ft" E PRIMENNA
ML0. AR. Y
PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINSTDELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELITVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNING DESIGN FOR
1MEMORIAL TO AUSTRALIAN VIETNAM FORCES
CANBERRA, 3 OCTOBER 1990
Today is the third anniversary of the welcome home parade of
Vietnam veterans in Sydney when we recalled the commitment
and sacrifices of all those who took part in that conflict.
So today is an appropriate time for me to announce that the
Canberra National Memorials Committee, which I chair, has
agreed on a design for the National Memorial to Australian
Vietnam Forces.
Before announcing the winning design, I want to take this
opportunity to congratulate the Australian Vietnam Forces
National Memorial Committee, under the Chairmanship of
Peter Poulton, for its initiative and determination to
establish a permanent memorial.
And I thank all those throughout Australia who have
contributed to the Committee's fund raising appeal.
The Committee has been closely involved with the planning
for the memorial and the assessment of the designs submitted
in the competition.
And it has worked closely with the Federal Government in
this endeavour. For our part, the Government has provided
significant financial assistance and administrative support
for the project and will continue to provide the necessary
support to ensure the memorial can be formally dedicated in
1992.
We have of course also provided the land on which the
memorial wil. l be sited. As is proper for a national
memorial of this character, the Vietnam memorial will be
sited in AnZac Parade where, alongside other memorials to
Australia's armed forces, it will add to the already
impressive approach to the Australian War Memorial.
The Governmebnt is more than pleased to have been able to
provide, in accordance with the wishes of the Vietnam
veterans themselves, the particular site chosen. Placing
this memorial next to the Australian Light Horse memorial
puts the Vietnam experience firmly in the Anzac tradition
where it should be.
And now to the memorial itself. After an extensive
nationwide design competition, the winning design for the
national memorial to Australian Vietnam Forces has been
submitted by Tonkin Zulaikha Architects, of Sydney, working
in association with the distinguished Australian sculptor,
Ken Unsworth.
The Committee believes the triangular design provides for a
simple yet dignified memorial, open in concept and providing
an inner area for contemplation and reflection.
The badges of the three armed services will be located in
the centre of the memorial and the inner chamber will also
record the names of those Australians who gave their lives
in Vietnam.
Those who have seen or heard of the Vietnam memorial in
Washington will appreciate the enormously significant role
it plays in alleviating the trauma of the Vietnam experience
and honouring the sacrifice of those Americans who gave
their lives in this conflict.
I am confident this Australian design will be a fitting and
lasting commemoration to those of our armed services who
took part and suffered in the Vietnam conflict.
It will be welcomed, I am sure, not only by those present
here today, but by all Australians who now increasingly
recognise the difficulties borne by those who fought in
Vietnam. In conclusion, let me announce that the Government has
agreed to extend the period of eligible tax deductibility
for donations to the memorial appeal up to 31 December this
year to enable the financial target for this fine project to
be reached.
I commend the project to all Australians and hope they will
continue to contribute to the appeal in recognition of all
those who served their country so faithfully in Vietnam.