This was an inaugural event as a fund raising exercise for a village in Vietnam, built by US veterans to educate and train children to make a living.
All the students are victims of Agent Orange and other related chemicals.
This event was a project by year 10 history students, with a bit of guidance from one very dedicated teacher, Mary Bullock.

The Education Team was asked to put up a display relating to Agent Orange.
There were more than 170 people attending on the night, plus teaching staff. The hospitality students
catered for the night in the form of an Asian Banquet.
These kids put a lot of work into the whole night, even live music and songs of the Vietnam War era.
As a public relations exercise, we couldn't have wished for more. Although the target aim of the display was about the kids in Vietnam,
I also had made a case study with Vietnam veterans and how it is affecting us.
This part of the display proved to be a talking point, as the guests didn't realize that we were also exposed.
The four of us were kept busy answering questions about the different chemicals that were used,
and raising awareness of the long term effects. Not only did it give the Education Team exposure,
but also put the VVAA in good standing with the guests.

The school will be running another function next year, with monies raised to go to Australian charity/ charities based in Vietnam.

Phil White
Education Team
Research, Development & Training Officer

The display was held at the Ringwood R&SL on Tuesday 16th April and Wednesday 17th April 2002.

Eight local schools were invited to attend a display that covered all wars from World War One to East Timor and the Peacekeepers. Its the intention of both the R&SL and the team to make this an annual display.

The following is a newspaper article from the Maroondah Leader newspaper April 23, 2002