Project Pandanus

I am sure that you are aware that the Vietnam Veterans group, Project Pandanus, conduct a Vietnam Veterans remembrance day at Pandanus Park, located on Cape York Peninsula, Far North Queensland.

A group of amateur radio operators will be involved in the event this year and have been allocated the call sign VI4VV (VICTOR INDIA 4 VIETNAM VETERANS) for the month of August.

The Vietnams Veterans Day is commemorated throughout Australia each year on 18 August.

VI4VV will be operated from Kalpowar Station, which is located approximately 440 km NNW of Cairns on Cape York Peninsula and is one of the many locations where Vietnam Veterans commemorate Long Tan Day on the 18th August each year.

Vietnam Veterans congregate at a memorial built by the hands of Vietnam Veterans, with contributions from veterans of all conflicts and in a totally bush surrounding only attended by other veterans, no parades or marches,
just a moving gathering of vets who congregate on this day each year to remember our mates who did not make the trip home. They don't just commemorate the actual date, but rather, gather for days before and come together each afternoon for an informal gathering, a bit of a yarn and a
drink or two in the peaceful solitude of the wilderness they find at Pandanus.

The site was established in the late 1990's with Les Hiddins as one of the main driving forces behind the retreat. Many of you will remember Les from his days with the ABC as "The Bush Tucker Man". Les served 2 tours in South Vietnam as a forward scout. The observation of widespread health
problems among Vietnam veterans led him to come up with the idea of a veterans' retreat. The place he chose was an old cattle station adjoining Lakefield National Park, called Kalpowar on the banks of the Normanby River.

VI4VV will be operating on various frequencies from the site during the month. So - if you hear Victor India 4 Vietnam Veterans on air please call in for a contact or a chat.

If you need more info please ring Dale (VK4DMC) on 07 4091 3700

Lots of info about the Pandanus Project is available on
http://veteransanctuary.tripod.com/news.htm

73 & (Up the old Red Rooster)
Dale - VK4DMC

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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