FED: Dick Smith says $1m War Memorial donation an obligation

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2006
FED: Dick Smith says $1m War Memorial donation an obligation

By Kylie Williams

CANBERRA, April 11 AAP - Entrepreneur Dick Smith today donated $1 million towards a
memorial to Vietnam veterans at the Australian War Memorial, saying he felt obliged to
recognise those who had fought for their country.

Mr Smith and his wife, Pip, made the donation for a yet-to-be-built Iroquois helicopter
display that will be housed at the Australian War Memorial.

He said he believed the donation was an obligation in recognition of Australia's Vietnam
veterans.

"I won the lottery of life," he said.

"I was born in 1944, which meant I was too young for the Korean War and too old for
the Vietnam War, and I admire people who went off to fight for Australia and I don't think
they've had adequate recognition," Mr Smith said.

"I've been able to do something, which I think is an obligation, and that is make a
donation which is going to give due recognition to our Vietnam veterans."

Mr Smith said he had discussed his donation with the war memorial and the Vietnam Veterans'
Association, which had advised him how to make best use of the money.

The display would show an Iroquois helicopter landing under fire at night and would
be highly emotive, he said.

"The million dollars is going to be spent on an incredible display of an Iroquois helicopter
doing what they call a hot insertion - landing troops in the jungle at night under fire.

"And so people will go in and see this display, there'll be obviously not live ammunition
going off but it will be as if it is, and they'll see the incredible risk."

Mr Smith said he supported the Iraq War and believed the Australian government's intentions
were good.

"My stance is that, because our serviceman and women are over there at the moment,
I support them," he said.

"And I think our intentions are good with Iraq, history will say whether we've succeeded
or not, but I think the intentions are good, and while our servicemen are there under
government directions I'll never criticise them."

Australian War Memorial director Steve Gower said the centre needed donations like
Mr Smith's to produce outstanding displays.

"The government's been very generous in supporting the war memorial but to really produce
outstanding galleries you need support from the private and public sector," he said.

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KEYWORD: VETERANS NIGHTLEAD

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