Ten years ago Footscray Returned Soldiers League was struggling. Membership was low and the president at the time knew something needed to change.
So he handed the leadership to Viet Long Nguyen, a Vietnamese Vietnam War veteran who has lived in Australia for almost 30 years, arriving here after the war.
The RSL now has more than 120 members, only four of which are Australian born. The rest, like Viet Long, are Australian Vietnamese Veterans who served for the South Vietnamese armed forces, fighting alongside the Australian Army and allies during the Vietnam War.
The Footscray RSL has a long history of milestones. When it was established in 1920, it was the largest and most active RSL in the country and the first RSL to erect a monument to their fallen comrades without public funding.
ANZAC Day celebrations at Footscray RSL, 2016 Source: Supplied
The legacy came under threat ten years ago when its membership dwindled. Located in an area that features a Vietnamese population of around 10 percent of all residents, it was that very community that saved the RSL, so that it could survive to celebrate its 100th birthday last year.
Now, the club's legacy has grown to represent the strength of multiculturalism.
Out the front of the now thriving RSL, next to the Australian flag, flies the former flag of South Vietnam, which was used before the Vietnam War.
The flag is popular with many who fled Vietnam because of the war, and is sometimes referred to as the Heritage and Freedom Flag.
ANZAC Day celebrations at Footscray RSL, 2016 Source: Supplied
“The flag represents freedom,” Loi Duong, the club's secretary, explains.
He served in the Vietnam War for the South Vietnamese armed forces, and came to Australia in his early 30s.
Loi joined soon after Viet Long Nguyen became president. He said it made sense, he is a verteran.
“Most [Vietanmese] veterans came here looking for freedom. We also need a place to spend some time together.”
The club only has four Australian born members. Peter Doody, who is also the vice president and welfare officer, is one of them.
He says the club, without doubt, would have closed without Viet Long Nguyen and the Vietnamese community.
“It would have closed for sure if he didn’t come along,” he said.
“I was approached by the president because he needed a bit of a hand with situations in the RSL, because almost all our members [are] Vietnamese.”
Peter had some experience in other RSL clubs and was happy to help. Seven years later, he believes its membership makes it one of the more unique RSLs in the country.
ANZAC Day celebrations at Footscray RSL, 2016 Source: Supplied
“It’s 100-years-old though, the building could do with some renovations.”
Loi and the club will take this ANZAC Day to remember their service.
“It is an important day to remember our friends.”
