The Vets of the Valley—Stories from our Neighbours ‘Let us Honour them’
Jo Lush

Jo Lush wrote the book The Vets of the Valley to honour five former residents of Inman Valley who served in Vietnam. Three were regular Army soldiers Corporal Dennis Pomeroy, Sergeant Christopher Cannin and Craftsman Peter Millard. The other two were National Service soldiers Private Graham S Hutchinson and Sapper Roger F Osborn.
Jo noted that for veterans their service in Vietnam is a sensitive topic due to negative responses at home to the war and to failure by government and RSL to fully support them. It is only in recent times that some of the four surviving veterans have joined in commemorations. All of them now live interstate, and Jo relied on family to tell Peter Millard’s story as he was killed in a car accident.
Jo researched the veterans’ stories through phone conversations, Messenger text messages and using a written record that Graham had already included in his memoir.
The men’s stories are quite different as Peter and Roger were soldiers who cleared the jungle using earth-moving equipment, Dennis was in the military police, Graham was in the catering corps and Chris was a machine gunner.
The book includes a short biography of each veteran followed by their stories in their own words. Background information was available on Trove, for example, the involvement of the Victor Harbor RSL. Fortunately, when it came to the book’s production, Jo was assisted by a professional book designer she knew, a niece who was studying the art of book design and her publisher. Each of the veterans checked the draft and Jo’s son was the proofreader.
On Sunday 9th February, the book was launched in the Inman Valley Memorial Hall with special guest Anne Wills, an entertainer during the War. Graham spoke at the event and Jo has received a message from Dennis thanking her for encouraging him to reveal his war time experiences. The book will be available for sale at the Inman Valley Store, and the Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre.