Pandanus Park
Heading into the Australian landscape yet again in the 4.2 litre diesel landcruiser… I've been invited to a pretty special event and I'm looking forward to it !
It's not easy to get to, I can tell you. But as long as this mysterious symbol keeps cropping up, I know I'm on the right track.
I finally make it - the Pandanus Park Veterans' Retreat, on the banks of the Normanby River north of Cooktown.
Pandanus Park is about 5 hrs from Cooktown. For the last five years, vets from every conflict have made the annual pilgrimage to this piece of pristine Aussie bush for a few days R&R.
Tomorrow, they'll commemorate Long Tan Day.
Pandanus is not just about Vietnam veterans… It is in honour of veterans of all wars and all future wars.
The memorial is proof of that. Scattered on top are bits of battlefields - rocks from the Burma railway, Anzac Cove, the Kokoda Trail.
The brains behind Pandanus Park - bushtucker man Les Hiddins, himself a Vietnam vet.
Les : 'A lot of these blokes have mental health problems from the war…getting a lot of support from the medical profession these days but nothing can beat this sort of thing and they'll tell you that too.'
Tomorrow's service will be a solemn affair. Tonight, though, is a time for laughs and music with special guest, Aussie music legend John Williamson.
18 Australian troops died at the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.
And that symbol that guided me in? It's the Pandanus Park logo - three red stripes from the Australian Vietnam Service ribbon.
After the service, the diggers kick back. I wet a line with Terry Armistead. Terry was at Long Tan, and the memories are vivid.
These old soldiers have one battle left, and that's the fight to make Pandanus Park their own. They want the Federal Government to acquire the land and set it aside exclusively for former diggers.
You'll find plenty of information about the Pandanus Park Veteran's Retreat on their website.
While you're logged on, you can go to John Williamson's site to check out his latest music.
I drove to this remote area in a tough Toyota Landcruiser. We hired one from 4WD hire service.. or you can check out the brand new models on the toyota website.
