City of Charles Sturt, South Australia
Left:
Councillors of the City of Charles Sturt (Mayor
John Dyer), the National Council of the Vietnam
Veterans' Association of Australia (National
President Clive Mitchell-Taylor), and members of
the VVAA SA.
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The Korea and South East Asia War Memorial is
located at the Port Road Median, Hindmarsh, South
Australia.
It was dedicated at 11am on the 18th of August
1996 by
LT GEN Sir Donald Dunstan
AC, KBE, CB (Ret).
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Description:
There are three elements to the design - a red brick plinth
that floats above the surrounding lawns, two intersecting metal
arches that incorporate images of the four wars - Korea,
Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam - and a central granite memorial
stone that is the focus of the memorial. This memorial
stone is in two parts, a base of red Calca granite and the main
memorial stone on Blackhill granite with its associated bronze
plaques.
Central to the design are the four arches that each tell a
story based on historical facts, hopefully sparking the memories
of veterans, and providing an opportunity for young people to
reflect on these confrontations, remembering those who served
their country and the many loved ones who lost their lives for
our freedom.
The images, designed by local artist Karen Harris, are
designed to be viewed in three dimensions. The elements are
as follows:
| Vietnam |
- Canberra bomber: bomber pilot Michael
Herbert (23) from North Glenelg and
navigator Robert Carver. After a
bombing mission to Da Nang, the Canberra
bomber disappeared from the radar
screen, and both crew members were
posted as missing, presumed killed.
- Iroquois helicopters - two gun ships and
one medical helicopter
- Army nurse
- Paddy fields and hills
- Infantry soldiers
- At the base of the arch, a large figure
of a soldier with M-16 rifle at the
entrance to a tunnel complex
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| Borneo |
- Australian soldiers scattering through
jungle and bamboo
- Two Iroquois helicopters
- Avon Sabre aircraft
- HMAS Teal, minesweeper
- Long house, hills and aboriginal people
of Borneo
- Bamboo bridge with soldier
- At the base of the arch, a large figure
of an Australian soldier with a Labrador
tracker dog that has picked up a scent
during a border patrol.
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| Korea |
- HMAS Bataan
- HMAS Sydney, aircraft carrier
- Meteor aircraft
- Australian troops in snow camouflage
equipment
- Korea's rugged mountains and trees
- Australian troops with dog (kaka)
- At the base of the arch, a pilot (RAAF
and Navy), RAAF Nurse, sailor and
soldier
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| Malaya |
- Lincoln bomber - made in Australia
- Dakota aircraft - RAAF transport squadron
- Airfield construction at Butterworth air
base
- Soldier leaping from Bell Iroquois
helicopter into jungle clearing
- HMAS Derwent, frigate
- At the base of the arch, large figure of
a soldier with parachute and supply bag
dropped by Dakotas with medical supplies
and food
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This memorial represents a substantial committment by the then
City of Hindmarsh and Woodville, in cooperation with the veteran
community, local schools, firms and tradespeople to produce a
memorial that is both striking and community oriented.
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