Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match at the Greyhound Racing Track, formerly known as the Lord Mayor’s Oval, in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

Today we will commemorate the fallen; predominantly fathers, sons and brothers from a number of countries – including our own – who violently lost their lives during violent periods of history.

Today, we will remember lives violently and indiscriminately taken: fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, in recent floods, earthquakes and tsunamis during a peaceful period of history.

Today, we will celebrate the lives of people close to the Swannies’ community: Maria Russo (Joe’s mother), Colin Koch (Paul’s father), Graham Steward (former strapper for the then Hanoi Swans) and Maureen Williams (Willy’s mother). Each died recently and peacefully during a peaceful time.

Today, we will raise money to support orphanages and to save young Vietnamese lives by teaching them how to swim.

More than 40 years ago, the then Lord Mayor’s Oval hosted matches of an exotic code known as footy, Australia’s signature sport.

Today’s footy match, at the very same venue, collapses time by bridging two eras separated by vast oceans. Coming off the bridge, we are struck not by the differences but the similarities. Sure, there are some who handball an oval ball while others kick a round ball. And then there are some who put their beer on ice while others put their ice in beer.

But really, most of us are all doing the same thing: we’re just trying to raise our families, meet the boss’ deadlines and catch up with friends.

The Vietnam Swans recognise, however, that for some, the journey to this ground today has been difficult. We salute your courage.

Vietnam has been a magnificent and welcoming host country for those of us who make up the Vietnam Swans. For this, we thank you most sincerely. And, that is why we are so pleased to use today’s ANZAC Friendship Match as a vehicle to showcase Vietnam 2011, a young, vibrant, resourceful and modern country – with a rich and proud history spanning thousands of years.

Thank you to all of you who have come to today’s 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match between the Vietnam Swans and the Hong Kong Dragons.

Enjoy your time – and Go Swannies!

Phil Johns
National President
Vietnam Swans

Click onto 2011 ANZAC Friendship Match Footy Record to download a full copy.