Dunedoo Vietnam War veteran Brian Bowman was acknowledged for his services to the country during a presentation at the Narribri RSL last week.

Mr Bowman registered for compulsory national service in 1969 and was one of 63,740 20-year-old Australian men whose birthday marble dropped to be called up and enlisted in the Australian Army.

Of these, Mr Bowman was one of the 15,381 national servicemen who were sent to fight in South Vietnam.

He was assigned to the 12^th Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery and was sent to South Vietnam in late August 1971.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton was at the service, and with Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Barnaby Joyce, presented the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal to Dunedoo’s local hero.

“I’m pleased to be joined by Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Barnaby Joyce in Narrabri to present Brian Bowman with the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal on behalf of the former Republic of Vietnam as an appreciation of all personnel who fought

with them against communist forces during the Vietnam War,” Mr Coulton said.

Narrabri RSL Sub-Branch president Nicole Gallagher and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Barnaby Joyce pictured with Brian Bowman and his family.

The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal was issued by the Government of the Republic of Vietnam for service in the prescribed area of operations in Vietnam during the period commencing on 31 July 1962 and ending on 28 March 1973 for Australian

personnel.

The Australian government maintained the basic qualifying criteria specified by the Republic of Vietnam for allied troops.

To be eligible for the medal a person must have completed a minimum period of 181 days, either continuous or aggregated, unless killed in active service, wounded in action or captured and later released or escaped.

“Brian served this country with great pride and it’s an honour to be able to personally thank him and his family for his service and sacrifice.

"This medal will add to his other campaign and service medals and I’m sure will be proudly passed down to future generations,” Mr Coulton said.

Nationals’ candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey also attended the presentation, and met with local veterans to discuss any issues they have, particularly light of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission final report.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was released in September and is the culmination of three years of inquiry into the suicide crisis in Australia’s Defence and veteran population.

It resulted in 122 recommendations to Government, to help with meaningful and long-lasting reform.

“Our veterans are valuable members of our communities who deserve our respect and gratitude, so it’s great to meet some of Narrabri’s veterans today to listen to their views on how we can best support them into the future,” Mr Chaffey said.