AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL’S CRAIG TIBBITTS TO DELIVER MOVING VIETNAM WAR PRESENTATION

The Western Plains Cultural Centre (WPCC) will host Australian War Memorial’s Senior Historian Craig Tibbitts this Anzac Day to deliver his presentation, Troubled Homecoming: Australia’s Vietnam Veterans and legacies of the war to our community.

The 45-minute free presentation will focus on the Australian Veterans of the Vietnam War, the challenges they faced readjusting to civilian life and the medical legacies they continued to suffer, from either illness, injury or wounds – both physical and psychological.

WPCC’s Local Studies Officer Simone Taylor said Mr Tibbitts’ presentation would be both informative and challenging.

“Mr Tibbitts’ presentation is not-to-be-missed. He brings a wealth of knowledge from his background at the Australian War Memorial, so attendees can expect to walk away with a renewed understanding of the Vietnam War and appreciation of the difficulties faced by the returned veterans and the toll it took on them,” Ms Taylor said.

Craig Tibbitts has worked at the Australian War Memorial since 2000, initially as an archivist in the Research Centre and since 2016 with the Military History Section where he is now a Senior Historian.

Craig has studied library and archives management at University of Canberra and more recently (2024), was awarded a master’s degree in military history and war studies from UNSW (ADFA). His thesis was titled The Mental Wounds of War: Representations of Australia’s Experience of the First World War.

Troubled Homecoming: Australia’s Vietnam Veterans and legacies of the war will start at 7am on 25 April 2025 at the WPCC Auditorium, immediately following the Dubbo Dawn Service, held at Victoria Park.

The presentation is a free drop-in talk, with no bookings required. Creo Café will be open for attendees from 6am.

Last Edited: 17 Apr 2025

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