Sally’s thoughts on being found and invited along to a Vampire ‘Get Together’ held in Melbourne on the 2nd Feb 1997 for the Victorian Members and their families.

Some would say, in a hurry, well lose him again! Since Julian Stanton contacted me, like a blast from the past, I have had to examine my “being”. I asked myself these questions - Did I want to be contacted? What am I going to do? What have I got in common? Christ, that was 27 years ago, I have lived an entire generation without contact. What on earth could I say to anyone after 27 years? My employers don’t even know that I served in Vietnam. I don’t even consider myself a “vet”. Questions? Questions?.

February the 2nd was approaching and on the Friday before I decided - NO, not interested!! Sunday morning arrived, it was a beautiful day, so my partner of eight years (who is coming to terms with my Vietnam experience) and I decided YES, we will go! - but I was only going to stay for one hour. We duly arrived at 12 midday, ran straight into Bob Bell, and bang, I do not regret one moment of the day. Getting a tear in the eye when hugging Rudi Everts and Dick Jeziorny, seeing Paul Danaher, David Wittner and Julian Stanton, standing, talking and laughing, the “Remember whens” just made a wonderful day. I came home with a sense of pride, a warm inner glow and a real “It was worth it” feeling.

As the week passed, I reflected more and more and decided I would not let this go. It has taken 27 years catch up and I would not wait another 27 years. The following week I made contact with all that I had served with (who were at the BBQ), and they made contact with me, we shared a similar belief that we would keep contact on an “ad hoc” basis, with no strings attached, just to touch base with each other. I also thought about the partners, wives and families, that were present as well, they were all included, none excluded.

On March 1st , a few of us got together for dinner and again a wonderful night, plenty of laughs and plenty of grog. The one thing, that has not changed over the years, is, we all still drink, and lots of it! What has affected me, in a very positive way is that, it is, as if the 27 year gap in our lives never existed. We met, we talked, laughed, introduced our wives, partners and families and got on with it. In that gap, we lived differently, got married (well some did), had children (again some did), and re-joined the work force - making not one iota of a difference when, again, we met. It just added another dimension to the conversation.

In Vietnam we shared a common bond, and now we are back together, along with our partners, wives and families who are now a part of that bond. Sitting at the restaurant table, I saw and heard the continuation of the bond formed so many years ago. It was, personally, a thrilling thing to behold. (Don’t think I am getting sentimental in my old age, do you?)

To me, these past months have been like a family getting back together after a long absence.

Sally Saunders