THE National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM) welcomed General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, AC (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd) and Lady Lynne Cosgrove to Newhaven on Sunday, July 30 to honour and embrace those who put on the nations uniform.
Kingsley Mundey officially opened the welcoming speaking of the boards commitment to build a new museum to better present stories, of those who served and sacrificed in and after Vietnam.
“We're resilient and we don't give up. There is always an option, and we will get a new Museum.”
The NVVM fundraising target includes $40 million for the land and purpose designed museum building and $5 million for the fit-out and $5 million for the NVVM Foundation corpus.
In attendance were volunteers, veterans and board members who then heard from General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove.
General Cosgrove rose to speak, firstly stating “I am honoured that you would receive me here, this is such a special place,” before sharing that he is the ambassador this year to publicize 50 years since Australia's announcement that it was ceasing 11 years of combat operations from 1962 through to January 11, 1973.
“All around Australia on August 3, a vigil will take place with someone visiting every grave, to say a prayer. It's a moment in time, but for all of us, it was a life changing event.
General Cosgrove was born in Sydney in 1947. The son of a soldier, he attended Waverley College in Sydney and graduated in 1968 from the Royal Military College, Duntroon.
Early in his military career, he fought in Vietnam, commanding a rifle platoon. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1971 for his performance and leadership during an assault on enemy positions.
In 1972, he served as Aide de Camp to Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck. He returned to regimental life as second in command of a Company, rising to Adjutant then Company Commander in the Army’s 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR), then 5/7 RAR in Holsworthy, Sydney.
Subsequent appointments included a period as a tactic’s instructor at the Army’s Infantry Centre in Singleton, New South Wales; a year’s study at the United States Marine Corps Staff College in Quantico, USA; extended periods of duty in the United Kingdom and India; and command of 1 RAR. He was appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service in command in 1983-84.
Peter Cosgrove came to national attention in 1999 when, as Commander of the International Task Force East Timor (INTERFET), he was responsible for overseeing that country’s transition to independence. For his leadership in this role, he was promoted to Companion in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AC).
Promoted to Lieutenant General, he was appointed Chief of Army in 2000. After further promotion to General, he served as Chief of the Defence Force from 2002-2005. He retired from the Australian Defence Force in 2005.
