At the Anzac School Service held last week, Dimboola Memorial Secondary College Captain Remi Kuhne gave the following address honouring our Vietnam Heroes.

This year, at Anzac services and marches around Australia, there is a heightened focus on our soldiers' involvement in the Vietnam conflict. Often reflected on with mixed feelings, those who fought in Vietnam still served their country, and many made the ultimate sacrifice.

The arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962 was the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. As the war went on, the Australian commitment consisted predominantly of army personnel, but significant numbers of air force and navy personnel and some civilians also took part.

Australia's participation in the war was formally declared at an end, when the Governor-General issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973. The only combat troops remaining in Vietnam were a platoon guarding the Australian embassy in Saigon, which was withdrawn in June 1973. So for 11 years, our country had soldiers fighting in Vietnam.

From the time of the arrival in 1962, almost 60,000 Australians, including ground troops, air force and navy personnel, served in Vietnam; 521 died as a result of the war and over 3,000 were wounded. The war was the cause of the greatest social and political dissent in Australia since the conscription referendums of the First World War. Many draft resisters, conscientious objectors, and protesters were fined or jailed, while soldiers met a hostile reception on their return home. But regardless of the politics surrounding Australia's involvement in the Vietnam conflict, it is appropriate to respect those who - even against their will - took part in this war and suffered as a consequence.

From Dimboola and surrounds, 12 served during the Vietnam War and fortunately, there were no casualties. However, Private James Clyde McMillan of Horsham died in Vietnam, so too Private Norman Victor Hawker of Kaniva, so our Wimmera area was directly affected.

While April 25 is synonymous with honouring the memories of those who fought and died on the beaches and cliffs at Gallipoli, over the years the day has taken on a broader commemorative significance. We now stop and reflect on the commitment and sacrifices made by all those men and women who have fought in many conflicts since WW1, including Vietnam and we acknowledge the hundreds of personnel who are today - still fighting overseas.

Being a very unique Memorial school, we are reminded every day of the great sacrifices that have been, and are still being made. Our Avenue of Honour is dedicated to those who have lost their lives and the plaque on the Memorial Building lists all those that served. When we pin our poppies on the board later in this service, let's all remember why we are here and give thanks for the freedoms that we currently enjoy