Vietnam Veterans Day 2025
2025 Southwest Vietnam Veterans Day - Busselton
This year the Southwest Vietnam Veterans Day was hosted by the Busselton RSL Sub- Branch. A bus load of Collie-Cardiff members (28) departed Collie at around 08.30hrs arriving in Busso in time for a lovely cup of tea/coffee with cakes, sandwiches, party pies and pasties.
At around 10.30hrs S/west RSL Sub Branches formed up for the march to the newly erected Busselton War Memorial, a short distance from the sub-branch. The march was led by members carrying Vietnam RSL banners from several sub-branches including Collie. The new memorial was very impressive recognizing servicemen from Busselton who served from the Boer War through to Afghanistan.
At 1100hrs the service commenced with RSLWA President Duncan Anderson addressing the assembly. Wreaths were laid by individual sub-branches, including from Collie-Cardiff in recognition of the two servicemen killed in action from Collie, Keith Dewar and James (Jimmy) White. The ODE for the fallen was recited by RSLWA President, followed by Last Post, Silence and Reveille. At conclusion the assembly returned to the sub-branch for camaraderie.
A lovely three course sit down lunch was provided by the Busselton ladies and a raffle draw took place during the lunch. The largest contingent, other than Busso, on the day again was from Collie with 28 sitting down for lunch around a quarter of the total sitting. And of course once again Collie members won a big part of the prizes.
At a meeting of Sub Branch Presidents held during the day it was decided that Collie-Cardiff Sub-Branch would host the 2026 Southwest Vietnam Veterans Day.
Among the last sub-branches to depart for home as usual was Collie, at around 1515hrs. There was plenty of water! on board supplied by our bar manger to ensure members did not become de-hydrated and of course we got lost on the way home, took a wrong turn and had to have a toilet stop at Balingup. We arrived home around 1730hrs, a great day was had by all.
Thank you to all those members who made for a very successful day.
From the Secretary