Nambus retires after 18 years on the road
The Nambus, the local mobile Vietnam War museum and memorial, will be retired in January after 18 years travelling the State educating secondary history students.
"Crew members will take the Nambus down to Phillip Island where it will be part of the display in the new Vietnam Veterans Memorial Museum," said Nambus secretary Ms Lorraine Scott.
"The Nambus will continue to educate and inform the people of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War."
Ms Scott admitted it would be a sad day.
"It is the end of a era.
"The bus is getting older and the Veterans older as well," she said.
The bus was operated from the Ettalong office of the Central Coast branch of the Vietnam Veterans Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association of Australia.
Ms Scott said the current Nambus was the third Nambus, replacing the second after that bus was deemed unroadworthy.
Ms Scott said Local Member at the time, Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews, arranged a former State Transit bus as a replacement bus,.
"It was fitted out as a mobile museum and memorial containing memorabilia of the Vietnam War and Australia's involvement," said Ms Scott.
"Students from the Hunter Institute of TAFE were responsible for the fit-out.
"The painting of the Nambus was by the TAFE students from Southwestern Sydney Institute at Wetherill Park.
"The magnificent mural on the side of the bus was designed by TAFE NSW Hunter Institute painting and decoration teacher Mr Eric McLucas."
Ms Scott said Ms Andrews was also responsible for arranging the maintenance of the bus to be carried out at by the State Transit Workshop at Ryde.
"The Nambus was formally handed over to the Vietnam Veterans at Ourimbah Campus on Friday, February 20, 2004.
"For 18 years the Nambus, crewed by members of the Vietnam Veterans Gosford City Sub-Branch, travelled throughout NSW to visit Year 10 Modern History students who were studying Vietnam as part of the curriculum.
"The Veterans also gave talks to the students covering many aspects of the war and their experiences.
"This was also a form of therapy for the Veterans."
Ms Scott said that teachers had reported that "they could teach the students many things, but they couldn't teach them what the Veterans know".
The veterans were living history, said Ms Scott.
"The students benefited and the Veterans benefited.
"The Nambus was accredited as an educational resource.
"Over the years the Nambus has received many accolades from the students and teachers from the schools the Nambus visited.
"The Nambus also did many Static Displays throughout NSW."
Ms Scott said the success of the Nambus could not have been achieved without the assistance of Ms Andrews and sponsors, including Ettalong Diggers.
Ettalong Diggers will host the final local Nambus exhibit from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, December 17.
"We really want to encourage parents to bring the kids along and check out this fantastic museum piece, before the Nambus heads off on its final journey to Phillip Island," said marketing manager Ms Kim Cole.
SOURCE:
Media release, 21 Nov 2022
Lorraine Scott, VVPPAACC