Tribute LegacyThe 'gifts' of Tribute08Tribute08 was more than the culmination of a long and arduous journey - it also left the nation a legacy that will endure for many generations to come. The legacy was no coincidence. It was deliberately planned and negotiated, and while not yet fully implemented, it has already brought veterans of all conflicts and many other New Zealanders tangible benefits. It was born out of the frustration and despair of the Vietnam Veterans who were told to "disappear and forget about it" when they arrived home from a vicious war several decades ago. Of course, many veterans did "disappear", and too many died of illnesses that were only recently recognised officially as a direct consequence of their service. Forget, they didn't, even if they didn't talk about it. The experiences were too painfully etched in their memory. And now, with Tribute08 as the public expression of the intent of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2006, the veterans of the Vietnam War are leaving what RNZRSA President Robin Klitscher calls "gifts" to all veterans, and to the country. In his speech at Tribute08, Robin said there were three significant gifts that resulted from the MoU signed by the Government, the EVSA and RNZRSA. "Without the MoU there would be no modernising overhaul of the War Pensions Act by the Law Commission in consultation with veterans' organisations. "Without the MoU there would be no Expert Panel to examine in New Zealand terms the operational hazards that our service people have encountered in the past and will encounter in the future. The Expert Panel will very clearly be of as much value to the serving Defence Force as it will be to us who have served. "And without the MoU there would be no review of Veterans' Affairs New Zealand. "These three are major gifts by the veterans of the Vietnam War to all veterans of all wars. They give us the machinery to deal with the present system's shortcomings, provided we are wise enough to use the opportunities well." Tribute08 Chairman Chris Mullane says that in the MoU negotiations an underlying principle was that the outcomes should benefit all veterans to the greatest extent possible. "In carrying that principle on, the Ex-Vietnam Services Association [EVSA] wants to ensure that no veteran group has to wander for 40 years in the wilderness as the Vietnam Veterans did," Chris says. "The aim was long term, and it was to continue to develop the status of all veterans in the eyes of New Zealand society to at least the level enjoyed by veterans in Australia." Giving a voice to veterans who have served since Vietnam is now a key goal. Many of them don't have organised associations and are not easily identified. With the review of the War Pensions Act now under way, it would be remiss if the more recent veterans were not encouraged to be engaged in the rewrite process. NZDF are holding focus groups to enable currently serving veterans to have input. To bring in the more recent veterans who are no longer serving, the EVSA and RNZRSA Affiliates Forum have launched a project to assist these groups to form associations, hold reunions, and other activities such as participation in the War Pensions Act review. Just as Tribute08 was the public expression of the intent behind the MoU, it also has become a strong platform on which the remaining expectations of the MoU can be built. The enthusiastic participation of veterans and their families has given impetus to the MoU's continuing implementation. That has been reinforced in official circles. Prime Minister Helen Clark in her apology speech said that the MoU was ongoing and was a Crown document, therefore binding on all future governments, not just the present one. The Chief of Defence Force, Lt Gen Jerry Mateparae, promised to ensure the ongoing care of veterans. Tribute08 will also live on through arts and cultural programmes that were motivated by the event. The powerful Ka Mate, Ka Ora play is likely to tour New Zealand over the next couple of years, with plans for performances at schools, NZDF bases and RSAs. The exhibition, Vietnam: not just a 12 month tour, is in storage but is also likely to reappear in some form as interest in our veterans grows. Already, requests have come from mayors and other officials who want to honour their local veterans with exhibitions in their home town. The proposition that the exhibition and Ka Mate, Ka Ora be jointly shown again is gaining momentum. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage is continuing its Vietnam oral history project, the largest it has ever tackled. It is now in its second year, with many more stories still to be told. "Tribute08 was not the end of a process," Chris Mullane says. "There are still things being done and there will be many opportunities for people to contribute. "The legacy is powerful and enduring. Tribute08 was not a closure - it was just the beginning. It signaled that New Zealand's Vietnam Veterans have finally moved out of the darkness into the light. In doing so, they have raised the public profile of all veterans". Stop Press!! Reunion 2010The EVSA National Executive Committee has announced that the 2010 reunion is to be held in Wellington over Queens Birthday weekend, 4 - 6 June 2010. Wellington City has confirmed that it will again support the reunion as it did for Tribute08. The Pohutukawa Ambassadors
New York Fundraiser for Youth Development Trust
