Te Awamutu Rural sales specialist Noldy Rust 027 255 3047 | rwteawamutu.co.nz YourC community newspaper for over 100 years Thursday, May 9, 2019 Rosetown Realty Ltd Licensed REAA2008 Get tickets Bonded by battles The Te Awamutu i—Site is now selling Fieldays tickets. Adult tickets are $30 and children’s tickets are $15. Vietnam vets mark 50 years since difficult homecoming No fees for cash or eftpos, but a credit card fee will apply. The i—Site will be open from 7am during the Fieldays week — June 12 to 15. Housie time Rosetown Lions is having a Housie event at the RSA on Saturday, May 11 at 3pm. Proceeds will support the Te Awamutu Health shuttle and other organisations. The event is free and there will be raffles and a bar open. Pink affair Station 32 is hosting a Mother's Day Pink Ribbon Affair this Sunday, May 12 at 10am. The event will include a brunch menu, a Mother's Day Pink Pamper Raffle and the opportunity to donate to the Breast Cancer Foundation. Book your seat via the Station 32 Facebook page. Trump this University of Waikato senior lecturer Dr Raymond Richards is the next guest speaker at the meeting of Continuing Education on Wednesday, May 15. Veterans of Victor 3 Company with members of the current Victor Company, 1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment at Te He will give his opinions Awamutu War Memorial Park’s Sunken Cross. Photo / Dean Taylor and clarify complexities in American politics. BY DEAN TAYLOR the homecoming, Lou put his hand up to host See ad in today's paper for Premium a special event. more info or phone 871 9544. Fifty years ago this month Victor 3 He says Te Awamutu RSA embraced the Infantry Rifle Company returned home from nzherald.co.nz opportunity to assist with the event, Youth gig war, but theirs was not a homecoming supported by the Ministry of Defence, Waipa¯ The North Shore Youth remembered with fondness — and nor were District Council, New Zealand Government Orchestra and Youth Choir the veterans treated with respect or dignity. “We weren’t welcomed home, we were and National RSA. are performing a concert at The Company had spent a year fighting in blamed for a war no-one wanted,” he says. On Sunday 120 veterans, supporters and Vietnam, a conflict misunderstood to this day, Fifty years later, at a special reunion of family came together in Te Awamutu, open- Te Awamutu Methodist and one which divided a nation. Victor 3 (V3) held in Te Awamutu which ing with the public commemoration at Te Church on Saturday, May 18 New Zealand was drawn into the ‘war included a public commemoration service, Awamutu War Memorial Park’s Sunken at 2.30pm. against communism’ waged by the Americans the emotions were evident as the memories Cross. The concert will feature and, for the first time, Kiwis were able to from half a century ago were still raw. They were also supported by current the music of Les Miserables, watch it in their lounges on the television sets. Lou says the year in Vietnam, and sub- Victor Company members, 1st Battalion West Side Story, David But, as Te Awamutu RSA president and sequent treatment back home, brought V3 Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment from Hamilton, Simon and Victor 3 veteran Lou Brown says, the cover- closer together, and they have been ever Linton Military Camp under Company Ser- Garfunkel and more. age was the American, sanitised version — since. geant Major Regan Cherrington and Lieuten- Free entry, donation not the ‘real atrocities of Vietnam’. “We relied on each other for support, and ant Tom Merrilees — hosted by Te Awamutu welcome. He says when he and his comrades came still do,” he says. Community Cadets at their HQ. back to New Zealand they were shunned by The brothers in arms have a reunion every both official parties and the public. two years, but to mark the 50th anniversary of ■ Continued page 2 Public Meeting National MP’s Barbara Kuriger and Chris Bishop invite you to a public meeting to discuss changes to the firearms law. Barbara Kuriger MP for Taranaki - King Country Monday 13th of May at 6.30pm Senior National Whip Te Awamutu RSA 381 Alexandra Street Te Awamutu Chris Bishop MP for Hutt South Authorised by Barbara Kuriger MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Spokesperson for Police 2 Te Awamutu Courier Thursday, May 9, 2019 Victor 3 vets mark 50 years ■ From page 1 14,045 The parade fell in under the command of Parade Marshal 14,045* AJ Quinn, with Te Awamutu CIRCULATION 14,045* Community Cadets forming the Catafalque Party. Waipa¯ Mayor Jim Mylchreest welcomed the vet- erans and supporters to the district and honoured them for the