Anzac tours Vietnam
16 October 2008
HMAS Anzac (CAPT Stuart Mayer) recently visited the port of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as part of its South East Asian Deployment. Spending four days in Vietnam, Anzac's ship's company made the most of their time and booked out several tours including visits to the Cu Chi Tunnels, Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City tour and in a first for an Australian Warship, a visit down to the area where the battle of Long Tan took place.
Long Tan Tour, organised and run by Mr Walter Pearson, a Vietnam Veteran of two tours and journalist, escorted Anzac members for the first ever visit down to Long Tan. Giving his own personal experiences Mr Pearson led the tour party through the location where the Head Quarters of Nui Dat once stood occupied by Australians during the Vietnam conflict.
After witnessing the countryside Mr Pearson then took the tour party to the area where one of the largest battles was fought by the Australians during the Vietnam War, the battle of Long Tan. In the middle of the Long Tan rubber plantation in the Phuoc Tuv Province, members of 6RAR engaged the North Vietnamese Army resulting in heavy causalities and were able to defeat an attack that sought to destroy the established Australian presence.
In 1969 a cross was raised at the site where the battle took place by 6RAR, it was subsequently removed by authorities and now takes its place in the Dong Nai Museum, the current memorial contains a replica and is one of two memorials to foreign adversaries permitted by the Vietnamese Government.
Crew members paid their respects at the Long Tan Cross Memorial and returned back to the ship with the excitement of witnessing a part of Australian history.
Whilst Anzac was alongside some of the ship's company also took the opportunity to visit the town of My Tho, located 70 km south of Ho Chi Minh City on the banks of the Mekong River. Arriving by boat they were able to experience the lives of the local people and attend a music festival. After meeting with the locals they enjoyed a leisurely rowing boat ride around adjacent islands and tiny cannels before feasting on a traditional lunch.
Several of the ship's company also gave up their time to host 26 young orphans from the Sunlight House Boys Shelter. The logistics involved with hosting so many small children, carers and foreign media did not daunt the members who eagerly met the orphans on the flight deck. Initially quiet and reserved, the children were asked by staff for a volunteer to don a ship's divers SCUBA set and mask. After the youngest boy was pushed to the front to volunteer, laughter and screams of delight from the young crowd erupted and the young boy was happy to experience breathing with the mask on. The trust barrier was quickly built and all children had warmed to the crew and eagerly lined up for a try.
After some photos on the forecastle, the smiles continued as the orphans took turns at sitting in the Captains Chair and at the helm. Pretending to drive the ship and hearing themselves over the conning circuit provided them with plenty of entertainment. The children then spent time in one of Anzac's repair bases donning up in fire fighting equipment before shooting wheelie bins with fire hoses.
Finishing up in the junior sailor's café, the children were given freshly baked Anzac biscuits while the crew broke into song with their finest rendition of Waltzing Matilda. The orphans then insisted on returning the favour and sung a heart warming song for the crew. After devouring ice-creams, the orphans were individually presented with stationary packs provided by the Australian Consulate and a small gift pack provided by Anzac. Returning the eager salutes to the crew the children stepped ashore full of smiles and laughter leaving Anzac's ship's company with a real sense of achievement amongst the volunteers.
During the visit a major highlight was accepting a challenge from a local ex-patriot AFL team, the Vietnam Swans. The challenge was accepted by Anzac with over 130 of the ship's company turning up to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) grounds to support the team.
The twilight match kicked off with high levels of tension amongst both players and spectators alike. Taking to the field, Anzac were looking fit and healthy and after a physical and intense encounter the first half of the game saw the scores equal between both sides.
After a tight third quarter where the match outcome was anyone's for the taking, however the Swans kicked away from Anzac in the last quarter and took the game out 84 to 59. The game was played in the finest spirits and the Anzac team held their heads high in defeat.
After a hard fought battle, man of the match (as voted by the Vietnam Swans) was LSCSO Kieran "Sid" Lamond who kicked 3 goals and led his team strongly from the half forward line.
On completion of the match the Vietnam Swans provided a post match function for all players and spectators. The inaugural trophy was then presented to the Vietnam Swans who thanked Anzac for both a great encounter and the chance to build a repour between the RAN and the Vietnam Swans.
