Community
28 April, 2023
Local Vietnam veterans honoured
PANMURE paid tribute to local Vietnam veterans with a plaque unveiling during the town’s Anzac Day service this week.
Panmure Action Group president Ian Wallace, who led the service, said each year a group was selected to be recognised. A plaque was unveiled under the Lone Pine at the Panmure War Memorial bearing the names of those from the area who had served in Vietnam; Peter Fry, Richard Ridgewell, Keith Dixon, Brian Mathers, Michael Smith, James Ryan, Terry McInerney, John Knight and George Atkins. “We’re recognising Vietnam veterans from within a 10-mile radius of Panmure, which includes Allansford, Naringal, Framlingham, Garvoc and Laang, for their service” he said. “We’ve centred our 2023 service around these men, as in previous year we’ve centred the service around others. “We’ve had wonderful support from the army, especially Lieutenant Zeigler, who plays an integral part of our service each year. “This was also the first time we’ve had a singer, Don Cowling, and we’ve never had a speaker system this good, so we’re really pleased with how everything went.” The service began with a march down Harris Street to the memorial, with a large military presence joining local veterans and family members. The service featured guest speakers, including Vietnam veterans, who recounted their experiences and spoke about what Anzac Day means to them. Among the speakers was Moyne Shire mayor Karen Foster, who said it was important to reflect on what Anzac Day means. “I have a 23-year-old daughter and a 20-year-old son, and the average age of a solider in 1914 was 23,” she said. “By sheer chance, my children were born in to a time of peace and they have never had to contemplate going to war and, as their mother, I’ve never had to face the abject terror of waving them off, never knowing if I would see them again. “As their mother, and as an Australian, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the servicemen and women who have gone before. “It’s because of their sacrifice that our children have been able to grow up today as part of the Anzac tradition of which we can all feel so proud; so, we remember them all.” Mr Wallace also paid tribute to Panmure Action Group vice president Reg Dumesny, who died earlier this year in a car accident. Mr Dumesny played an integral role in helping to organise Anzac Day services in Panmure, and his loss is one still felt today. “I couldn’t mention him during the service, I would have come unglued,” Mr Wallace said.
