Vietnam Veteran Incursion
On Monday 24 August, the Year 11 History class welcomed Mr Grant-Coulter Smith, a Vietnam Veteran, who spoke and shared his unique experience in the war as well as his insightful recounting of the events of the war. Grant’s presentation shared the events and, in correlation, the sentiments he felt during them, along with images of himself that accompanied them – highlighting the many lives that were impacted by the war.
Along with the presentation, Grant brought in physical relics from the war such as his backpack and the real artillery of the war. We were all intrigued by his experience and the personal challenges he faced during his time in Vietnam, as well as his inspiring will to participate in the war in support of Australia and then join the police force when he was back in Australia.
Not only were we able to see up close the relics that Grant brought in, but we were left with a profound understanding of the everlasting impacts of war, encouraging us to view it from a different perspective and leave with an important message. We were also able to try on some uniforms and artillery.
By Raquel MP (11D)
National Vietnam Veterans Museum
On Wednesday 26 August, as a Unit 1/2 Modern History class, we visited the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Phillip Island and had the incredible privilege of meeting a veteran named Laurie, who served in the Royal Australian Navy.
The museum was packed with fascinating history, including real helicopters, military vehicles, and rows of uniforms and medals. Seeing the massive display of artefacts gave us a clear picture of what life was like for young Australians during the war.
The absolute highlight of our trip was listening to Laurie share his first-hand experiences about living and working on a naval ship. Hearing his stories made the history feel deeply personal and real, rather than just something we read about in a school textbook.
This excursion was incredibly helpful for the enquiry questions task we are currently completing in class. Being able to look at primary sources and ask a real veteran questions gave us unique insights and information that we couldn’t find online. Meeting Laurie and exploring the museum gave all of us a much greater understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices and experiences veterans were a part of.
By Isabel H (11M)
