In his initial return from combat, Mr Dobell had been routinely abused and spat on in the street, even in his home city, Melbourne. And Mr Dobell had only been aged in his early 20s.

When he turned the corner into George Street, he was overwhelmed, humbled and proud. About 100,000 people lined the streets for the Welcome Home parade. 

This year, Mr Dobell and the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Ballarat sub-branch will lead the Anzac Day march through this city’s streets for the first time.

“There’s been a massive change in support for Vietnam veterans. But the community has always been pretty good,” Mr Dobell said. “It’s the same old story. When you see protesters in front of you, abusing you, it’s easy to think the whole world is against you.”

The Welcome Home parade was a turning point for many Vietnam veterans, like Mr Dobell, in feeling national acceptance. A greater sense they had a place of honour is Australia’s military legacy.

Shunned for so long, gradually more Vietnam veterans are taking part in traditional Returned and Services League events. Ballarat RSL leaders and Mr Dobell say this is also, in part, a generational difference. Just like returning servicemen from modern battles in Afghanistan and Iraq tending to form their own support groups or services.

Mr Dobell said there were still close friends he made during the war who did not speak about the war, who did not want to march. He respects their 

Vietnam Veterans will lead Anzac Day marches across the state amid year-long commemorations for the 50th anniversary of Long Tan. Ballarat association secretary Peter Starr said conscripted and registered troops fought side-by-side and all were professional in the horrific battle.

As a sailor, Mr Starr found most people tended to “forget” or overlook the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy roles in war. His role was predominantly as a troop escort, shipping soldiers in or out of battle in Vietnam.

“We did spend a lot of time at sea but in strategy we were reserves, we would be there ready to go in support,” Mr Starr said. “Helicopters are not just for the army either...talk about contact, our helicopters had to hover above trees trying to winch out the wounded. That’s a big target.”

Mr Starr said it was crucial to recognise all those who serve in war, to keep their stories alive, so their sacrifices and heroics would not be forgotten.

War nurses will be honoured for the first time in Ballarat’s Anzac Day march under the Royal Australian Nursing Corps banner.

Captain (AAC) Margaret Benoit, a officer commanding Sebastopol Army Cadet Unit, is a nurse by trade. Captain Benoit uniquely can appreciate how army nurses shaped her civilian occupation. 

“Nurses are quite often unsung heroes of war. They worked in the most horrendous conditions, saw terrible things, and were surrounded by death, wounded and disease,” Captain Benoit said.

“Nurses operated sometimes without medical supplies, water and sanitation – things we take for granted...Nurses did procedures civilian nurses would never do and developed new skills for nurses, they led hospital wards.”

Captain Benoit said there was increasingly more recognition for all women in war, including those at home running farms and business, mourning loved ones from afar. She highlighted the Garden of the Grieving Mother, opened near the Arch of Victory in Ballarat late last year.

Understanding and sharing miltary history is important for Captain Benoit, who is proud to watch her cadets take on more responsibility in commemorative services each year, including Vietnam Veterans Day and the Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial. 

Stories about people who serve inspire Damascus College student Imogen Coles. Personal stories bring history to life for the year 10 student. Ms Coles set out to “adopt a digger” for a chance to earn a Premier’s study tour on European battlefronts.

What she uncovered was the story of her great-great uncle Lieutenant-Commander William Edward Sanders – the only New Zealander serving in the navy to win a Victoria Cross, for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Schools in New Zealand are named in his honour.

Ms Coles documented her journey, chasing history, from Ballarat to Auckland War Memorial Museum and a chance to hold the Victoria Cross and her great-great uncles’ other precious war artifacts.

Her submission staked Ms Coles a place on the whirlwind study tour and the surreal experience to walk in Anzac footsteps.

Her tour, with about 20 Victorian students, was limited to Greece due to terrorist instability in Belgium, France and Turkey. Gallipoli, a key feature on the tour, was ruled out but Ms Coles said extra time in Greece offered a chance to really absorb and reflect on all she saw and felt.

Attending a dawn service is a family ritual each Anzac Day for Ms Coles, but she has noticed the growing crowds each year, particularly with more teenagers like her.

“For me, family history and that sort of thing really sparks an interest in learning more about Anzacs,” Ms Coles said.

“I think we have a need to remember. I think the spirit of the Anzac is still living on in each of us. That legacy is still there.”