Vietnam at all, it’s about mateship.
- Jack Trease
Lieutenant Colonel Rtd Colin Purcell travelled from Mandurah, WA and honoured the three in his platoon who died in Vietnam at the memorial in Bowral.
“The Cherry Tree Walk was very impressive, a great monument. It’s always an emotional few days,” Lt-Col Pucell said.
Honouring Remembrance Day was especially poignant for Vietnam veterans this year, as the conflict marks the half way point between WW1 and the present day.
“This year marks 50 years since I graduated at Duntroon. As a class, we will go to the graduation parade this year and a classmate pointed out that these young cadets will look at us the same way we looked at the officers who were at our graduation from 1918,” Lt-Col Purcell said.
Read more:
Sign up for breaking news and a weekly newsletter delivered straight to your inbox…
