Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day – 18th August 2024

Our Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day Service was held on Sunday 18th August 2024 at 11:00am at Springwood War Memorial. The Service was well attended by veterans, veterans’ families, many associations as well as members of the public. A function was held at the Royal Hotel following the Service.

Our Guest of Honour was Mr Mike Carlton AO

GUEST of HONOUR  – Mike Carlton AO

In a working life of more than fifty years, Mike Carlton was one of Australia’s best-known media figures in radio, television and newspapers.


Beginning as a cadet journalist at the ABC, he became a war correspondent in Vietnam and for three years was the ABC’s Bureau Chief in Jakarta.

He also reported for the ABC from London, New York and major Asian capitals. In television, he worked on the ABC’s groundbreaking This Day Tonight current affairs program in the 1970s and for Nine Network News and A Current Affair.


In 1980 Mike turned to talk radio, first at Sydney’s 2UE and then 2GB, and later at London’s LBC Newstalk 97.3FM, where he won a coveted Sony Radio Academy award in 1993 for Britain’s best talk breakfast show.

His radio satire on current affairs, Friday News Review, was ‘must listening’ in Australia and the UK.


For many years he wrote a popular weekly column for the Sydney Morning Herald.


Mike has had a life-long passion for naval history and is the author of CruiserFirst VictoryFlagship and The Scrap Iron Flotilla.

Below is the link to the article from the Blue Mountains Gazette, with photos.

https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/8733575/mike-carlton-recounts-haunting-tale-at-springwood-memorial-to-vietnam-veterans/

Good Morning Vietnam – Music From The Vietnam War Era – Vol 2

Dear Members

The Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans & Associated Forces Inc. will be holding another great fundraising show.

After our sellout concert in 2023 this phenomenal band return with Vol 2 of their concert extravaganza.

With even more hits of the 60s and 70s to groove along to.

The Good Morning Vietnam: Music from the Vietnam War Era Live in Concert Vol 2 Show,

On Saturday 9 March 2024, at 3:00pm at

Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub, Springwood

Tickets are now on sale from the box office, in person or via the link below. 

Here is the link:

https://www.bluemountainstheatre.com.au/what-s-on/season-2024/good-morning-vietnam/

Please feel free to share with all your friends and family.

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day 2023 Commemorative Service

Our Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day 2023 Service was held on Sunday 13 August 2023 at the Springwood Cenotaph on Macquarie Road, Springwood NSW.

The Guest of Honour was our Patron, Brigadier Nerolie McDonald. Who gave an excellent speech and delighted many of our Vietnamese attendees, by speaking in Vietnamese, in part of her speech.

The Service was very well attended by our members and many other members of various organisations.

We look forward to holding our next Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day Service on Sunday 18 August 2024.

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day 2021

Commemorative Service

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Service due to be held on Sunday 15 August 2021 at the Springwood Cenotaph had to be cancelled, due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown at that time.

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Service due to be held on Sunday 15 August 2021 at the Springwood Cenotaph had to be cancelled, due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown at that time.

Below is a link to the address given by
His Excellency General,
The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd)
Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia on Memorial Day 2021:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/af7ndsfplrlzfg4/AADQWDqLn8l0GvnCii7g7xFPa?dl=0&preview=20210817+GG+video+message+-+Vietnam+Remembrance+Day+50th+Anniversary.mp4

Springwood Cenotaph on a previous Memorial Day

Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day 2020
Commemorative Service

The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day Commemorative Service was held on Tuesday 18th August 2020, in Springwood.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions it was attended by a very small group.

We thank Luke McKay, Chris McKay’s son, for producing this video of the event.

Please click on the image below to play the video.

2019 Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day in Springwood

The Catafalque Party at the 2019 Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day Commemoration at Springwood War Memorial.

One of the Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans & Associated Forces Inc. signature events is their Memorial Day.

Over time, this event has involved the participation of a most significant line-up of respected Australian Service and Public identities.

2019 Memorial Day  Guest of Honour

Brigadier Phillip Bridie

From the Blue Mountains Gazette

Australia’s Vietnam War veterans “blazed the trail” for how our nation understands military service, Springwood’s annual memorial day held on Sunday (August 11).

Brigadier Phillip Bridie was the Guest of Honour at the service, recalling the hostile reception Vietnam War veterans experienced when returning to Australia.

“The trauma of the Vietnam War had ripped the social fabric of our country and those who served not only bore their own wounds but also bore the collective wounds of the nation’s trauma,” he said.

But Brigadier Bridie said the Australian people “have learnt from this bitter experience”, with the 1987 Welcome Home Parade for Vietnam Veterans marking a turning point.

He said his own experience returning home from service in Afghanistan was vastly different. The 2015 homecoming parade for Operation Slipper – Australia’s military contribution to the war against terrorism across Afghanistan and the Middle East – was held only months after the operation’s close.

“The streets were lined with enthusiastic and supportive Australians of all backgrounds,” said Brigadier Bridie. “So I thank our Vietnam veterans, on behalf of all veterans since, for blazing the trail by developing in the Australian people a better understanding of our service.”

The Memorial Day event is held in the village of Springwood NSW. Each year, the  Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans and Associated Forces conducts the largest single club annual parade and Memorial Service for Vietnam Veterans in Australia, Memorial Day occurs on the Sunday closest to the Federally recognised Vietnam Veterans’ Day, which is held annually on 18 August (Long Tan Day).