On Monday, communities across Brisbane gathered to mark Vietnam Veterans Day, honouring the service and sacrifice of more than 60,000 Australians who served in the Vietnam War. This year’s commemoration carries special weight, marking the 59th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan—one of the most defining and harrowing engagements in Australia’s military history.
In the late afternoon of 18 August 1966, 108 soldiers from Delta Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, along with three New Zealand artillerymen, found themselves surrounded in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan. Facing an estimated 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops, the Australians fought for nearly four hours in torrential rain, low visibility, and dwindling ammunition. By nightfall, 18 Australians had been killed and 24 wounded, while enemy casualties numbered at least 245.
The battle has become a symbol of extraordinary bravery, mateship, and resilience. Major Harry Smith, who led Delta Company, later described the fight as “a test of endurance and spirit that defined a generation of diggers.”
Ceremonies were held across Brisbane this week. On the northside, Sandgate RSL hosted the Vietnam Veteran’s Day Commemoration, joined by local officials Cr. Jared Cassidy, Bisma Asif MP and a representative for Anika Wells MP.
Greenbank RSL hosted an event on Brisbane’s southside with local representatives Cr. Emily Kim, Cr. Tim Frazer, and Leanne Enoch MP.
Vietnam Veterans Day is not only a time to remember the fallen but also to acknowledge the enduring legacy of those who returned. Many veterans faced a divided public upon their return, and the scars—both physical and emotional—have lingered for decades. Organisations like Open Arms, originally founded as the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service, continue to provide vital mental health support to veterans and their families.
The Long Tan Bursary, administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, also reflects this legacy. It offers up to $12,000 over three years to support tertiary education for the children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans—a testament to the ongoing contribution of these families to Australian society.
Vietnam Veterans Day reminds us that courage is not confined to the battlefield—it lives on in the quiet strength of those who served, the families who supported them, and the communities that continue to remember.
From the mud of Long Tan to the memorials of today, their story endures. Lest we forget.
