It set the scene for a moving service that remembered both those who had paid the supreme sacrifice while serving their country, and those who returned from the conflict.

Local veterans were joined by veterans from Stroud, Dungog and Newcastle for the service which also marked the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Coral-Balmoral.

Tom Yates spoke about some of his experiences as a national serviceman in Vietnam, and his involvement in the operation of fire support base Coral.

“I remember vividly the attacks and destruction the Vietnamese inflicted on our 1 RAR First Battalion,” he said.

The combat at Coral and Balmoral was described by the Australian Task Force Commander Brigadier Ron Hughes as “some of the heaviest fighting that the task force had ever undertaken”.