Vietnam War Memorial of Victoria committee member Andy Nguyen hands the $40,000 cheque to Dandenong RSL president Alec Kowarzik.By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG RSL’S Christmas was sweeter than imagined thanks to a retrospective $40,000 grant for its Vietnam War memorial.
The Vietnam War Memorial of Victoria association, which originally raised funds for the RSL’s striking Huey helicopter and bronze statue memorial, handed the $40,000 grant to the RSL at a ceremony on 17 December.
The Federal Government gave the memorial committee the $40,000 last year for costs of construction and design.
The memorial committee then handed the grant to the RSL in exchange for the RSL’s commitment it would maintain the memorial.
Federal Veteran Affairs minister Bruce Billson made headlines when he told the committee it could only have the grant if it did not wave the South Vietnamese flag at its Vietnam Veteran Day ceremonies.
But community backlash forced Mr Billson to withdraw the condition and give the $40,000 grant.
Former Vietnam War Memorial of Victoria co-chairman and Dandenong RSL member John Wells said the handover to the RSL brought closure to any issues surrounding the grant.
“The Minister copped some stick over the conditions originally applied to the grant, but he was big enough, and honest enough, to seek further information and to shift his position when he got all the facts,” Mr Wells said.
“We salute that intelligence and that integrity on his part.
“The memorial is a sign that we believe that Australian citizens of whatever origin who fought together in that war, and who are joined in Australian citizenship now, are truly brothers in arms, with one bright, shared future.”
