2016 VVAA VIETNAM WAR HISTORY COMPETITION
BRIEFING NOTES
“The well-being of history lies in the telling for unless the story is transmitted
across the generations it is lost” (Dr Michael McKernan)
Australian Troops assisting an elderly Vietnamese man during Operation “Crimp” 1966
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BACKGROUND
From 1962 until 1975, Australian servicemen and women were engaged in the Vietnam War
which was to become one of Australia’s longest and most controversial conflicts. Five hundred
and twenty one young Australians died during the war and several thousand were wounded.
As well as earning a reputation as good combatants, the Australians gained the respect of their
enemy for their battlefield conduct and treatment of enemy casualties. The Vietnamese civilian
population also largely respected the Australians because of their policy of not damaging or
destroying civilian infrastructure whenever possible and for their genuine attempts to improve
the lot of the Vietnamese people. As a sign of respect for the Australians, the communist
government of Vietnam allows a monument to our fallen to remain at Long Tan, the site of one
of the biggest defeats inflicted by the Australians on the communist forces. It is the only
memorial to foreign troops permitted on Vietnamese soil, apart from one to the French,
demonstrating the regard of the Vietnamese for Australian troops and their conduct.
Over its duration, the Vietnam War gradually became less popular with the Australian people,
especially the young; as the war dragged on, casualties mounted and the horrors of war were
televised into homes. There were protests against compulsory conscription (national service)
and large rallies against the war in the capital cities, with protesters even carrying placards
supporting the North Vietnamese. Trade unions disrupted supply of war materials, and many
returning Vietnam veterans were subjected to personal abuse and rejection.
For years after the conflict had ended, many Vietnam veterans struggled to integrate back into
society. There was comparatively little public recognition of the service of Australians who
served in Vietnam. A public ‘Welcome Home Parade’ was held in Sydney on 3 October 1987,
however it was arranged in large part by Vietnam veterans. The official dedication of the
Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra in 1992 - for which Vietnam veterans
contributed significant funding -gave Vietnam veterans a sense of identity and self-worth.
The experience of the Australian men and women who served in Vietnam has informed and
reshaped the Australian community’s attitudes on our duty toward those who serve our
country, and the importance of support when they return home.
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THE COMPETITION
The VVAA Vietnam War History Competition is being held as part of a program of events to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and the Vietnam War in 2016.
The Competition is open to all Year 10 and 11 students in secondary schools across Victoria in
2016. Students are invited to submit entries to the competition before 27 March 2016. Ten
students will be selected to travel on an overseas study tour to Vietnam in September 2016,
during the school holidays.
The costs of the study tour including airfares, meals and accommodation will be fully provided
by the Victorian Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.
THE TOPIC
“THE CONTROVERSIAL VIETNAM WAR”
By researching how Australia became involved in the Vietnam War, the introduction of conscription,
and the changing attitude to the War on the home front, explain why the Vietnam War has been
referred to as a “Controversial War”, and what impact community attitudes to the War had on
returning Vietnam Veterans.
FORMAT
Entries can be in ONE of the following formats:
 Essay of 1000 words (word count does not include references or footnotes)
 Story of up to 1000 words
 Audio-visual presentation (maximum 10 minutes)
 Diorama
Students are encouraged to source material from interviews, experiences of friends or relatives,
media sources and individual research conducted on-line and/or using non-electronic sources
such as those found at local libraries, Victorian Vietnam Veteran Sub-Branches, the National
Vietnam Veterans Museum Phillip Island, RSLs or historical societies. All sources must be
acknowledged and the bibliography preferably annotated.
All applications must be submitted via email, and must be received by 11:59pm 27 March
2016 (end of term 1).
Audio-visual presentations should be provided as an electronic file or uploaded to YouTube or
Vimeo or a similar media sharing website and a URL provided.
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Audio-visual and diorama entries MUST be accompanied by a written statement of up to 500
words that answers the following questions:
 How was the research conducted?
 Why was this format chosen?
 How does the format relate to the research and the topic?
 What are the conclusions on the topic?
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