Rebellion and remembrance: the Vietnam veterans motorcycle club rides into history.

On 25 April 1995, Melburnians witnessed a unique and spectacular Anzac Day march. Over 12,000 veterans, representing military operations from World War One to United Nations and multinational Peacekeeping, marched along St Kilda Road to the Shrine of Remembrance. (1) Since its first anniversary in 1916, many people have considered Anzac Day as a time for remembrance and quiet reflection. For decades the march had followed a pattern of structured regimentation and solemn commemoration. In 1995, the familiar rows and rows of uniformed or be-suited veterans, medals pinned to their chests, were greeted by a record crowd of 50,000 enthusiastic spectators. At first glance, the 1995 march appeared no different. Yet this Anzac Day march was exceptional. For the first time a group of leather-clad Anzacs rode throbbing Harley Davidson motorcycles as a rearguard. They were members of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club.

For many years the Club had campaigned to ride in the Melbourne march. Each time they had been denied permission by the Anzac Day Commemoration Council. The Council was comprised of representatives from the Victorian Government, retired service personnel, and ex-service and memorial organisations. The Council's concerns about the bikers participating in the march ranged from the unsavoury reputation of biker groups to the issue of veterans being granted permission to march outside of their wartime units. (2) The Returned Services League (RSL), a powerful member of the Council, was vehemently opposed to special interest groups, such as the Club, Aborigines and homosexuals, being allowed to march. (3) Yet Club veterans continued to demand the right to commemorate their war service in an alternate and distinct way, astride a Harley.

In 1994, through shrewd, constant campaigning and good fortune, the Club eventually succeeded. It was not long before the Club's victory was reported in the media. Some Australians expressed wholehearted support for the Council's decision. Others were outraged. The debate was largely played out in the media, and relied on the viewpoints of Australia's war veterans, rather than people in the general community. The privileging of veterans' voices and opinions reflected the popular attitude in Australia that they were best suited to determine the 'right' and 'wrong' ways of commemorating Australia's military service. It is fascinating to trace the emergence of one of Australia's youngest and often controversial veteran organisations, the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club, and its struggle to be included in Australia's major Anzac Day commemorations. There is considerable evidence of the unwillingness of many veteran organisations to embrace or encourage forms of remembrance other than those established by Australia's original 'Anzac heroes'.

Anzac Day marches throughout Australia traditionally reflected national myths and military ideologies. As Joan Beaumont argues, '[Anzac Day] has been a vehicle for private grief and for public commemoration and nationalist celebration.' (4) Since 1916, Anzac Day became ritualised, mostly through the efforts of government and military organisations. Some of the rituals have included: marching in war units behind banners; the order of ceremony; a period of silent remembrance; and the simple elegy, 'They shall not grow old'. In the 1920s, through the agreement of State Premiers, Anzac Day was designated a national public holiday. This secured its importance in the national consciousness. (5) The organisational responsibility for Anzac Day marches mostly lay with service organisations, particularly the RSL, which resulted in the march being divided into service units. A tradition emerged of dressing in full or partial military attire. If not in uniform, the glistening, polished medals revealed those who served the country at war and in peacekeeping. Veterans in the march presented themselves as well dressed and respectable figures; behaviours and expressions reflected the solemnity of the occasion and the emerging conservatism of the RSL. (6) Marches held throughout Australia enabled veterans to receive public recognition for their national service, while reinforcing their unit camaraderie. These forms of public commemoration came to be seen by the RSL and veteran organisations as 'acceptable' forms of remembrance.

These steadfast standards were being eroded in some parts of the country in the early 1990s. Some interest groups, such as Aboriginal servicemen, sought permission from organising committees around the country to march as separate bodies. Mostly these requests were denied as veterans fervently resisted moves to alter traditional modes of commemoration. (7) One group that had limited success was the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club which participated, from as early as 1991, as a distinct group in the Anzac Day marches in Brisbane, Darwin and Perth. (8) In Perth the bikers rode near the head of the procession; in Darwin the Club led the march, carrying the 'walking wounded' and those unable to walk the distance. Les Sexton, a supporter of the Club in Darwin stated, 'This small and colourful band of Vietnam veteran motorcycle enthusiasts is extremely well thought of ... they have fought for the privilege of riding their motorcycles in the Anzac day parade.' (9) The Melbourne bikers were prominent in the 1992 commemoration of the Vietnam Memorial in Canberra and were involved in regional marches in places such as Hastings and Albury. There was minimal opposition to the bikers' participation in military commemorations around Australia. The fierce debate which surrounded the Victorian experience signalled a resistance amongst many veterans to accept bikers as 'Anzac heroes'. The 'acceptable' forms of military remembrance in this state appeared to be those that had dominated for decades-regimentation, solemnity and conservatism. The gatekeeper of Melbourne's major commemorative celebrations was the President of the Victorian RSL, Bruce Ruxton, who also served as the Chairman of the Anzac Day Commemoration Council.

In 1994, while Bruce Ruxton was overseas, Melbourne's Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club were granted the right to participate in the 1995 March. In fact, their application to ride received little official resistance. The Club followed the necessary procedures for its case to be considered by the Anzac Day Commemoration Council. On 4 October 1994, the Chief Marshal, Brigadier Phil Davies, gave the Club the opportunity to speak to the meeting of the Kindred Organisations and Units Association. This forum discussed issues relating to Anzac Day proceedings. …