Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Bendigo sub-branch president Terry Nolan said the service was an opportunity for families and friends of those men to have their sacrifice recognised, along with those who returned.

Mr Nolan said public attitudes towards Vietnam veterans had changed dramatically during the past 50 years, after an initially hostile response when soldiers first returned from the war.

“We didn’t have any support when we first came back from Vietnam, one minute you’re in the jungle and the next your on the street,” he said.

“The younger community is getting more and more involved and some of the older veterans are now opening up and starting to tell even their own families things they haven’t told them in the past.”

Those present to pay their respects included local MPs Lisa Chesters and Jacinta Allan as well as school groups from across Bendigo, some of whom are studying the Vietnam War, who all laid wreaths.

August 18 was chosen as the day Australian Vietnam veterans commemorate the war, in recognition of the pivotal role Australian soldiers played in the victory at Long Tan, during which they were outnumbered by at least ten to one.

Vietnamese authorities initially cancelled this year’s commemorative service at Long Tan, but have since relented and allowed groups of 100 people to lay wreaths at the site.

Those present in Bendigo did not want to comment on the controversy, but said it had not overshadowed local commemorations.

Of the six Bendigo men killed in action, 21-year-old David John Thomas, of D company 6RAR, lost his life in the Battle of Long Tan on August 18, 1966.

The other five Bendigonians who made the ultimate sacrifice were John Alexander Doherty, Bevan Maxwell Trimble, Paul Francis Reidy, Lindsay Noel Brown and Allen Roy Brown.

Lest we forget.