Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said those who served in Vietnam were worthy custodians of the Anzac tradition.
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Those present to pay their respects included local MPs Lisa Chesters and Jacinta Allan as well as school groups from across Bendigo, some of whom are studying the Vietnam War, who all laid wreaths.
“What I would say to the Vietnamese government is; we understand that”.
On Vietnam Veterans’ Day, Australia honours the almost 60,000 men and women who served in the Vietnam War.
Mr Bextrum is the only former veteran from WA being awarded for his role in the Battle of Long Tan at the ceremony.
Canberra announced Wednesday that Vietnam had cancelled the ceremonies at the last minute describing the surprise move as “a kick in the guts”.
The Australians will also have to visit the site in groups of 100, rather than arriving en masse.
“We’re very disappointed that not all of the Australians and their families were able to go to the Long Tan complex and reverently commemorate Vietnam Veterans Day before the Long Tan Cross”, Turnbull told Radio 3AW.
More than 1,000 Australian veterans and their families travelled to Vietnam to commemorate the battle of Long Tan.
Services are underway around Australia to mark the anniversary, including at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. He told reporters the veto reflected “deep sensitivities” within Vietnam and was not a response to problems in the bilateral relationship.
He said there was a planned gala dinner on Thursday night for about 600 people, including up to 80 Vietnamese veterans of the battle.
Seventeen Australians were killed in action and 25 wounded, one of whom later died from his injuries while some 250 Vietnamese fighters perished.
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia national president Ken Foster warned that the suddenness of the cancellation would hurt the mental welfare of not only the veterans in Vietnam, but those in Australia preparing for ceremonies.
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Events were to include a concert by 1960s pop star Patricia “Little Patty” Amphlett, who the Australian broadcaster ABC has reported was a 17-year-old entertaining troops on the back of a truck at the Australian Taskforce Base at Nui Dat when the battle began.
