A chance to walk the Long Tan battlefield with a Long Tan veteran
Members of the RAR Association need no introduction to the Battle of Long Tan. After all, it’s a Battle Honour on their Colours and its anniversary was selected as Australia’s Vietnam Veterans’ Day. And over the years, one of the key resources in describing and explaining the battle has been Dave Sabben, the former platoon commander of 12 Platoon, Delta Company, 6RAR, at the battle.
Dave has been interviewed for all the documentaries and books on the subject including the official Military History of Australia’s involvement in South East Asia, “To Long Tan”, and the recent highly acclaimed and award winning documentary screened on The History Channel, “The Battle of Long Tan“ narrated by Sam Worthington (Avatar, Terminator Salvation). He has even written his own “faction” book, “Through Enemy Eyes”, which takes the perspective of the NVA commander in Phuoc Tuy Province when the ANZACs arrived. It explains why there was a need to wipe out the Nui Dat base and the steps taken to achieve that aim. (The book demolishes the so-called ambush theory proposed by some in the late 1980s.)
If you’ve seen the animated Powerpoint presentation on Long Tan, that’s Dave’s work too, and if you haven’t seen it, then it’s available for free download from his website.
You’d wonder what else he could do in an effort to inform interested Australians about the battle. Well, last year a new idea came from an unlikely source – the Australia Vietnam Volunteers Resource Group (AVVRG).
Battle of Long Tan Documentary – Artillery Behind the Scenes
Here is some video I filmed behind the scenes while we shot footage of Artillery firing in New Zealand for my Battle of Long Tan documentary with the 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery on the 23rd June 2006 at the Linton Army base.
It was actually minus 3 degrees Celsius this day and Palmerston North had the worst snow storm in living memory the day before we scheduled to film these scenes. These amazing gunners actually did the scene recreations for the entire day in the freezing cold with cold water being poured over them from an Army fire truck!
Capt. Morrie Stanley who was the Forward Artillery Observer during the Battle of Long Tan was there with us while we filmed which really spurred on the NZ gunners!
The Artillery piece is a M101A1 105mm L1A1 Howitzer and it was firing blanks.
Just imagine that 18 of these artillery guns were each firing 6-8 rounds per minute for more than 5 hours non stop in a lightning monsoon storm in support of D Company 5km’s away in the heat of the battle!
Movie Marketing Magic: Top Hollywood Digital Marketers Coming to Sydney
I was very honoured to be approached by SPAA* to create and lead a session on Reaching Your Audience in this era of Digital & Social Media Marketing for the 2009 SPAA Conference in Sydney between 17-20 November. I am now happy to announce that I have secured two awesome new media / digital marketers from Hollywood to help me:
- Gordon Paddison** – Principal, Stradella Road & former Executive Vice President New Media, New Line Pictures (District 9, Lord of The Rings trilogy, Snakes on a Plane, Austin Powers and many more & Variety’s Integrated Marketer of the Year” Award in 2005)
- Stephanie Bohn** – Director of Worldwide Marketing, Digital Distribution Warner Bros (The Dark Knight, Sex and the City, Hangover, Harry Potter and many more)
*SPAA – Screen Producers Association Australia
**Detailed bio’s outlined below.
Nui Dat Kindergarten Vietnam Charity Dinner
There is a great 100% volunteer organisation called the Australian Vietnam Veterans Reconstruction Group (AVVRG) holding an upcoming charity dinner in Sydney at Parliament House on Friday 14th August 2009 to raise money for building a Kindergarten in Nui Dat, South Vietnam.
Guests of honour will be:
Dave Sabben MG – Commander of 12 Platoon during the Battle of Long Tan
Patricia Amphlett OAM (Little Pattie) – singer who was 17 years old at the time of the Battle of Long Tan performing on stage at the Australian base in Nui Dat as the battle began some 4 km’s away
Col Joye AM – another singer who was performing alongside Little Pattie at Nui Dat as the Battle of Long Tan began.
I urge anybody interested in supporting our veterans and the very kind and hospitable people of Nui Dat in Vietnam (this is where the Australian Task Force was based during the Vietnam War) to attend.
Details are:
Date: Friday 14th August 2009
Address: NSW Parliamentary Dining Room, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Time: 7.00pm
Dress: Lounge suit, medals
Cost: $100 per person or $900.00 per table
More details and bookings here.
Long Tan Movie Screen Australia Development Application
Well, we have submitted a feature film development application to Screen Australia late last week. The purpose of this application is to begin to secure funds for the formal development stages of the porject.
Here are some shots outlining the depth of the submission required:
 
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Did you miss the Long Tan story on 60 Minutes?
For those of you who may have never seen the moving story we helped 60 Minutes (Australia) organise for the Battle of Long Tan 40th Anniversary back in August 2006, here is the video and background:
Emotional 60 Minutes story on the Battle of Long Tan from Red Dune Films on Vimeo.
Introducing the Battle of Long Tan team
I wanted to introduce you to the team behind our upcoming movie, Long Tan based upon the true story of The Battle of Long Tan.Â
First of all there is me, Martin Walsh! I produced the ASTRA award winning and TV Week Logie Award Nominated documentary on the Battle of Long Tan for The History Channel in Australia and New Zealand. I am also a senior marketing executive specialising in digital marketing and social influence marketing. You can see me in action below during this interview which I did for Sky Channel on the 41st anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 2007:
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Awesome new 4 min clip for Terminator Salvation starring Sam Worthington
Just in case you haven’t yet seen this new 4 minute clip for the upcoming Terminator Salvation movie starring Sam Worthington (Marcus Wright) and Christian Bale (John Connor), check it out below. Sam narrated our award winning Battle of Long Tan documentary.
Sam’s career will explode this year with a starring role in Terminator Salvation and then James Cameron’s Avatar Sci-Fi film at the end of this year. Sam has also scored a lead role in Clash of the Titans.
Sam Worthington is keen on Long Tan movie role
Sam Worthington, who is currently starring alongside The Dark Knight’s Christian Bale in Terminator Salvation now shooting in the US, has told the producers he is keen to be considered for a major role in the Bruce Beresford directed film about the seminal conflict of the Vietnam War – the Battle of Long Tan. ”
Sam Worthington
“I believe Long Tan to be a very important story to tell. It’s a true tale that touched me so much, especially when I had the privilege of meeting the soldiers two years ago,” said Worthington in a message to the Battle of Long Tan producers, Sydney-based Red Dune Films and Beverly Hills, California-based partner Brainstorm Media.
Worthington, who recently completed a starring role in James Cameron’s Avatar, narrated the award-winning documentary on Long Tan produced by Martin Walsh, of Red Dune Films, for the History Channel’s 40th anniversary of the battle in 2006.
Walsh has been developing a feature version of the story since 2004.
Australian Government finally redresses Long Tan medals
VETERANS WELCOME LONG TAN MEDALS DECISION 42 YEARS ON
The Vietnam War veteran who led the charge for recognition for the soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Tan in 1966 has described the Rudd Government’s decision to award more medals as a very favourable outcome.
Lt Colonel Harry Smith, (retired), who was the commanding officer of the 108 troops from D Company 6RAR who fought in the historic conflict, started his campaign to right the wrong 12 years ago.
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