THE Vietnam Veterans’ Commemorative Walk has been a gathering place for veterans and their families since it opened in 2013.
Seymour was chosen for the memorial due to its history as a military training base.
When writer and broadcaster, Fiona Gruber discovered the memorial she was intrigued by over 100 modern glass panels embedded with text and photographs telling the stories of over 60,000 Australian personnel who served on behalf of Australia between 1962 – 1975.
“This is certainly a very contemporary idea of a war memorial,” she said.
“It means so much to those who went to Vietnam, and to the families of those who fought and those who fell.
“But war memorials are also important civic places, and I wanted to explore the way ideas of commemorating war have changed over the decades.”
Ms Gruber reached out to GLAAS Inc. who are a national charity run by volunteers who support glass artists, designers, makers and students by creating collaborative opportunities, events and exhibitions.
Ms Gruber expressed her idea to explore the impact one of the most divisive modern wars has had on a generation, by making a podcast.
“It was a difficult time in Australian history.
“People had different views.
“It’s important to remember things that are difficult.
“It’s also important to remember we can all have different views and still get along,” Ms Gruber said.
Next, funding from the Victoria Remembers grant program supported the production of A Memory in Light.
Ms Gruber not only interviewed a number of veterans on their experiences and their attitudes toward the conflict, but spoke with former Mitchell Shire Councillor, Bill Melbourne, and the designers of the memorial.
The podcast was launched at the Australian Centre for Glass Design in Prahran last month. GLAAS Inc. Project Manager Lynne Dore said a second launch will be held at the Seymour Returned Soldiers League Sub branch at 2 Station Street, Seymour, from 5pm to 6pm on Friday, March 28.
For more information, please call Lynne on 0419 889 626.
