Welcome to the community page of The Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club (VV/VMC) Inc. We share the commonality of camaraderie and ‘esprit de corps’ from our service within the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and a passion for motorcycles, the Club and the Chapter. OUR HISTORY
Servicemen returning from the war in Vietnam, found their lives forever changed by their service and we
re seeking the camaraderie they experienced in Vietnam. The Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club (VVMC) was formed in July 1992. In early 2000, a realization by the members of VVMC was that the club had a limited life span. Talks were carried out amongst the State Chapters, and it was agreed at a Federal level, that the Veterans Motorcycle Club (VMC) should be formed, to increase the Clubs longevity, and to ride side by side with the VVMC. This opened the door to all servicemen with the required period of qualifying service and medallic entitlement. The VVMC Townsville Chapter was formed in 2001 with the VMC Townsville Chapter forming in 2012. Today the VVMC and VMC have over 30 Chapters around Australia. Membership consists of Military Veterans from all three branches of the armed services, who have served the nation with honour and distinction from 1962 onwards. Our ‘colours’ have been on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and the Townsville Chapter is recognised as a long time established External Service Organisation (ESO). Great friend and mate of the Townsville Chapter, Lee Kernaghan, OAM, Australian country music artist, guitarist and lyricist, composed the lyrics and words to ‘Live To Ride’ specifically written for and about the Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia. Membership to the Townsville Chapter is strictly by invitation only. Membership is open to males who have served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) or equivalent allied foreign force and have been awarded the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM), and/or the Australian Service Medal (ASM), and/or the Australian Operational Service Medal for Defence - All Overseas/Offshore Operations / Counter Terrorism & Special Recovery (CT/SR) / Special Operations (AOSM) or the allied foreign force equivalent. If you have only received the award of the Australian Defence Medal (ADM), and/or the Australian Operational Service Medal for Defence - Border Protection / Domestic Operations (AOSM) or the allied foreign force equivalent, you are welcome, upon invitation, membership to the Chapter. You will be required to go through the same membership process, however, you will not be permitted to wear the back patch. (correct as at 6 Jul ‘22)
You must provide proof of service (Record of Service) or equivalent, any and all records supplied will be verified. You must be prepared to undergo a none too short and non time defined, ‘Hang Around’, Prospect and Nomination period. Prospects and Nominees will be required to demonstrate dedication and commitment to the Chapter. Rank and previous Service history bears no weight in the progression towards earning a ‘full patch’. You must have a Chapter approved, registered, comprehensively insured, cruiser style motorcycle with a Queensland (R) licence or interstate equivalent. Haven’t served! Become an Associate, Supporter or Social Member. THE GARRISON BAR
Our home and club rooms ‘The Garrison Bar’ fondly referred to as ‘The Garro’ are located in the northern Townsville suburb of Jensen. We are open on Friday nights from 1700h till late and we welcome, by invitation, Veterans, current serving personnel, their families and members of the general public, where we offer a relaxed and safe atmosphere. The Chapter conducts monthly member rides throughout Queensland and interstate. We also conduct several social rides throughout the year. Social rides are open to all riders and we look forward to seeing you on a social ride! To find out more about the Townsville Chapter, The Garrison Bar or upcoming social rides, visit our website @ vmctownsville.com or send an email to: [email protected]
Our 'Mission' is to provide assistance to ALL current and former military service personnel that may have welfare issues. We stand ready to assist all Veterans from all three branches of the armed services and current serving personnel. The Townsville Chapter supports numerous North Queensland charity rides, charity events, defence related activities and programs. We operate an Australian Military History page @ https://www.facebook.com/the.garro.townsville and a Australian Military History YouTube channel @ https://youtube.com/c/TheGarroTownsville
Support for our YouTube channel is via the Patreon platform @ https://www.patreon.com/thegarro
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Be aware of the below in relation to the Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia, or in fact any recognised motorcycle club (MC).
1. do not wear, or have in your possession, or use without authorisation, or post/repost on mainstream and/or social media platforms, or reproduce without proper authority, images or items, depicting the skull and slouch hat, known as ‘The Casper’ with or without the top rocker bearing the words Vietnam Veterans or the word Veterans, with or without the bottom rocker bearing the word Australia and with or without the MC cube, known as ‘The Patch’ or ‘The Colours’ unless you are a current member of the Club.
2. do not use words, terms, acronym’s or symbology, such as Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia (VVMC), Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia (VMC), or Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia (VV/VMC), the acronym VFFV or the numerals 22 contained within the shape of a diamond, unless you are a current member of the Club.
3. do not use the images, items and/or terms, attributed and related to the Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia, that would cause others to think, you are a current member of the Club.
4. do not post, repost or share pictures of members of Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia, without that members permission. The above points are common to all MCs worldwide, members of a recognised MC have undergone long periods of prospecting and process of nomination, in order to earn the right to wear the ‘patch’ and MC cube. Contravention, ignorance
and/or disregard of the above is considered extremely disrespectful and is considered as shameful, as the act of ‘Stolen Valour’.
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‘FIOFO’
‘Support Your Local Veterans’
SYLV
Veterans Forever Forever Veterans
VFFV
‘Honour, Courage, Mateship and Pride’ are on our backs, whenever we ride.
'Honour the Dead, but fight like Hell for the Living'
