Australia's oldest living Victoria Cross recipient, Keith Payne, can almost be considered a local resident.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Payne is a regular in the Shoalhaven at the annual Digger Day events.
In fact, the spritely 86-year-old has attended each of the eight events.
And his Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group his headed up right here in the Shoalhaven, by locals Rick Meehan, who is chairman, and Fred Campbell, who is vice-chairman.
Keith Payne is not only a VC recipient - there is far more to this incredible man, his work for and in support of veterans is as legendary as his actions - a role he has filled for more than 40 years.
He has also undertaken a lot of work with indigenous communities in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia,
A special documentary by Ray Martin on Keith's incredible life, An Australian Hero, Keith Payne VC, will be aired on SBS at 8:30pm on Wednesday, May 27.
Read more:
The documentary tells Keith's story and his battles of overcoming the darkness of alcohol and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that threatened to destroy his marriage and family and how he has emerged to inspire veterans and school kids alike.
It is understood the documentary also includes footage from the Shoalhaven's annual Digger Day from 2018 which commemorated 100 years since the end of World War 1.
It was the first time at least one surviving VC recipient from every Commonwealth country has attended one event at the same time in Australia, in fact the Southern Hemisphere.
Four Victorian Cross recipients from around the world, headed by Keith Payne, the UK's Johnson Beharry, Rambahadur Limbu from Nepal and New Zealand's Willie Apiata took part in the weekend.
They were joined by six men who have received an equivalent civilian honour, George Cross recipient Michael Pratt and Cross of Valour recipients Darrell Tree, Victor Boscoe, Allan Sparkes, Tim Britten and Richard Joyes.
The documentary will also feature a stirring rendition of The Last Post by violinist Rachel Bostock, who has also performed locally at Digger Day, filmed with Keith at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney.
In May 1969 Keith Payne was commanding the 212th Company of the 1st Mobile Strike Force Battalion in Vietnam when it was attacked by a strong People's Army of Vietnam force near Ben Het Camp.
His company was isolated and, surrounded on three sides.
His Vietnamese troops began to fall back, but Payne, by now wounded in the hands and arms and under heavy fire, covered the withdrawal before organising his troops into a defensive perimeter.
He then spent three hours scouring the scene of the day's fight for isolated and wounded soldiers, all the while evading the enemy who kept up regular fire.
He found some 40 wounded men, brought some in himself and organised the rescue of the others, leading the party back to base through enemy dominated terrain.
His actions that night earned him the Victoria Cross, which was gazetted on September 19, 1969 and he received his VC from Queen Elizabeth II aboard the Royal Yacht, Britannia, in Brisbane on April 13, 1970.