The G&DVVAA exists to provide pension and welfare assistance for the Vietnam Veteran Community in Geelong as well as provide a social environment for the veteran and his family. In 1974 a group of young men who had served in South Vietnam met at the Geelong RSL with the aim of forming a Vietnam association. At that time, however, the R&SL was opposed to the use of the word "veteran" as it felt the
term was too "Americanised". After a number of names were considered, the group finally settled on "The Geelong Vietnam Association". A further impetus for the formation of the association was the desire of Geelong veterans to march independently of any other group or unit at ANZAC Day services. This took place for the first time in 1975 when the newly formed association marched under its own banner, made for it by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Geelong RSL. It is believed that the GVA was the first registered association of Vietnam veterans in Australia. From the outset, the GVA was purely a social group and over the next 15 years many activities and functions were held. The money raised from these activities was distributed to various charities, including the Cottage by The Sea, and was also used to send children to the Lords Mayor's Camp at Somers. The association also assisted many of its members who were experiencing hardship. The inaugural president of the GVA was Neil Smith with Graham Pitchford as secretary. In late 1979 in Melbourne the " Vietnam Veterans Action Association" was formed as a result of perceptions that the veterans exposure to toxic chemicals during the conflict was the cause of health problems for they and their children. A name change quickly followed with the group becoming the "Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia" (the word 'Action' apparently being considered too political by some). In the same year, a sub-Branch was formed in Geelong under the presidency of Richard Brady with Alan Bone as secretary.The newly formed group focused on welfare and pension work with Tassie Challenger being the first VVAA Welfare Officer in Geelong. Many Geelong veterans who served in SVN often asked the question "why are there two Vietnam Veteran groups in Geelong" and the question was rarely answered. In late 1987, after the Sydney welcome home parade, the two groups started to liaise with one another and in late 1988 a joint steering committee, with independent chairman, Harry Wright, and secretary, Gus Angus, was formed to examine the amalgamation of the GVA and the VVAA Geelong sub-Branch. A number of meetings were held over the next twelve months and, in late 1990, the two groups amalgamated to become "The Geelong & District Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia "with Harry Wright as interim President until the first AGM at which Graham Brown and Alan Hughes were installed as the incoming President and Secretary respectively. Also in 1993, a sub-committee was formed to establish the Geelong Vietnam Memorial and in October 1995, on the anniversary of the opening of the National Vietnam Memorial in Canberra, the Geelong Memorial and Avenue of Honour at Osborne Park, North Geelong, was officially opened. Subsequently, improvements to the memorial and surrounds, along with the upgrading of the Avenue of Honour continue. In 2009, the sub-branch was granted a lease on rooms at the historic Osborne House in North Geelong where it has also set up a small museum for members memorabilia. In 1993 the City of Geelong and the G &DVVAA was chosen to host the National Congress of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia and Geelong was the first provincial city in Australia to do so. The sub-branch was again chosen to host the National Congress in 2012 at Osborne House in Geelong. In 2012, the association celebrates its 37th anniversary. The continuing strength of the GDVVAA lies in the tireless work of many individuals, their families and their friends. As long as there are veterans who are socially isolated or in need of assistance, the fight must go on. To keep us focussed on the task we need look no further than the association motto:
"Honour The Dead But Fight Like Hell For The Living".
