“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Dozens of people turned out to the Melton cenotaph last Wednesday to ‘remember’ the 18 Australian soldiers who were killed during the Battle of Long Tan.
The Melton RSL held commemorations for the 50th anniversary of one of the deadliest Vietnam War conflicts.
Melton RSL president Ian Lawrey said the commemorative events were “very, very important” for veterans and their families. “It’s important for veterans’ wives to come along and remember their loved ones,” Mr Lawrey said. “It’s a hard thing to explain; it means something different to everybody, I guess, but the memories will never go away and it’s good to get together at least one day of the year and celebrate that time, as we do with Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.”
Local school students, political staffers, councillors, members of the Partners of Veterans Association, Bacchus Marsh and Melton RSLs and Bunnings Melton laid wreaths at the cenotaph on High Street.
