Weapons of war reborn as forces for good

For decades, remnants of war have littered the old battlefields around Nui Dat, Vietnam.  

But thanks to a former Australian Army soldier, many have been salvaged and repurposed to change local families’ lives. 

For several years, Jason Fenech – the man behind Diggers Rest (not related to the veterans’ retreat of the same name) – has voluntarily, and singlehandedly, maintained the Long Tan cross memorial in Vietnam, a place he describes as “beyond sacred”. 

The original Long Tan Cross in 1969, Vietnam, with members of 6RAR.

“There are only two foreign memorials in Vietnam: the French one up north and the cross at Long Tan. As Australians, we are so lucky to have that,” he says.  

“The cross was originally raised to remember those who died in the Battle of Long Tan, but now it’s the point of commemoration for everyone – Australians, Kiwis that served with us, plus the Vietnamese.  

“That’s why I clean it every day – for the veterans and families who visit.” 

A new call of duty 

Born and raised near Ipswich, Jason spent 18 years in the Army, joining the Reserves at 17, being promoted to Sergeant, then opting to “drop three stripes” to serve with the Regular Army in East Timor. 

Medically discharged in his mid-30s, Jason didn’t have it easy after Defence – but a trip to Vietnam in 2012 called him to a new duty. 

“I went there as a tourist just to see the Long Tan cross,” he says. “Soon after I sold or gave away everything in Australia to move to Vietnam to tell the ANZAC story, because there was nothing there.” 

As well as caretaking the memorial, Jason recovered a heap of war memorabilia around Nui Dat that became a (now closed) museum detailing that untold ANZAC story. He also arranged to have old Allied shell casings reforged into fundraising keepsakes such as cross, heart, and dog tag pendants.  

All donations and sales he’s collected have gone straight towards maintaining the memorial or supporting local children and families in need. 

“I keep nothing; it all goes back to the kids,” Jason says. “This school year we paid school fees for 88 children. They all received a stationery pack and then we prepared and delivered 100 Christmas presents and 100 lunar new year gifts. We deliver food parcels to a few families weekly and to some children daily. 

“What I do here around Nui Dat is my therapy. It's giving me something to do. I feel like I'm doing something in return for my pension, and it needs to be done.” 

From bullets to bells 

A bell spotted on the Thai-Burma Railway inspired Jason’s latest fundraising initiative: three solid brass bells made from Allied shell casings reclaimed in Vietnam. 

But despite their sombre origins, there’s also the warm, light sentiment of an old digger behind them. “Every Army unit has a boozer, and every boozer has to have a bell,” Jason explains with a smile. 

Like the keepsake pendants, the three bells were hand-forged by a Vietnamese metalsmith in Ba Ria: two using shells found around Nui Dat, and one – to be auctioned on Vietnam Veterans’ Day (18 August) 2024 – using shells from the Long Tan battlefield and surrounds. 

“Whatever is made from the auction will go towards keeping children in school,” Jason says.  

The first bell went under the hammer on 18 August 2023, with Mackay RSL Sub Branch placing the winning bid: $2,700 raised through raffles, fundraising and a personal donation from Jason’s friend Chris Shepherd. 

“We were very, very passionate about getting that first bell,” Sub Branch President Ken Higgins OAM says.  

“Being a Vietnam veteran who served in that area – and a Delta 6R boy to boot – I thought how fantastic it would be to have such an iconic piece of history from the Vietnam War, from a battlefield that our boys served in, with all the money going to support children in the area where we served.”  

Giving back to Vietnam  

Conscripted in his early 20s, Ken says the bell is deeply symbolic and therapeutic to him and his Vietnam veteran mates, in a sense embodying their shared past and enduring connection. 

“We are so proud to have it,” he says. “It's not just a piece of metal; it's a piece of history. To be able to say, ‘I actually walked on the ground where these shells were picked up. I could well have fired some of those rounds along with my mates’. So, here it is now in Mackay where we can look, tell the stories, reminisce, be passionate about what we did and didn't do, and be respectful of where it came from.”  

Children in Nui Dat

Ken says his Sub Branch is proud to continue supporting Jason’s work, teaming with Jason’s friend Chris to hand-deliver donated school supplies to the kids in Nui Dat. 

“The alliance between Mackay Sub Branch veterans, Jason and his good work over there will be ongoing and we'll make sure we continue to support him – not just with money, but also supplies for the kids,” Ken says. 

“It’s so great that we've got a direct association with Nui Dat 50 years on from when we were over there. To be able to give back some sense into the stupidity of war in that wonderful country, it just makes us feel a lot better about it.  

“I served in infantry and got ambushed, wounded in action, airlifted out and all the rest, and I never had any dislike for the Vietnamese people. They were wonderful soldiers and they were doing their job as we were doing ours.  

“But here we are 50-plus years on; we’re still talking, we're friends with them and we're giving back to those beautiful young kids over there.”  

A world of change 

Welfare benefits don’t exist in Vietnam, so every cent Jason raises goes a long way. The stories of those he’s helped are just too many to share.  

“A year ago, we were delivering weekly food parcels to the kids at school. The principal said, ‘Can you go and help this family?’. The dad had just died. He was the family’s only source of income, and one of the children was going to have to leave school to work to support them,” Jason says. 

A young Vietnamese boy plays with an ANZAC Bear

“Now, both children are still in school. We deliver them weekly food parcels and we pay for their utilities. That's just from a handful of generous people on my little Facebook page that love helping; they make donations, or they buy trinkets. It's incredible.  

“It is so touching that people in Australia appreciate and support what I do and trust me enough to do it.  

“We can’t change the world, but we can change their world.” 

Auction details 

Bidding on the second bell is open until 3:40pm Long Tan time (6:40pm EST) on 18 August 2024. 

All funds from the winning bid will go towards school fees and supplies for children in the Nui Dat area. 

The third (and final bell) is for sale. 

To place a bid or learn more, please visit Diggers Rest on Facebook.