Branch - Vietnam Veterans
The RAAF Vietnam Veterans Association (RAAFVVA) was formalised at the inaugural Annual General Meeting held on Anzac Day 1987.
Our History
The Association operated as a social organisation until the need for welfare support was recognised. This resulted in the RAAFVVA seeking affiliation with the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, and as a consequence became a sub-branch of the VVAA in June 1992.
In 2012, after a referendum of members, the Association became an affiliated member of the Air Force Association, as the Vietnam Veterans Branch. In accordance with the wishes expressed by members at the time of the amalgamation with the Air Force Association (Victorian Division), we continue to operate in tandem with the Victorian Vietnam Veterans State Association of Australia as a small (but viable) RAAFVVA sub-branch. The Association maintains its involvement in all aspects of Veteran Welfare support and is well placed to meet the welfare needs of RAAF veterans.
The RAAFVVA is affiliated with the Air Force Association. Members are therefore welcome to visit and use the Air Force Association complex, which includes a reading room, library and small museum, whenever they are in the vicinity.
Contacts
President
Christopher Hudnott
ph: 0438 331 215
Secretary
Gill Coughlan
ph: 0408 503 986
RAAF Wellbeing and Compensation Advocates
Melbourne Area
Alan White - Wellbeing Advocate Level 2
ph: (03) 9598 1007
Melton
Bill Wiltshire - Compensation Advocate Level 2
ph: (03) 9746 9582
Meetings
Committee Meetings
The RAAFVVA Committee meets monthly in the “Point Cook Room” at the Air Force Association - Victoria headquarters at 24 Camberwell Road, East Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122 (ph: 03 9813 4600).
Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of the month, commencing at 1300 hours. RAAFVVA members are encouraged to attend these meetings as observers.
At least one monthly meeting each year – generally over a weekend – is held at a regional locality where at least one member reside
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting is traditionally held on a Sunday in February each year at the Air Force Association - Victoria headquarters (see above), commencing at 1400 hours. The meeting is completed in time to permit attending members to participate in a social reunion for the remainder of the afternoon.
Our Monthly Luncheons
The RAAFVV meets monthly at the Mail Exchange Hotel (see the map below)
Join Us
There are three categories of RAAFVV membership:
- Ordinary membership: Persons who are:
- A Vietnam Veteran serving or former member of the RAAF or Allied Air Forces with service for a minimum of 6 months, or adult partner, dependant or descendant.
- Association membership: Persons who are:
- Widows or widowers of ex-RAAF Vietnam Veteran members; or
- Spouses and partners of Ordinary Members; and their family members who are over 18 years of age.
- Concurrent membership: Persons who are:
- Eligible for Ordinary Membership; and are maintaining current annual Ordinary Membership in a Air Force Unit or Role Association recognised by the Air Force Association.
- Note: All applications for Concurrent Membership will require Board of Management approval to take effect.
Membership of all categories is open to eligible applicants Australia-wide. Overseas applicants may also apply.
The Membership Application can be downloaded and printed from this site in PDF format. Simply click on the button below to download and print the form.
Please send your completed form and your subscription to:
RAAF Vietnam Veterans Association
PO Box 1038
Hawthorn
Vic 3122
AFA Bursaries & Encouragement Awards
Since 2010, educational bursaries have assisted over 35 young students of RAAF Vietnam veterans with their education or training endeavors. For details and how to apply, please visit our Bursaries page.
Branch News
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - September 2023
In this edition:
From the President:
I’m penning (typing) this President’s report on Vietnam Veterans Day having just survived the wind, the showers and 12 degrees at the Shrine of Remembrance. Ruth and I are off to Scotland in a couple of days to catch up with our bonnie daughter in Glasgow –............
Commemorative Medallion for Vietnam Veterans
The Prime Minister launches a commemorative medallion to honour those who served in the Vietnam War.
Bursaries Awarded to Worthy Young Recipients
Vietnam Veterans Branch awards Educational Bursaries to three worthy students.
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - March 2023
In this edition:
From the President:
As I began this report for the 2023 Annual General Meeting, I thought a good place to start would be to review the year from the Newsletters that our publisher, Geoff Rose, put together during the last 12 months..............
2024 Bursary Applications Now Open
Applications for the AFA Victoria 2024 Bursary & Encouragement Awards close on 19 January 2024. APPLY NOW!
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - December 2022
In this edition:
From the President:
You will also see information about our monthly lunches at the Mail Exchange Hotel at the corner of Spencer and Bourke Streets. I am hoping to announce some financial incentive to attract members to attend these lunches at our AGM.......
