Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
The "Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia"
website has been designed with two purposes in mind. The first,
to provide information of special or current interest
to Australian Vietnam veterans. The second, to provide
for students of all ages, historical context, information
about Australia's involvement in the war, Australian units,
servicemen and servicewomen.
For questions / queries about our site, contact our webmaster
This website was last updated 24.06.2008
Commanders Diaries for SE Asia (including Vietnam)
now available
here
The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA) had
its advent in the Vietnam Veterans Action Association formed
in the late 1979 as a result of the perceptions of Vietnam
veterans that exposure to chemicals
was causing problems with their health and the health of their
children. The chemicals, known by the generic name of Agent
Orange included 2,4,5,T and 2,4,D, a by product of which is the
extremely poisonous substance TCDD or dioxin. The problems
ranged from minor irritation to lethal, with symptoms such as
skin blisters, itching, flushes, nasal problems, blurred
vision, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal,
gastro-urinary muscular and nervous system disorders, cancers
and tumours. This was often exacerbated by psychological
disorders caused by what was later diagnosed as post
traumatic stress disorder.
The Association fought an uphill battle against government
indifference, including the bitter disappointment of the now
discredited 1983 Evatt Royal Commission on the Use and Effects
of Chemical Agents on Australian Personnel in Vietnam. At the
same time there was a very real feeling that the RSL had not
accepted the Vietnam veterans, and nor would it pursue the
concerns of this group with the vigour they believed that
those concerns warranted. This feeling was never stronger than
during this period, when the VVAA and the RSL were absolutely
opposed.
The gradual successes of the VVAA in the following years
came as a result of much hard work and lobbying. The Vietnam
Veterans Counselling Service was established as a direct
result of the action of the VVAA, and it is now an integral
part of treatment regimes, not only for veterans, but also for
the survivors of traumatic events such as the Port Arthur
Massacre.
This was followed by the establishment of the
Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic in Heidelburg, which now
extended its treatment to St John of God Hospital in Sydney,
together with visiting services to various rural locations.
Lifestyle courses permit veterans to contribute to their own
well-being, learning how to cope with problems and adapt their
lifestyle to best suit themselves.
The bitterness engendered by the political response to
veterans’ concerns about their health and the health of
their children coloured the attitude of the Vietnam Veterans
Association of Australia for many years. It is only lately
that positive action by both the Department
of Veterans Affairs and the VVAA has resulted in a
relationship where the concerns of veterans are being
addressed. The VVAA is represented on a large number of
Government committees as a respected part of the Ex-Service
community and is a major contributor to debate, legislation
and administration involving veterans.
The VVAA remains a wholly volunteer body, whose sole
interest is the welfare of veterans and the families of
veterans. It has strong representation in every State
and Territory, and very close ties with equivalent
organisations in the United
States and New Zealand. The relationship between the now
R&SL and the Association has matured into one of mutual
respect, and many members of the Association also enjoy
membership of the R&SL.
Current issues involving the Association include the
recently released results of the Vietnam
Veterans’ Mortality Study, (commissioned by the
Department of Veterans Affairs) and following through on the
self-reported issues revealed in the long-delayed Vietnam
Veterans’ Health Study, including spouses and children.
The Mortality Study revealed that Vietnam veterans have a
death rate 7% higher than the general male population, with
deaths from cancer 21% higher, prostate cancer 53% higher,
lung cancer 29%, ischaemic heart disease 10% and suicides 21%
above the general male population. This is a cause for grave
concern, and work continues to ensure that the results of this
study are reflected in Repatriation Medical Authority and
Departmental documents. The nominal roll of Vietnam veterans
was released in 1997, although it should be noted that the
value of this work is in its contribution towards the
Mortality and Health Studies. In addition to this, the End
of War List for this war has just been compiled, and this
will result in a review of awards which were recommended at
the time but which were not awarded due to the imposition of
medal quotas. All of these things contribute to addressing the
issues of concern to veterans. The results of the Health Study
were released in April 1998, and sadly, confirmed the worst
fears of veterans in relation their health, and the health of
their children. The VVAA is committed to accomplishing,
quickly, accurately and completely, the validation which the
government requires. It will then move to achieve the Association's
stated aims in regard to the Health Study outcomes.
Over the years there has been a persistent media
presentation of Vietnam veterans as ‘victims’. The
Association believes that this is counter-productive. This is
not an image that the VVAA wishes to perpetuate either for
itself or for its members. Rather, it sees Vietnam veterans as
achievers. Vietnam veterans have reached the highest level of
business, professional and political ranks within Australia,
and every one of them who has overcome psychological or health
problems in order to raise a family and live a relatively
normal life has overcome adversity in order to achieve.
Vietnam veterans aren’t victims, they are achievers. |
