Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to commend those Vietnam veterans who are participating this week in the VetRide 2016. The Service and Sacrifice Tour over six days commenced yesterday north of Melbourne at Seymour, and travels through Benalla, Albury, Wagga, Cootamundra and Yass, where the Victorian riders will be joined by a group of Vietnam veterans from Queensland for the ride into Canberra. The tour concludes on Sunday with a 17-kilometre ceremonial ride in which they will pass the Australian War Memorial before stopping at the national Vietnam Memorial on Anzac Parade, where a service will be held. Participating in that service is expected to be Major General Jim Molan, retired, and also Dave Sabben, a veteran of the Long Tan battle, which occurred some 50 years ago. 18 August this year is the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan where so many Vietnam veterans were involved. May I congratulate all those who are involved in this initiative, including Paul Beraldo, Ron Hall and Maurice Benson. This is a very worthwhile endeavour. When you see the Vietnam vets out on the road, give them a hoot as they go by. I hope that if the divisions of this chamber allow it I might be able to join them for a few kilometres on the road as well.

Sitting suspended from 13:51 to 13:56