1. Art techniques
2. Book design
3. Collage
4. Courage
5. Death
6. Diaries
7. Emotions
8. Families
9. Fear
10. Grief
11. Historical fiction
12. History
13. Letters
14. Loss
15. Narrative techniques
16. Remembrance
17. Siblings
18. Vietnam War
19. War

Leigh and his brother Jason had very differing views about the Vietnam War. The brothers had always been close particularly in their love of cricket, now though Leigh seemed obsessed with the war. ‘It’s not our war’, he would say. In his diary, Jason writes about Leigh’s war talk. Some of Leigh’s mates had gone bush to avoid their ‘call-up’. He wondered what Grandpa would have said about them. Jason was proud that his grandpa and his father had fought in the two World Wars.

When Jason receives his conscription notice and decides to go, the brother’s relationship falls apart. He continues writing about his training, and then about conditions at the camp at Nui Dat and the fighting. Slowly Jason’s writing begins to question ‘why we are still fighting here and losing mates’. That day was brightened by a letter from Leigh, the first one he’s sent to Jason in Vietnam and he’s saving it till he gets back from patrol at Long Tan.

Jason never gets to read the letter. The battle at Long Tan was the most significant military engagement Australia had in Vietnam. In August 1966, a hundred and eight Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought and defeated over two thousand enemy soldiers. Eighteen Australians lost their lives and twenty-four were wounded.

The Vietnam War was a divisive issue in Australia especially amongst families directly affected by it. Many questioned why Australia was fighting and losing men in a war that had nothing to do with Australia. The angst increased by the issue of conscription which had always been controversial in Australia.

In ‘Vietnam Diary’ Mark Wilson has captured the controversial and emotional impact of the war in a very direct and personal way and this is reflected in the illustrations. Photographic style images are superimposed onto larger acrylic paint impressionistic landscape images that integrates the personal family story with the wider fabric of events. Using collage, fragments of letters and diary entries are included further enhancing the personal with the wider story. These add a poignancy and veracity to the story and provide an excellent lens through which to start a discussion on the impact of the Vietnam War in Australia and elsewhere.

Series title: Mark Wilson ‘Children in War’ series

1. Scholastic School Zone. Teaching notes by Robyn Sheahan-Bright for ‘Vietnam Diary’ by Mark Wilson http://www.scool.scholastic.com.au/schoolzone/toolkit/assets/pdfs/Vietnam_Diary.doc
2. Reading Time 15 December 2015. Maureen Mann reviews ‘Vietnam Diary’ by Mark Wilson https://readingtime.com.au/vietnam-diary/
3. ReadPlus 19 March 2013. Fran Knight reviews ‘Vietnam Diary’ by Mark Wilson https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews/vietnam-diary-by-mark-wilson
4. Mullaloo Heights Primary School. Talk 4 Reading Tuesday Room 11 – retelling of ‘Vietnam Diary’ by Mark Wilson https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1392781967458305
5. Australia Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Anzac Portal ‘Australian experiences in the Vietnam War: In Their Own Words.’ https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/australian-experiences-vietnam-war-their-own-words
6. Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Anzac Portal ‘Australian media and the Vietnam War: Great Debates.’ https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/australian-media-and-vietnam-war-great-debates
7. ABC Education 16 January 2023. ‘Conscription in the 20th century.’ https://www.abc.net.au/education/digibooks/conscription-in-the-20th-century/101859208