The Ex-Vietnam Services Association (Neville Wallace Memorial) Children's & Grandchildren's Trust has been around since 1993 and since then has provided financial assistance to over 250 children and grandchildren of New Zealand Vietnam Veterans encompassing the whole spectrum of youth endeavour. Ross Miller, the Trust Chair, said the idea for the Trust came about when he was having a beer with Neville Wallace (then President of EVSA). "We came to the conclusion that our children were our legacy and the country's future and that we should do what we could to help them realise their potential". So the Trust was born. "Over the years we have badgered and cajoled various governments, the military, service organisations, veterans, and the public at large for financial support and managed to accumulate a moderately large capital fund which in turn generates income from which we make grant payments". During the 'Year of the Veteran' the Trust benefited from the superb initiative of Dr Alastair MacKenzie when he and three colleagues rode their Harleys the length and breadth of the country raising money for the Trust. 2008 has seen another major fundraising initiative being undertaken. Louise Mullane took part in the New York Marathon on Sunday 2 November. Pledges have been made by many individuals and organisations, with all monies raised being donated to the Trust. Some pledged a lump sum for Louise finishing the 42km run, while others pledged a dollar per kilometre achieved. Louise successfully completed the full distance saying, "it was a fantastic experience and well worth the effort I had put into preparing for the event and the associated registration and travel costs I paid. All along the route, New Yorkers were partying in the streets and cheering us on, calling out our names from the name banners on our running gear. I was proud to be wearing RNZRSA and EVSA livery and to be identified as a fund raiser for the Trust". Following the marathon, Louise and her sister Jenny (who lives in Vancouver) visited The Vietnam Wall of Remembrance in Washington DC, where they laid tributes from the RNZRSA, EVSA and Tribute Legacy. "Some uniformed soldiers and a group of Vietnam Veterans were also visiting and their reflections in 'The Wall' created an eerie effect as they walked along, passing by the many photos, gifts and mementos left there that day by numerous visitors in memory of individuals who died in the War", said Louise. In New York Louise (herself the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran) was hosted by John Rowan, National President Vietnam Veterans of America, who commended her initiative to their various Chapters and members for support and they raised US$1200. Louise lives in Auckland, and carried a personal message from Auckland Mayor the Honourable John Banks which she gave to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg when she was a guest for a Veterans' Day breakfast at Gracie Mansion, the Mayor's official residence. Ross says there is still an opportunity for people to contribute to this fundraiser. "We have updated our website www.evsayouthtrust.org.nz to include a webpage promoting the Marathon and with details on how to make a donation. All donations will be acknowledged on the webpage and we are confident that the Vietnam Veteran family will again rise to the occasion" he said. To make a donation you can; Ka Mate, Ka Ora
Theatre production Ka Mate, Ka Ora ran prior to and throughout the Tribute08 weekend, and was seen by veterans, family members and the public. The play, written by Helen Pearse-Otene and directed by Jim Moriarty and Alan Scott, tells the story of one family's hopes and dreams, challenges and despair, as they deal with the aftermath of the Vietnam War. For many of the young actors, Ka Mate, Ka Ora was their first experience on stage - the play was co-commissioned by Tribute08 and the Te Rakau Hua o Te Wao Tapu Trust, which offers such opportunities to youth. As the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran herself, the play held some very personal and emotional connections for Helen: "It gave me one of my last opportunities to see the dwindling number of men who were so significant in my upbringing. Gruff bastards who yelled at us for mucking around on the memorial, then gave us money for an iceblock. They were truly giants from my childhood, and still are." It is Jim's hope that the play added to “the raft of healing outcomes that were generated throughout the Tribute08 weekend”. Ken McKee-Wright, Victor 1, certainly saw this process starting in the audience: "The way that children and grandchildren looked at their parents with understanding and compassion was very telling. I saw children, men and women hugging, even though many are long since pensioners. I saw many a tear, and had to wipe my own spectacles". The future intention is to edit and rework the play in order to suit the requirements for touring, and to take it to as many veterans and families as possible at venues such as army camps and RSAs, as well as Marae and national and international festivals. "New Zealand needs to see this play," says Ken, "I’ve forgotten an awful lot of Shakespeare but I don’t think I shall ever forget Ka Mate, Ka Ora." |
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Cohan (15), Sharah (13) and Zaydan (11) Chapman - played a pivotal role as our youth ambassadors throughout Tribute08. They performed at the opening of the Exhibition, Mayoral Reception, Prime Minister's Luncheon and the Basin Reserve Commemoration and Celebration. They are managed and chaperoned by their grandparents Tex (a Malaya veteran) and Diane, and taught by Major (Rtd) Ian Levien. The trio have performed at numerous RSAs and other venues throughout the country, and participated in a number of concerts, festivals and competitions. "It is an honour to play for the veterans," Cohan says, "as it is a show of respect for the service that they have done for their country".
