Every year on April 25, Australians and New Zealanders commemorate those who have given their lives, fought on the frontline, served in the Armed Forces or continue to do their duty.
Vietnam veteran and author Dave Morgan is doing his part to continue the conversation, ensuring the story of the ANZACs are never forgotten.
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Day began in memory of our troops’ landing at Gallipoli in World War I – 110 years ago this year.
While the day in a poignant reminder of the cost of war – including the lives lost and emotional, cultural and societal scars – it also helps us reflect on the shared values of courage, sacrifice, mateship and resilience.
Born in Melbourne in 1948, Mr Morgan’s family moved to Caloundra in 1963 and was one of the first 60 students to attend Caloundra State High School.
The Pelican Waters resident joined the army at 17 and, by age 20, was part of the 104 Signal Squadron from 1969.
During his term in Vietnam, he served at several fire support bases and dealt with attacks by the Viet Cong.
But returning home was difficult for Mr Morgan, thanks to a culture of unacceptance of Vietnam veterans in Australia at the time and severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Working through his PTSD-related adversities over the years, Mr Morgan went on to become a weather observer for the Bureau of Meteorology, which took him to places including Antarctica.
But after an accident on blue ice at Antarctica’s Casey Station in 2004 almost cost him his life, someone made a comment to him along the lines of: “Wow, you must have a story to tell.”
This prompted Mr Morgan, now retired, to write his story down, not only to help deal with his chronic PTSD, but also to help fill a gap in his childhood, left behind by his late father.
Mr Morgan’s father Gerald was a World War I and II veteran who died when his son was very young. Sadly, Gerald’s stories died with him, and Mr Morgan grew up knowing little about him.
Mr Morgan went on to write three books: Ice Journey, My Vietnam War and
The Invisible Trauma.
But it is his fourth and most recent book, Never Forgotten, that tells the stories of other veterans.
The collection of stories allows readers to dive into 38 veterans’ experiences across all three Defence Force services, conflicts and time frames.
The stories highlight shared themes of courage, resilience, humour and mateship during and after service, covering the Vietnam War to Somalia, East Timor and Afghanistan.
Eight of the veterans are from the Sunshine Coast, including Peter Kennedy, Denis Hare, Maureen Gay, Stephanie Shipman, Peter O’Hanlon, Arthur Fry, Neil Charles Padgham and Trevor Donald Smith.
Following two years of meticulous research and armchair conversations, Mr Morgan said it was a privilege to preserve the stories of others.
“My story has been told,” he said.
“This book is not about me. It’s about other veterans.
“I’m motivated by their stories. I feel that I have to tell their story.
“They appreciate it. Many are happy to share their stories but don’t have the time or interest to write them down.
“I get motivated by that. I’m doing something for these veterans.
“Everyone’s got a story to tell, and I say to everyone: ‘You should write down your life story’.
“You don’t have to get it published – just write it down and give it to your children to be passed on.
“I don’t know anything about my father, just the odd stories, and I feel that’s pretty sad.”
Royalties from the book are being donated to Legacy Australia: an organisation that had a profound impact on Mr Morgan’s upbringing without his father.
“Legacy is a great organisation. I don’t know how my mother and siblings would have survived without them,” he said.
“They helped us with our education, they bought us bikes, they took us on camps – it’s just such a great organisation.”
Mr Morgan said it is pleasing to see a growing acceptance of ANZAC Day, particularly after years of feeling ‘ridiculed’ as a Vietnam Veteran post-service.
“When I was a young man coming back, no one wanted to know us (because of what happened in Vietnam),” he said.
“I put my life on the line serving my country and not only me, but other veterans, were treated like that.
“Horrible things happen in war and … I went into a deep depression.”
It wasn’t until he was working in Antarctica and asked to run an ANZAC Day service on the ice that he began to feel appreciated as a veteran.
“After that, I discovered that the Australian public had moved on and the younger generation has an appreciation for veterans.
“I feel today there are more and more crowds coming out on ANZAC Day.
“Finally, I feel appreciated that they appreciate my service to my country.”
These days, Mr Morgan attends ANZAC services at Caloundra and pays a visit to his former school to keep the spirit alive with students.
He is now writing a second edition of Never Forgotten, featuring more veterans’ stories.
Never Forgotten is available at bigskypublishing.com.au and bookstores.
