Gunnedah's Vietnam veterans murals to be launched on Anzac Day

Word of the two commemorative murals on the Water Tower Museum has travelled far and wide, with veterans to attend the official launch today.

Award-winning artist Jenny McCracken worked night and day to complete the murals this week so the contributions of Vietnam veterans could be recognised on Anzac Day.

Designed by Ms McCracken, the murals depicting iconic Huey helicopters, soldiers and the Long Tan Cross are at home on Anzac Hill.

The murals were funded by the federal government's Drought Communities Program and driven by Gunnedah and District Historical Society.

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Society member Marie Hobson said there had already been "a great response" from veterans who were "treated badly" after the "not talked about war".

"In the end, it's all about our Vietnam veterans ... because they were treated so badly at war and when they came home as well," she said.

"And it's been a long time for their healing process - and some people haven't healed."

Veteran John Connelly had been instrumental in providing helpful details for the murals and on Vietnam Veterans Day in 2017 told NVI that for a long time their service was "thought of as nothing".

Ms McCracken said Mr Connelly had been speaking with fellow veterans from around Australia about the memorial.

"All the feedback we've got is that it is having a really powerful, positive effect for them," Mc McCracken said.

"They're just so happy to see this memorial for them."

The museum already houses a dedicated display to the Vietnam War, which features former local man, the late Phil Barwick, who was a long-term casualty of the war after enduring critical injuries in a mortar attack on his tank.

At today's launch, Barwick's tank gunnery officer Bill Burton will present a mounted set of the soldier's Vietnam War medals to the museum.

"It all started out just with the medals and then we had the idea of the mural," Mrs Hobson said.

"I was thinking it would be two years down the track by the time we got the grant and everything, but suddenly here we are."

The launch will be held at 3pm at the Gunnedah Water Tower Museum on South Street. Attendees are asked to bring along a chair.

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