Cade Lucas
Anzac Day is a time of reflection for all veterans, but for members of the Melbourne West Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, yesterday was especially poignant.
It was the final Anzac Day for the sub-branch, which is closing down after 25 years serving Vietnam veterans across Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong.
“We were unable to form a committee at our annual general meeting and because of that and under the constitution, we can no longer continue as a viable sub-branch and we have to close” explained sub-branch president, Glen Smith.
He expects the closure to be the first of many.
“This will happen to every VVAA sub-branch in Victoria over the next few years under our constitution.”
The VVAA state constitution prevents it from broadening its membership to include other conflicts, and with most Vietnam veterans now in their 70’s and 80’s, the end is nigh.
Mr Smith became president of the Melbourne west sub-branch in 2018 and isn’t thrilled at being the last to hold the role.
“It’s a legacy I don’t want” he said.
But while sad at the impending closure, Mr Smith said the VVAA wasn’t designed to be an ongoing organisation.
“It was only formed to get the DVA (Department of Veterans Affairs) and federal government to accept PTSD and agent orange,“ he said.
“It had a lifetime limit and now many of us are reaching that lifetime limit.”
Despite the advancing age of Vietnam veterans, Melbourne’s west still boasts 130 members, down from a peak of 161 in 2016.
Mr Smith said the problem was finding people willing to take on executive roles such as president, secretary and treasurer.
“Those that are still interested in coming to meetings are not well enough to take the jobs on.”
The sub-branch’s banner was displayed for the final time at a march in Werribee on Sunday and will be sent to the Vietnam Veterans Museum at Phillip Island.
The final function is set to be on Vietnam Veterans Day on August 18, after which remaining members will transition to a new club under a different name.
“When we close the VVAA sub-branch we will become Melbourne West Defence Veterans and we’ll still be a sub-club of the Hoppers Club and continue as a social club” said Mr Smith, who hopes the change of name will help to attract younger members.
