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| Pic courtesy Military History & Heritage Victoria |
Australians called up during the second National Service scheme (1965 -72) have been to a large extent whitewashed out of our history.
Those 15381 who served in Vietnam have to some extent been redeemed by a cultural shift assisted by the Welcome Home March in October 1987, and John Schumann's "I Was Only Nineteen", albeit fifteen years after the last of us left Vietnam. Better late than never, I suppose.
The forty thousand plus who did not serve in Vietnam have never really been recognised nor adequately compensated, but there is a smaller cohort who did contribute significantly to the peaceful independence of Papua New Guinea in 1975.
These were the "Chalkies", or Nashos who were called up as teachers, assigned to Education Corps, promoted to rank of sergeant, and shipped to New Guinea to teach Papuan members of the Pacific Islands Regiment. The rapid promotions put many regular soldiers' noses out of joint, but these men did a low key but significant job in enculturating unifying values into members of what is arguably the most significant institution in PNG.
Remember that native Papuans come from very different environments in that country and speak 840 living languages which makes it the most linguistically diverse country on the planet.
Into that diverse mix were sent over three hundred young Australians, trained as members of one of the most effective jungle fighting armies in the world, to create and provide a meaningful and relevant curriculum to Papuan soldiers.
Given the peaceful outcome of PNG independence, despite dire predictions of conflict such had developed in ex colonies such as Kenya, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Angola, that contribution should be recognised, fifty years down the track.
As a personal note, if I had been allocated to Education Corps, which as a teacher was my preference, I may have spent the rest of my brief and unspectacular army career contributing something useful.
I should, I guess, be grateful I got home in one piece, unlike two hundred other Nashos killed, and thirteen hundred significantly wounded.
It's an ill wind....
