MELTON Vietnam veteran Graham Sertori takes time to reflect on Anzac Day, enjoying the opportunity to “catch up with some mates”.
He enjoys the township’s smaller, more personal dawn service.
“I’ve been to the city dawn service, but I think the service in Melton is not as big and is so solemn,” he says.
During his time in the Australian Army, Mr Sertori served in an infantry support role in Vietnam in 1966-67.
More than 45 years later, he says the lessons of war are too easily forgotten.
“We’ve learnt nothing, we’re still fighting and still so barbaric. It shows we still can’t live with each other.
“You can’t change what you did in Vietnam, but you can help your fellow veteran, and I do the best I can.”
A life member of the Melton Vietnam Veterans Association, Mr Sertori says he’s proud of his work with the group.
He helped design the association’s badge, which was adopted at the 2000 Victorian conference.
“The orange represented the effect of Agent Orange on veterans and the black is a mark of respect to the fallen,” he says.
Agent Orange was the code name for one of the toxic herbicides used in the jungles of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to defoliate forested and rural land to deprive guerillas of cover.
The lethal chemical has had long-term and devastating effects on veterans.
“So many vets have had cancer caused by Agent Orange – I had prostate cancer,” Mr Sertori says.
As head fund-raiser for the Association’s Melton branch, Mr Sertori says they take great pride in their community involvement.
“We look after educational needs of veterans’ grandchildren and children and provide financial help when things are tough for vets,” he says.
Seven years ago, Mr Sertori established weekly barbecues for veterans.
“For some of the men, it’s the only time they leave their house because they see their mates and they know it’s safe,” he said.
“One of the veteran’s wives asked me to make the barbecues twice a week because her husband enjoys it so much.”
