Major General John Hartley, AO, to speak at Museum Dinner

Vietnam – and helicopters – remembered

Major-General John Hartley, AO, who served twice in Vietnam as an infantry officer, was twice Mentioned in Dispatches and wounded three times, will be the special guest speaker at the Museum fund raising dinner held on Saturday 20 April on Phillip Island.  The dinner follows the Military History and Heritage Victoria (MHHV) – sponsored one day conference Choppers: Helicopters and the Vietnam War held at NVVM that day.

NVVM CEO Gary Parker said, “We are delighted to have Major-General Hartley attend our dinner as guest speaker. His direct personal experience in helicopter operations will be very pertinent to the day’s conference theme, but he is also an accomplished story teller in his own right.”  MHHV President Marcus Fielding added, “I can’t think of a more appropriate, and engaging, speaker than Major-General Hartley.   His keen interest in military history, along with his own role in making history, will add especial interest in what is already shaping up as a great night at the Museum.”

A graduate of RMC Duntroon, Major-General Hartley served in Vietnam in 1966-1967 with the 5^th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and again in 1970-71 with the Australian Army Training Team where he was a senior advisor to a South Vietnamese battalion.  As a general he commanded Army’s Training Command, headed the Defence Intelligence Organisation, was Deputy Chief of the Army and commanded Land Command Australia which involved the preparation of forces to be deployed overseas, including East Timor in 1999. He is a graduate of the Army’s Command and Staff College, the Joint Services Staff College, the US Army War College and holds an MA from the University of Queensland. He was awarded the US Army Commendation Medal for Valour and the US Air Force Air Medal for Valour, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and is a Knight Commander of the German Order of Merit. He writes for newspapers and journals on defence and international relations, is a frequent commentator on national television and lectures at several universities.

The all inclusive dinner at the Museum, from 7-10 pm on Saturday 20 April 2013, will be catered for by gourmet Spice Island, and feature live entertainment by well-known singer, Mae Parker.  The dinner will be set right in the heart of the Museum under the wings of a Canberra bomber – and is open to anyone interested in history and having a great night.  Bookings are essential and can be made on www.mhhv.org For more information, call 0408 342 795