New Vietnam War museum in three years, they say

THERE’S no doubt that the decision at VCAT, in May this year, to overturn the Bass Coast Shire Council’s support of a $50 million redevelopment of the National Vietnam Veterans Museum was a disappointment.

And together with setbacks for COVID, the board of the NVVM have lost four years in their five-year timeline to have a project approved.

But, as they told a special visitor last week, Victorian Nationals Leader Peter Walsh, it’s still upwards and onwards.

“We keep getting hurdles put in front of us and we keep on climbing over them,” said NVVM Board Member Gary Elliott who was one of a group to meet with Mr Walsh last Friday.

“We’ve got our leg over the next one now,” he said.

“One option is to develop on the site where the museum is presently located,” said General Manager of the NVVM Braxton Lane.

“Purchasing more land here is a possible way forward but there are others,” he said.

“But it will happen, rest assured about that,” said Mr Elliott.

“But this isn’t just a local project, it has national and international significance as well,” said Phil Dressing.

“We’ve had members go overseas and they say there’s nothing like this anywhere in the world.

“We’re doing this for the Australian community, and the international community as well, but we’re also doing this for our own wellbeing, and we need to finish the job,” he said.

“VCAT was a setback, but we still plan to have a new building in place within the next two to three years.”

A sense of urgency is important they say, with veterans of the Vietnam War, both in Australia and also in the USA, reaching a certain age where they want to pass on their memorabilia from the war, some of it significant, to the museum for display and safekeeping in perpetuity.

“We’re always happy to encourage any MP to come down and have a look,” M Dressing said.

For Mr Walsh it was his first visit to the museum.

And as impressed as he was with the importance of the collection, he was in awe of the incredible volunteer effort that allowed the collection to grow and for the centre to operate.

“I look forward to coming back in the not too distant future and seeing the redevelopment,” he said.

So, the new museum will be built within three years, they say, but exactly where is still to be announced.