The Limestone Coast community commemorated Vietnam Veterans Day recently with a ceremony at the Vansittart Park Soldiers Memorial attended by more than 50 people.


In attendance were around 10 local Vietnam War veterans and their family members, Mount Gambier and Community RSL members and members of South East emergency service and sporting groups.


The dignitaries in attendance included Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM, Grant District Mayor Kylie Boston and SAPOL Officer in Charge of the Limestone Coast Local Service Area Superintendent Cheryl Brown.


Vietnam Veterans’ Day commemorates the Battle of Long Tan which occurred on August 18 in 1966 and resulted in the death of 18 Australian soldiers and the wounding of 24 more, after a fierce three hours of fighting.


Mount Gambier and Community RSL President Bob Sandow said while it was important to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan, it was also a day to honour the Australian soldiers who fought in other battles in the decade long Vietnam War.


“Long Tan was one afternoon in a 10 year war, we lost a lot of men in other battles, more than we did in Long Tan but Long Tan was a glorious defeat of the enemy,” he said.


“There are other battles like Coral-Balmoral where we lost a lot more people. I do not downplay Long Tan but there were other things that happened.”


Reverend John Deer opened the service with a prayer and Mr Sandow gave a history of the Vietnam War.


There was a minute silence, the Ode of Remembrance and 10 wreathes laid by community members including family and members of the public who honoured Late Vietnam War veterans Tony Casadio, John Rogers, David Stein and Richard Sandow.


Shylie Harrison sang ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘Abide With Me’ and the Australian National Anthem and 612 Air Cadet Christopher Mossford-Macgregor played the Last Post.