sacrifices they made for their country. Wreaths were laid by the New Zealand Gov- ernment, represented by the Minister of Defence and Vet- [email protected] erans Affairs Ron Mark and assisted by Taranaki/King Country MP Barbara Kuriger, [email protected] Waipa¯ District Council, National RSA, current Victor [email protected] Company and Victor 3 vet- erans. [email protected] The Musical Allsorts assisted with the singing of the National Anthem, and hymn [email protected] Abide With Me and the Roll of Honour was presented as flag bearers lowered their stand- [email protected] ards. Former New Zealand Army Band bugler Doug Rose played Victor 3 Company Flag party, from left: Leo Rogatski, Nigel Martin and Alistair Allen. Last Post and Reveille follow- Photo / Dean Taylor ing the reading of Ode to the in Vietnam. Vietnam was a “He put us through our paces Anzac Battalion, both integral Fallen. misunderstood, misrepre- to be effective operators in components of the 1st Austra- The reunion continued into sented war — and in the end it jungle warfare and to fulfil lian Task Force based at Nui the evening, when Te Awa- was all for nothing. roles envisaged in various Dat in the Phuoc Tuy province. mutu RSA hosted a formal “There is nothing positive SEATO contingency plans at Lou had started his career [email protected] dinner. about war,” he says. the time. with the army after Lou says the public service V3 was formed in 1968 from “A number were already completing his National Ser- was a poignant event for the members of the 1st Battalion experienced soldiers who saw vice. veterans — recognition of Royal New Zealand Infantry duty in Malaya and Borneo.” He was in the regular force their efforts and sacrifice. Regiment who were serving on V3 had 172 personnel for five years, posted initially “V3 was the highest decor- the malay peninsula. deployed to Vietnam from May to the Infantry in Burnham. He ated infantry unit to serve “We were a highly trained, 1968 until May 1969, serving as was then posted to Malaya and We’re online at nzmecommunitynews.pressreader.com New Zealand since World War combat-ready unit thanks to a rifle company with Austra- from there trained and was II,” he says. “We lost two our second-in-charge during lians in the 2 RAR/NZ Anzac formed up into V3. comrades in our deployment training, Captain Neville Kidd Battalion and later as an ■ 2016 — but we all lost our innocence who had been CO of the SAS. attachment to the 4 RAR/NZ Continued page 3 WATCH OUT FOR A MAY DIFFERENT DEAL EACH WEEK! CRAZY DISCOUNTS Furniture Zone Te Awamutu: 280 Alexandra St, Ph: 07 870 4584 ASK ABOUT INTEREST FREE www.furniturezone.co.nz Terms and Conditions Apply Thursday, May 9, 2019 Te Awamutu Courier 3 Remembering Vietnam Sunday Lunches Open every Sunday from 12pm service with old mates Enjoy exquisite Mediterranean cuisine and award ■ From page 2 winning wines The perfect place to celebrate special occasions After Vietnam Lou rose to Corporal and was part Outdoor play area for children of the National Service training wing — where he had started his mili- tary career — but a law change changed his career. The Government of the day abolished National Service and Lou’s job was gone. 702 Rukuhia Road, Ohaupo Without a career path Book today! 07 825 2893 in the Army, Lou left and returned home to farm at www.vilagradwines.co.nz Puahue. Lou says hosting the reunion was a privilege and he and his fellow veterans appreciated all Members of 2 Platoon, Victor 3 Company at Terendak in Malaysia, February the support. 1968 prior to their deployment to Vietnam three months later. Private LE Brown ATTENTION Veterans and current is on the right hand side of row three from the front. Photo / www.vietnamwar.govt.nz Victor Company spent time together and the presentations by Victor young soldiers showed Company, 1st Battalion off some of the modern Royal New Zealand LANDLORDS equipment they have. Infantry Regiment to be The formal dinner displayed at Te Awa- was another chance for mutu RSA, one a plaque Ownapropertyyouwanttorentout? Victor 3 Company, and acknowledging service all veterans of conflicts, in Afghanistan and the to be properly recognised second, a special 1st Bat- Having problems with your rental? and honoured for their talion plaque to honour service and sacrifice. all veterans at the V3 A highlight was the Reunion. Contact the Property Comrades in arms — 50 years on. Photo / Dean Taylor Management Specialists Yvonne or Ashley 027 857 7385 or 07 871 7189 Reunion organiser and MC was Te Awamutu RSA president Lou Brown. Photo / Dean Taylor Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Hon.