John Phoenix OAM and Hank Kreemers have their sights set on raising $120,000 for vital upgrades at the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Nearly 12 months into a fundraising campaign, local veterans have amassed more than $71,000 – but they’re still about $50,000 shy of the amount needed for vital upgrades to a Seymour monument.
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Last June, the Mitchell sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia began calling for donations to fund works at Seymour’s Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk.
The campaign began shortly after Vietnam veteran Private Richard Norden was posthumously awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross medal for the bravery he displayed during the Battle of Coral-Balmoral.
On May 14, 1968 in the Bien Hoa province in Vietnam, heavy enemy fire fell on Pte Norden VC’s platoon.
Risking his life with little cover protecting him, the soldier ran back into enemy fire three times to rescue his wounded peer and recover the body of another.
Pte Norden returned to Australia, but died soon after while on active service with the Australian Capital Territory Police in 1972.
Fifty-three years after his death, Pte Nordern was honoured with the medal, becoming the fifth Vietnam veteran to be awarded the VC.
In Seymour, the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk honours the Australians who served and died in the Vietnam War, with their names etched on 106 glass panels lining the path at High St.
Once fundraising is complete, the four VC panels will become five and are set to be placed in a line at the walk.
Photo by
Billie Davern
Four separate glass panels have also been dedicated to the Vietnam veterans who were awarded the VC.
With Pte Norden having been bestowed the honour long after the walk was established, there are only four glass VC panels standing tall at the walk.
Now, it’s the mission of VVAA Mitchell sub-branch president John Phoenix OAM to remove the current four panels and replace them with five new ones to commemorate Pte Nordern alongside fellow VC recipients Major Peter Badcoe and Warrant Officers Class 2 Keith Payne, Ray Simpson and Kevin Wheatley.
The project will cost an estimated total of $120,000 to remove the four current panels, create five new ones, and install them at the walk.
With $71,893 raised through donations from the community, local organisations and people attending the walk on tours, Mr Phoenix is on the home stretch.
He said they had amassed this sum “just from getting the word out there”.
“A lot of the Vietnam veterans have coughed up for it, and the RSL clubs, too,” he said.
“Even our car club threw in $5000, which blew me away because I only expected $1000 when they brought it up at the committee meeting.”
Local veteran Hank Kreemers said many had donated significant amounts to the cause.
“$1150 has been donated just this month. The lowest we usually get is about $50,” he said.
While there’s been much advocacy, and there’s still a significant amount of fundraising to go, Mr Phoenix has his heart set on seeing the dream realised in the near future.
“If you’re passionate about something, you’ll keep pushing — it’s a simple thing,” he said.
“If we can get this done by August next year, I’ll be very happy.”
