Combined Southwest Vietnam Veterans Day 2026 - Collie RSL

Some years ago, it was determined that the best way to continue commemorating Vietnam Veterans Day in southwest WA was to have Southwest WA RSL Sub Branches take turns to conduct the commemoration. This has been very successful and each year Club Presidents hold a briefing to determine where the event will be held in the ensuing years.

In 2025 Collie-Cardiff was designated the 2026 Sub Branch for the event. The event used to be conducted on the closest Saturday or Sunday to the 18th of August, but Vietnam Veterans overwhelmingly determined it should be held on the correct day - the date of the Battle of Long Tan.

This has added some complexity to organising the event as getting approval for a street march on a business day understandably causes some concern with Shire councils. Fortunately, the significance of Vietnam Veterans Day has overcome the concerns, and many successful commemorations have been held over the past few years. To observe the camaraderie among the Vets as they get together to remember mates lost in conflict and since the war makes the efforts to organise and hold these events seem insignificant.

Collie-Cardiff decided to provide a breakfast and morning tea prior to the Street march and the following morning. About thirty people attended the breakfasts on both mornings and over one hundered and sixty folk enjoyed a 3 course luncheon of delicious pumpkin soup followed by a roast beef meal then a self serve sweets table. The lunch was prepared by the 2026 Collie Senior High School ANZAC Tour group with 21 students serving the meal and cleaning up the kitchen afterwards. Our guests were super impressed by the conduct of the students.

Channel 7 did an excellent news report on the event - it can be found here (don't forget to un-mute the sound) - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Cwv2Rp6WY/

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Short Video is here

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