By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A North Geelong billboard that veterans said disrespected the memory of fallen diggers will be removed.
They campaigned for more than two years for the Geelong council billboard to be removed from the middle of the Vietnam veterans Avenue of Honour on Melbourne Road.
Geelong Vietnam Veterans Association president Reiny Nieuwenhof said the organisation was delighted at the announcement.
Mr Nieuwenhof said the move restored the integrity of the Vietnam Veterans Avenue of Honour in time for August’s 50-year commemoration of the Battle of Long Tan.
He said the association had worked for more than two years to create a $130,000 legacy Vietnam veterans memorial.
The memorial includes an honour roll commemorating the 521 diggers who lost their lives in the Vietnam conflict.
The project included creation of a memorial park with a paved pathway on the corner of Swinburne Street.
He said a bike path would be constructed on the western side of the avenue from Swinburne Street to the Separation Street overpass.
The Vietnam veterans would march along the path to the new memorial park on 14 August as part of the 50-year anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
City of Greater Geelong community life general manager Linda Quinn said a heritage overlay at the site of the Vietnam Veterans Avenue of Honour would be included.
“The City of Greater Geelong acknowledges the contribution of Australians who served in the Vietnam War and the significance of the Vietnam Veterans Avenue of Honour,” Ms Quinn said.
She said the community billboard was originally developed as a community safety initiative, championed by Barwon CASA and Victoria Police.
“We still have other options for community groups wanting to share their events through our community promotion signs which are available for hire at various locations across Geelong,” she said.