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - September 2022
In this edition:
From the President:
Vietnam Veterans Day on the 18 August was a bit special this year. It marked 60 years since Australia’s first involvement
in the Vietnam War and 50 years since the withdrawal of Australian combat forces in 1972 (not forgetting, of course,
the humanitarian flights by HQ Richmond Detachment S in 1975)............
RAAF Vietnam Veterans Retreat
History & Heritage Branch will host a RAAF Vietnam Veterans Retreat at Ipswich Amberley Air Tattoo 29-30 Oct.
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - June 2022
In this edition:
From the President:
I’m sure we were all relieved to see a return to normal arrangements for the Anzac Day March, although the overall number of banners and marchers were reduced. This, in turn, led to our contingent leaving a little earlier than the advertised step-off time...........
2022 Bursaries & Encouragement Awards
Two students received awards at the Vietnam Veterans Branch/RAAF Sub-Branch Vietnam Veterans Association (Vic) AGMs.
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - March 2022
In this edition:
From the President:-
The past year has again seen the impact of COVID on the community as we comply with everchanging government requirements and using our own judgement to further restrict our personal activities to avoid large crowds or using public transport........
RAAF Veteran Awarded US Silver Star
RAAF Vietnam veteran Mac Cottrell has been awarded the prestigious Silver Star by United States.
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - December 2021
In this edition:
From the President:-
On 12 November, I attended the VVAA State Council meeting in Ballarat and it was great to see the familiar faces of the sub-branch Presidents again after so many months and surviving the frustration of so many cancelled attempts to hold the meeting.
There were two features of the meeting that will be of interest to our members. Dianne Dempsey, the author of a new book titled “When He Came Home” gave a presentation of her work which stresses the important role that veterans’ wives had in holding their families together in the face of government and community indifference to the psychological harm that impacted so many veterans from the Vietnam conflict. The book is available on-line for about $30............
Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation
ADF veterans have been recognised with Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation.
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - September 2021
In this edition:
From the President:-
TWe had been planning and looking forward to Vietnam Veterans Day on 18th August and for the second year running, COVID prevented this. This was disappointing as the Victorian Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Victoria had gone to considerable trouble to make this event particularly special (marking the 50th anniversary of the cessation of combat operations in Vietnam) with a Gunfire Breakfast and hire of large video screens to project entertainment provided by artists from the 1960s..........
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - June 2021
In this edition:
From the President:-
This month’s committee meeting was back to using the Zoom video-conferencing software and although this facility enables us to conduct committee business efficiently, it does limit the personal interaction and exchange of ideas that meeting at our normal venue in the AFA (Vic) office affords.........
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - March 2021
In this edition:
From the President:-
The following is my report for the AFA Vietnam Veterans Branch / VVAA RAAF Sub-Branch for the AGM 2020. It highlights the major activities that have been addressed by our Committee, lists some of the important activities of the Victorian Branch of the VVAA and points to important issues being addressed by the AFA (Victoria) Division..........
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - November 2020
In this edition:
From the President
In many ways, 2020 is a year that the Victorian members of our Branch will be glad to put behind them with the State Government lockdown restrictions forcing us to rethink the ways we communicate with each other. The impact of COVID-19 on Branch activities was also significant with the re-arrangement of our normal gatherings on Vietnam Veterans Day as I mentioned in the last Newsletter..........
Vietnam Veterans' Day - 18th August 2020
On Vietnam Veterans' Day, we pause to remember our RAAF veterans who served in Vietnam. (video)
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - September 2020
In this edition:
From the President
I trust everyone in the Melbourne Metro area is coping with the Stage Four restrictions and as I pen this - still another 2 weeks to go. However, the daily number of infections is headed down and hopefully in the next week or so the Victorian Government will give us some idea of what awaits us after 13 September.........
‘Gallipoli – The First Day’ e-book
ANZAC Day 2020: ‘Gallipoli – The First Day’ e-book
A free on-line edition of ‘Gallipoli -The First Day’, written by Vietnam Veteran, Peter Condon (RAAF Forward Air Controller) has been made available for you to read and reflect on what happened on that first day at Gallipoli (please see PDF below).
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - June 2020
In this edition:
The Coronavirus lockdown restrictions are gradually being lifted and we are hoping that our next commemorative event on Vietnam Veterans Day (18 August) at the Shrine of Remembrance and the post-commemoration gathering for lunch will proceed as normal...
2020 Bursaries Awarded for Continuing Education
Two young students were presented with educational bursaries in support of their continuing academic studies.
Vietnam Veterans Newsletter - September 2018
In this edition:
From the President | Secretary's snippets | Vietnam Veterans Day 2018 | Health & Welfare | and more...