Veterans win tree planting campaign

After seven years of pressing Shellharbour City Council, a local group of Vietnam veterans have finally received official recognition for the planting of more than 200 trees at Croome Road Oval. The sandstone block and plaque was unveiled during a ceremony last week. Its erection was allowed by the council only if the names of the veterans who had planted the trees did not appear within the inscription. That decision left many of the veterans “bewildered”. After seven years of “fighting with council to receive small recognition”, the veterans were recently further angered when a similar plaque was erected within the same oval paying tribute to a visiting Chilean Scouting Troop, despite the fact they planted only two trees. “It has been absolutely disgraceful the way council has conducted themselves during this whole process,” Vietnam veteran Don Tate said. “We have had members of our organisation who helped plant these trees die before this plaque went up. “It is further evidence as to what some sections of the public still think and the apparent divisions within society when it comes to returned Vietnam vets.”