August 18th is Vietnam Veterans’ Day in Australia. Originally it was a day to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. But now it has been adopted by all veterans. The Vietnam War was Australia’s longest military commitment to any conflict. Between 1962 and 1975 about 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam or its waters and airspace. Unfortunately members of the Maltese community in Australia were not immuned from the conscription to the National Service. Indeed, in the late 60’s, 8 Maltese-Australians from North Sunshine (one of the Western suburbs in Melbourne) were conscripted and went to Vietnam. One of them was Louie Borg (Dr. Victoria Borg’s husband).

A service to commemorate Vietnam Veterans’ Day was held at the East Keilor R.S.L. club.