On the walls of the Launceston RSL club hangs a list of names commemorating local Vietnam veterans.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There is about 100 names on the list of people who fought for their country and have since passed away.
Now Launceston Legacy wants to find their widows.
Coronavirus: All the latest updates on COVID-19 for Tasmania
Senior vice president Terry Byrne said the club had taken a pledge to look after their mates and if their mates passed away to look after their families.
"If something happened to one of us we would like to think that Legacy would be there for our wives and families," he said.
"What we want to do is we want to find these 100 or so widows and offer them the services of Legacy.
"We would like to find these widows and at least let them know that they are welcome here."
The idea of finding the missing widows has been on Launceston Legacy's agenda for a while but they decided now is the time as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Association.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"The Vietnam Veterans Association will be having a function to commemorate 40 years of their organisation and we would like to send a personal invite to the widows of the deceased veterans just to let them know we are thinking of them," Mr Byrne said.
"Between Legacy and the Vietnam Veterans Association it became important to us to do something about finding these ladies."
He said it was important for them to make the effort.
"We have had some people say to us 'my husband died and nobody ever came to see me'," Mr Byrne said.
"We want to be able to show that at least we had a go, we tried to find you."
Legacy Launceston Widow's Club president Elaine Banks said the group could provide social connection for the widows.
She said despite restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 members of the club were still keeping connected.
"They keep in touch with each other, we all keep in touch with each other," Ms Banks said.
"During this I am going to ring them every two weeks and have a talk and see how they are all going."
Ms Banks said some of the widows are a part of other support services but Legacy wanted to make sure nobody was slipping through the cracks.
"We are aware there are those people who need help but don't realise Legacy can provide that," she said.
Mr Bryne urged anyone who believes they are a widow or descendant of a local Vietnam veteran to reach out to Legacy either over the phone or via email.
Names of local Vietnam veterans
- Leonard Firth AATTV
- Raymond Hooper 4FD Regt
- Gary Good 2SQ RAAF
- Ken Buller 1,8,9 RAR
- Barry Walker 17 Const Sqn
- Brian Kenna 1 RAR
- Anthony Littlejohn HQ 1ATF
- Robert Butler 110 Sig Sqn
- Maxwell Good Det 5A Sco
- Kevin Midson 1ARUS, 7RAR
- John Mathews Sur Flt/10SV
- Richard Gardner 7 RAR
- Sydney Colley AATTV
- 6708927 Bruce Daniels 1/12 Fld Reg
- Leigh Phillips HMAS Vampire
- Rodney Reeves HMAS Sydney
- Alva Knight AATTV
- John Ellis RAAF HQ AFV
- Roger Darrington 102 Fld Wshop
- Kevin Newman 2 RAR
- Trent Standage 110 Sig SQN
- Tony Luck Sup Flt 10 SU
- Richard Williams 7 RAR
- Michael Pinchard 110 Sigs
- Michael Lethbridge Det 55 Eng
- Gerald Leonard 2 AOD
- Andrew Wessing HQ1ATF-7 RAR
- Michael McCormick 1TFHQ LAD
- Ray Minns Det 131 Div Loc
- Maurice Ladlow 9 RAR
- Lewis Rawnsley HQ AFV
- John Webley 2 SQN
- Carl Bullock 17 Const SQN
- Merton Lee 1 FLD SQN
- Joseph Ferguson AATTV
- John Young 7 RAR
- Charles Johnson 5 RAR
- Graham Youd 87 TPT PL
- Vaughn Painting RACS
- John McNally 1 Field Reg
- William Beilby ALSC DET 1APC SQN
- Alfred Thomas 17 Const SQN
- Erik Olding 3 RAR
- Ian Finlay 9 SQN RAAF
- Derek Jones RAN
- Christopher Nation 1st ARM REG
- Phillip Lee 8 RAR
- Terrence Chatwin 17 Const SQN RAE
- Justus Hartnack 32 SM Ship SQN
- Wayne Stone 1 PSYCH OPS
- Elwin Raynor 5 RAR
- Robert Young 6 RAR
- Marsden Davies 1,3 SAS SQN
- Leigh Bailey 102 FD WKSP
- Raymond Wheeler HMAS Vampire
- Barry Wilson 709 SIG TP 110 Sig SQN
- Maxwell Chidgey 1 RAR
- Neville Hampton 547 SP TP
- Alan Blythe 1ARV HQ 1ALG
- Garry Self HQ 1ATF
- Neil Blazley 1, 2, 8 RAR
- Wilfred Egan HQ 1ATF (Father Bill)
- CPl Patrick Banks RAAC 161 REC FLT
- Allen Burns 6 RAR
- John Booth 3 Cav Regt
- Bruce Pearse 1ARV 3 RAR 4 RAR
- Kevin Smith HQQ COY 1ATF
- Keith Blazely RAA O CORPS
- Robert Jones 1 Field Reg
- Walter Sully 1 RAR
- Bevan Filce 4th Field Reg RAA
- James McKinlay 3 RAR
- Pieter Koster 8 RAR
- Darren Benn 5 RAR
- Robin Simons 1st Field SQN RAE
- Michael Smith 9 RAR
- Roxley Saunders 6 RAR
- Reginald Seymour 9 RAR 6 RAR
- Charles Von-Stieglitz 1 RTR
- William Baker RAE
- Robert Shegog RAASC
- Desmal Mallett RAAOC
- Graeme McCarthy B COY 5 RAR
- Graeme Wheldon 7 RAR
- Craig Snadden RAN
- Graham Clare 2 RAR
- Geradus Coret 5 RAR
- Leigh Larter 8 RAR
- Robert Hart 102 BTY 12 Fd Reg
- Paul Young RA1 C
- Andrew mcGrath-Kerr RAAC
- Ronald Harding RASC
- Robin McEnaulty RAS1E
- Harold Butterworth 1RTR
- Raymond Robinson 1 RAR
- Ronald Coxon RAEME
- Barry Kilby RAASC
- Donald Wright RAN
- Michael Allwright RAA
- Anthony Povey 2 RAR
- Robin Imlach RAAC
- Lyndon Bolton 9 RAR
Sign up to one of our many newsletters:
Jackson Worthington
General news reporter with a special interest in social justice, the economy and family violence. Jackson.Worthington@austcommunitymedia.com.au
General news reporter with a special interest in social justice, the economy and family violence. Jackson.Worthington@austcommunitymedia.com.au
