Scotch College

Vietnam War Study

The Scotch College Vietnam War Study has moved into the implementation stage after a full year's planning.

On Monday 18 August, Dr Mark Johnston (Head of History), Michele Linossier (Special Education - Gifted Students), Pat Holdaway (staff), Tim Shearer (OSCA) and Old Boys Lt. Col. Ian Teague ('52) and George Mackenzie ('49) accompanied the Year 9 Vietnam War Leadership Group on an excursion to the Shrine of Remembrance and the Vietnam Display at San Remo, near Phillip Island.

The new visitor display at the Shrine had just been opened on the previous day and Old Boy Peter Freeland ('47) gave us a very insightful tour of the new area as well as the more traditional aspects, such as the Crypt and the Second World War forecourt. The Victorian Branch of the Vietnam Servicemen held their annual Long Tan ceremony during the middle of the day and then it was into the bus and down to San Remo. John Methven has created an impressive display of Vietnam War memorabilia and artifacts, including a tank, a helicopter and transporter all used during the Vietnam War.

On Monday 25 and 26 Tuesday August the party will head to Canberra, where Ian Porteous ('49), General Peter Gration AC OBE('48) and Major Adrian Clunies Ross ('51) will be interviewed by the boys as part of the video that is being produced. A tour of the Australian War Memorial and a meeting with Major-General Peter Cosgrove will be the highlights of Monday's activities. On the Tuesday, the boys have a tour of the Defence Minister's office and Parliament House, as well as a visit to the new Australian Museum. Seven other Old Boys based in Melbourne will be interviewed on Sunday 7 September at Scotch.

This day was just a small part of the broader project which will culminate at the School on Friday 7 November, a day dedicated in the school calendar as the Vietnam War Reflection Day. On this day all Old Boys who contributed to the war effort have been invited back to the School to be part of an interactive day with the students. A special morning assembly in the Memorial Hall will be highlighted by an address by General Peter Gration and the unveiling of a plaque recognizing the contribution of all Old Boys who made a contribution to the war effort. This plaque will eventually be displayed in the Old Scotch Square. The Old Boys will then be shown the video that has been produced by the boys and inspect the display in the Lithgow Centre foyer. The Old Scotch luncheon will focus on the Vietnam War Old Boys and General Peter Gration is our special guest speaker. Meanwhile, the whole of Year 9 will be moving through five distinctive learning centres, all focusing on different aspects of the Vietnam War effort.

Tim Shearer