Peter Page, former chairperson of the St Agnes’ Village Residents’ Committee, is a Vietnam Veteran who served his country from 1969 – 1971.

Peter shares the impact his experience in Vietnam has had on his life and family, as well as how talking with local students has helped him find a positive way to process it.

Organised by Peta Watters, History Coordinator and teacher at St Columba Anglican College, Peter and a couple of other veterans share their experiences with the Year 9 and 10 students studying Australia at War, giving the students a chance to hear firsthand accounts from those who served.

Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War

Over 60,000 Australians, including ground troops and air force and navy personnel, served in Vietnam during our nation’s involvement in the conflict (1962-1973). Between 1965 and December 1972 over 800,000 men registered for National Service. Some 63,000 were conscripted and over 19,000 served in Vietnam. These servicemen became known as ‘Nashos’. Source: National Archives of Australia Fact Sheet 164

Peter’s presentation revolves around being conscripted to serve in Vietnam and his time as a Nasho.

Peter says speaking with students has helped him process those memories and begin to heal.

“We give a presentation on our situation and the students ask us questions,” Peter explains. “They’re mainly interested in conscription. There are also some regular soldiers who go that I’m very good friends with, so the students get to hear different points of view.”

He sees these talks as a form of living history. “ABC Radio used to do talking history, and so we are talking history for the students. There are no WWII vets left, maybe a few guys from Korea, so the Vietnam Veterans are the oldest left to talk about our experiences.”

“When we came to Port Macquarie in 2007, I met Roger Mika, who got me involved. It’s the kids in Port Macquarie who have helped me move forward. It’s the way they react on ANZAC Day; the way they react when you give a talk in front of them.”

“It has helped me understand that maybe my experience wasn’t all a waste of time,” says Peter.

At the time of Peter’s service, the Vietnam War had been going on for several years and anti-war protests were gathering momentum in Australia.

“My two years of service was mostly spent driving trucks in convoy between Long Binh (an American base) and Vung Tau and Nui Dat (the Australian bases).”

“Denice, then my girlfriend, now my wife of 53 years, wrote a letter to me every day I was away.Letters were our only communication and would arrive every few days… the best part was sorting them into date order to read them.”

“A couple of months before my two years was up, I was posted to Victoria Barracks in Sydney. We did not wear our uniform going to and from work each day. My role was to drive staff cars, so we certainly endured our share of abuse from the Australian public.”

“Most conscripts I knew had trouble getting a job and found it better not to mention National Service,” Peter remembers.

For years, Peter distanced himself from commemorations, not attending the first official Vietnam Veterans’ Welcome Home parade in 1987 and not wearing his medals until 1990.

This year he delivered an address at the Port Macquarie War Memorial on Vietnam Veterans’ Day (18 August) which is commemorated on the anniversary of the 1966 Battle of Long Tan.

After the army, Peter built a successful career in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, working with companies like Johnson & Johnson, Fabergé, Schwarzkopf, and eventually L’Oréal, where he served as National Manager for 14 years. But beneath the surface, he was struggling.

“I was self-medicating my PTSD by drinking far too much and eventually had a breakdown.”

His sister-in-law, a psychologist, helped him recognise the signs. “She said, ‘You suppress it all because you’re paying off the mortgage, raising kids, getting them through education… then all of a sudden it hits you.’ And that happened to me in 2000–2001.”

Peter has been seeing a psychologist since 1996 and now speaks openly about the importance of mental health.

“There was a time when it would be embarrassing to say you were seeing a psychiatrist. Less so these days. You show others the way by saying, ‘I do that and it’s a good thing.’”

Support from his wife Denice has been unwavering. “I wouldn’t be on the planet without Denice,” Peter says. “When I resigned, I remember saying, ‘We’ve got a mortgage,’ and Denice said, ‘I don’t care if we live in a tent. We just want you.’”

Peter and Denice moved to Port Macquarie in 2007, settling in Lake Cathie before moving to St Agnes’ Village in 2016. Denice, who suffered a heart attack in 2014, is now in a wheelchair and receives care through St Agnes’ Home Care. “It’s fantastic—the way the carers, clinical team and coordinators all work together. Denice and I feel like we are part of the St Agnes’ community.”

Now 77, Peter stays active with gym sessions funded by Veterans Affairs and regular rounds of golf at Port Macquarie Golf Club. “They say, we’d rather keep you healthy and out of hospital,” he laughs. Though recently diagnosed with a heart valve leak, Peter remains committed to his health and wellbeing.

Peter also served as chairperson of the Village Residents’ Committee, stepping down recently after years of service. “80% of people want to be left to do their own thing, but it makes our village community richer if people choose to get involved.”

He’s proud of the collaborative relationship between residents and management, especially with Jody Munro and the team at the Village Management Office, Peter Johnson and the ISS maintenance team. “There’s a great sense of community at St Agnes’ Village. People think you have to be Catholic to be here, but not at all.”

Reflecting on his journey, Peter says, “I thought we got shafted when we got called up to go to Vietnam. Now, because I’m being so well looked after by Veterans Affairs, and Denice is being so well looked after by the Parish, I think it’s an opportunity to give back. I think we’re on the winning side now.”