On Monday, August 25 the club’s board handed over a big white cheque to the members of Seymour’s RSL sub-branch and the Mitchell branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia.
A sum of $5000 has been granted to the local veterans to support them in delivering an upgrade at the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk.
VVAA Mitchell branch president John Phoenix began seeking support for the project earlier this year, after Australian Army soldier Private Richard Nordern was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross medal.
Mr Phoenix told the Telegraph in July that the upgrades were essential.
“We can’t not do it (memorialise Pte Norden VC), because we’ve got to be a true reflection of Vietnam,” he said.
“Now that it’s been awarded, it has to be done.”
Seymour Club president Sandra O’Sullivan said the funding was a way of giving back to the community members who had aided the club.
“We’ve always supported the RSL, and they support us, so we’re happy to do it,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
“(The walk) is a drawcard for the town to get visitors. We need more visitors to come in so we want to make sure that the town is presented well, and that commemorative walk is very good, a lot of people visit it.
“It’s all about supporting the community members who support us.”
After recently reopening its doors following weeks of renovations, Seymour Club has been quick to offer support where needed.
Aside from the $5000 granted for the walk, the club has also recently supported state Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland’s Kokoda Trail scholarship, which gives two local students within the electorate the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Australian Army soldiers who served in World War II in Papua New Guinea.
The club also supported last year’s Seymour Gift, an event, Ms O’Sullivan said, the club’s board “all got behind”.
With the Seymour Club now back in action, Ms O’Sullivan said it was wonderful to see locals already flocking to it since its reopening in July.
“The renovation was a tight schedule, but it came to fruition. It was great to see it from what it was to what it is now,” she said.
“So far, it’s been full on — lunches are busy, and we’re actually trying to push people to book now.
“It’s very nice and rewarding when you see something come through, and everyone as a community has embraced it.”
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