Whitsundays Anzac Day 2024: Airlie Beach, Bowen coverage
A Whitsunday resident has shared his most impactful memory of service in the Vietnam war — trying to negotiate peace. FOLLOW OUR ROLLING COVERAGE
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A Whitsunday resident has shared his most impactful memory of service in the Vietnam war, trying to negotiate peace with the Viet Cong.
Veteran Andrew McKay asked the Whitsunday community to come together in remembrance of all those who fought for Australia and New Zealand, not to “glorify war”, but to celebrate the fact that “we will always pursue peace”.
Long time Airlie Beach residents, school students and visitors all marched behind the parade fronted by a red car and two horsemen to celebrate Anzac Day.
The two women horse riders Kate Van Danel and Jolita Jukes led the parade in remembrance of the Light Horse Cavalry, an Australian skilled formation of mounted infantry that was used in World War I.
Curious onlookers followed the crowd down to the Airlie Esplanade Cenotaph where the ceremony took place, with some wondering out loud what was taking place in the tourist hotspot.
Dawson MP Andrew Willcox addressed the crowd at the opening of the ceremony, telling people it was a day to remember the first Anzacs of World War I, who bravely fought at Gallipoli, but also remember all those who followed after them.
‘Kids don’t have that connection anymore’
Anzac Day is when Australians come together to celebrate our nation’s legacy, but parents Brooke and Luke Hinde say the connection gets harder for our youngest as times passes.
The family had come up to Airlie Beach on holiday for Ms Hinde’s birthday from Moranbah, but still wanted to attend the Anzac celebrations.
The couple’s three children Willow, Flynn and Koa were all wearing their great grandfather’s medals from his time in the Australian Defence Force in Malaysia at the ceremony.
Late Mervin Hinde had the time to share his experiences in the army with his great grand children before he passed in July 2022.
His grandson Luke Hinde said this was very valuable for his children to have heard from his grandpa’s experiences in war first hand.
He said children tended not to be as engaged as their parents to learn about their history.
“Kids don’t really have that connection anymore, so it’s good to go to the ceremony and see them really connect,” he shared.
‘It was sincere, it was genuine’
Long time Airlie Beach resident and veteran Andrew McKay shared his most impactful memory of service in the army was as he attended the ceremony.
Mr McKay had volunteered to enroll in the Vietnamese war at the end of the 60s, and was sent to South Vietnam in a place called Vung Tau after six weeks of jungle training in Queensland.
His role in the army had been to take care of logistics, which had led him to learn the language well, as he had to work alongside many South Vietnamese people, including ‘beautiful women’ who would dress traditionally in áo dài.
“I could still have a conversation with someone from South Vietnam today,” he shared.
One impactful moment for him in the two years that he served was going on a helicopter trip near the river Mekong Delta, where many of the Viet Cong soldiers were fighting.
The mission was to drop leaflets, called Chiêu Hoi, that aimed to encourage the North Vietnamese army to stop the conflict.
“We will look after you because we are brothers in arms,” was the message Mr McKay strongly believes was sent on those missions.
“It was sincere, it was genuine.”
The veteran concluded he believed the celebration of Anzac Day must continue, not to “glorify war”, but to celebrate the fact that “we will always pursue peace”.
In Bowen
Commander Natasha Burney will be carrying on the legacy she shares with her grandfather and great grandfather, who fought in the European theatre as part of the British Army in both World War I and II, speaking at the Bowen Anzac Day services.
Originally born in Mackay, Commander Burney will be spending this ANZAC Day at her family home in the Whitsundays.
“Anzac Day is about much more than the first Anzacs it’s about those who serve, those who sacrifice and those who return home,” Commander Burney said.
“Getting the opportunity to speak on Anzac Day always special for anyone in uniform.”
Commander Burney, as a serviceperson in the Australian navy, was an aeronautical engineer based at the HMAS Albatross.
While she initially volunteered to serve in part due to the opportunity, her career led to her spending six months in Afghanistan as part of the multinational force.
“We did a lot of good things over there, we worked hard and for a period of time provided them with the opportunities they hadn’t previously had,” she said.
“There were girls on the base working who wouldn’t have had that chance otherwise.”
Commander Burney reflected sadly on the current state of Afghanistan, mentioning that she still thinks about “some of the girls I worked with”.
Joining Commander Burney in reflecting on the day will be the member for Burdekin Dale Last, Whitsundays mayor Ry Collins, deputy mayor Michelle Wright and councillor John Finlay.
“We’ve all contributed in some way to where Australia is today,” Commander Burney said, proudly.
Commander Burney will also keep her grandfathers and great grandfathers in her heart as she “thanks them for their service”.
“They didn’t necessarily understand what they signed up for, particularly my great grandfather who fought in WWI.
“To commit to something like that is pretty impressive.”
In Proserpine
In the past year the Proserpine RSL said a solemn farewell to surviving World War Two veteran and community leader George Gnezdiloff, who had flown sorties over Germany while serving alongside the airmen of the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
This year in Proserpine George’s service, along with that of veterans past and present will be commemorated by Proserpine RSL sub-branch president Jason Rateri, who himself was an engineer in the RAAF.
Attending the Airlie Beach service will be the state member for the Whitsundays Amanda Camm and federal member for Dawson Andrew Wilcox, alongside Ry Collins, who will first attend the service in Airlie before travelling to his home of Bowen for their service.
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Originally published as Whitsundays Anzac Day 2024: Airlie Beach, Bowen coverage
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