The "Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia Geelong & District Sub-Branch" website provides information of a local nature to veterans in the Geelong, Bellarine,
Golden Plains and Otway/Colac regions as well as links to the VVAA at State
and National levels, the Geelong Veterans Welfare Centre and kindred organisations. For questions / queries
about our site, contact our webmaster
The
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia (VVAA) Geelong & District Sub-Branch
was formed in 1979 and its founding members were prominent in fighting for the
pension and welfare needs of local veterans. At the same time, the Geelong Vietnam
Association, which had formed in early 1975, and was the first such association
to march under a Vietnam Veterans banner (ANZAC Day 1975), also worked hard to
alleviate the dislocation that many of its members had experienced on their return
to civilian life. The GVA's main focus was the support and welfare of veterans
and their families. In 1990, these two groups formally merged as the Geelong & District VVAA Inc. As well as supporting the the Geelong
Veterans Welfare Centre through the provision of pension and welfare officers,
the association places great emphasis on the welfare of its members by the provision
of a range of social, health and lifestyle activities including outings, camping
and fishing trips, bus tours, tennis, yoga, badminton and bushwalking. GDVVAA
members undertake a number of fundraising efforts such as a monthly street barbeque
to raise funds to assist its welfare activities and support the Geelong Veterans
Welfare Centre. Members also take part in the annual Relay For Life to raise money
for cancer research. For a number of years, the association has worked tirelessly
to develop a Memorial and Avenue of Honour as a lasting tribute to the supreme
sacrifice paid by those who did not return. The association newsletter, "The
Slouch Hat", is produced bi-monthly and is currently mailed to over 250
veterans. The GDVVAA remains a wholly volunteer body, whose sole interest is the
welfare of veterans and their families. It has a strong relationship with surrounding
R&SLs and its members are prominent among senior R&SL office bearers.The
GDVVAA is at one with its national body in its desire to portray Vietnam veterans
as achievers rather than as victims. Throughout Geelong and the surrounding districts,
countless veterans have achieved personal, business and community success, often
while overcoming adverse psychological or health problems in order to raise a
family and live a relatively normal life. It is the mission of all members to
ensure that we:
"Honour
The Dead But Fight Like Hell For The Living"
