I just recently spent an enjoyable Christmas Luncheon with my sister Lesley at Binna Burra in the Lamington National Park, and whilst on my way home I dropped in to what was known, once upon a time, as the  Jungle Training Centre Canungra, (now the LWC) to view our Vietnam memorial that was recently re located.

Back at the turn of the century a group of Veterans were approached by a representative of the Army with the suggestion that a memorial would be deemed to be appropriate to be erected on the grounds of JTC Canungra. The reason behind this logic was that 99% of soldiers who served in South Vietnam went through training at this establishment. (It is of note that 87 Tpt Pl was one of the exceptions to this statement.)

A committee was formed of mainly Gold Coast residing veterans, fund raising was set up, meat trays were held at various pubs, along with raffles, and a 4WD trek to Birdsville was also carried out. This trek attracted a few large sponsors and fund raising raffles were held at towns en route attracting a fair amount of money from outsiders. From these combined efforts enough money was raised to commence building a basic memorial, using timber path edgings railings and seats etc. This memorial was opened in 2000.

Unfortunately, this initial structure suffered badly from the effects of the weather and had to be rebuilt only a few years later. A new committee was formed, and the old timber structures were replaced with concrete, the grounds instead of being graded gravel were paved with bricks, stainless steel hand railings were put in place and the newer much improved memorial was opened in 2005. Many members of the Army Transport Association were involved volunteering their labour and expertise in this upgrade

Then the world was turned upside down with the attack on the World Trade Centre in the U S and suddenly we locked all military bases up and made them off limits to all and sundry, even to ex members, the people who would appreciate this memorial.

The memorial once again fell into disrepair through lack of maintenance and use and was pretty well right off everyone’s radar until recently, when yet another committee was raised and the memorial was redesigned and moved to the roadside, just outside the old JTC transport and Supply point site entry. This new memorial is landscaped in an area resembling the Long Tan Cross with a bronze statue of a Vietnam era soldier holding centre stage. It was relocated and unveiled on December 1st 2023

I must admit that I was quite impressed with the new site, well worth a visit….. but I must add, I was absolutely disgusted to see 3 flagpoles standing out the front of a military base flying our 1 National flag along with two other racially representative flags.