The anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific is on Wednesday, August 15 with a small service to commence at 11am on the corner of Clarence and Horton Streets in Port Macquarie.

Port Macquarie RSL Sub-Branch president Greg Laird said all ex-service personnel and members of the public are invited to attend.

“On Wednesday we are commemorating the anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific which is basically when won the war,” Mr Laird said.

“At the service we will have Aleyna Portakaldali from Port Macquarie Primary give the keynote address and I think it is so important to have young people come along so they can understand the past.

“We get a lot of the older generation out at this memorial as they lived through it but we also usually have a small band of young people.

“In the past the students we have had speak have spoken from the heart and we are again keeping the tradition going this year.”

Victory in the Pacific Day marks the end of hostilities in the Second World War with the surrender of Japan to the allied forces on 15 August 1945.

Almost 40,000 Australian gave their lives during the war.

On Saturday August 18 there will be a service to commemorate Vietnam Veterans' Day (Long Tan Day) at 11am.

“On Saturday we will also be having a service to remember all those who served in Vietnam,” Mr Laird said.

“That will certainly be a bigger affair with more than 50 veterans and their families expected to be present at that service.

“The commemorative address with be given by Tahli Enfield from Hastings Secondary College Port Macquarie Campus.

“After that all the servicemen and women go back to Panthers and tell stories.”

The Battle of Long Tan, on 18 August 1966, was one of the fiercest battles fought by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War, involving 105 Australians and three New Zealanders from D Company 6RAR.

“Attending services like this is so important not just for the older generation but also for our young people,” he said.

“We have the dawn service for Anzac Day and services on Remembrance Day and showing support for Victory in the Pacific and Vietnam Veterans’ Day is also crucial so that we never forget what happened or those who gave their lives for their country,” he said. 

On Saturday August 18 the Laurieton RSL Sub-Branch will also be commemorating Vietnam Veterans’ Day with a service at 11am in the Laurie Memorial Park. 

This year commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Coral—Balmoral Battle, which is the largest battle that the Australians fought in. 

The Sub-Branch would like to extend an invitation to all Vietnam veterans who are not members of the RSL to share with us in this solemn ceremony.

Following the ceremony an invitation is extended to the veteran and his/her partner to join us in the Anzac Room at the LUSC for the Vietnam Veterans Day luncheon, as guests of the Sub-Branch.

If you would like to attend please ring the Sub-Branch Office on 6556 6166 on a Thursday morning between 9am and 12 or, the president Laurieton RSL Sub Branch, John (Budgie) Parrott on 0418 837 675 for catering purposes.

In Wauchope Sub-Branch will be holding a short parade, starting at 11am, on Saturday 18th August, at the Memorial Wall at Wauchope RSL.

This makes the anniversary of the Long Tan battle in Vietnam in 1966, at which 18 Australians died and 24 were wounded, facing a vastly numerically superior Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army force.

Members of the public and all current and ex-service personnel are invited to attend.

Members of the Sub-branch and partners are then invited to attend a luncheon starting 12 noon at the Wauchope RSL.