The Australian surgical teams that were sent to South Vietnam arrived with supplies, experience, enthusiasm, and a commitment to win the hearts and minds of the civilian population. Beyond the cure, care, and the repatriation of the military, there were medical needs in regional areas that would be an on-going challenge for this small band of dedicated professionals.australian medical team, south vietnam, saigon, long xuyen, delta

A black and white photograph of a small Vietnamese boy, seriously burnt by napalm, clutches his only possession, a clear glass soft drink bottle that was used to feed him. The boy was in the Australian Surgical Team hospital, in a small hamlet outside Ben Hoa, South Vietnam.photograph, ben hoa hospital, australian surgical team hospital, napalm, gibbons collection catalogue, vietnamese children

Dr James (Jim) Villiers went to Vietnam as an anaesthetist with the Australian Surgical Team (civilian) during 1963. He used this bag for carry-on luggage. Despite assurances about the quality of resources available on arrival, he carried an essential part of the breathing circuit for an EMO vaporiser in his carry-on. The actual vaporiser was packed in his check-in luggage. In 1963 the Vietnamese government sought training in Australia in anaesthetics for several medical technicians. Australia was not able to meet the request as anaesthesia training in Australia is restricted to qualified doctors. Instead, the Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at RACS suggested sending a team of anaesthetists to Vietnam to conduct training for technicians there. However, they requested a preliminary survey be undertaken in order to determine the abilities of the prospective trainees and establish contacts with medical authorities in Vietnam. James (Jim) Villiers was one of the people who undertook the survey and made a report. Training of Vietnamese medical technicians was undertaken using the Epstein MacIntosh Oxford Anaesthetic Apparatus (EMO). This equipment was robust, portable and relatively cheap, there are few moving parts for servicing, it requires only ether and air for operation.Brick-red vinyl bag with white Qantas branding including the flying kangaroo printed on both sides. The bag has a zipper opening and contains an anaesthetic apparatus mounted on a piece of wooden particle board. There are two black hoses, a white hose, a black plastic connector, a metal t-bar connect, a green resuscitation bag and black face mask.james villiers, malignant hyperthermia, vietnam, qantas, australian surgical team, long xuyen, bien hoa, anaesthesia training

A black and white photograph of Long Xuyen, IV Corps, South Vietnam 1969. Children suffering schrapnel wounds are nursed anything up to four to a bed in Long Xuyen Hospital, under the care of an Australian Civilian Surgical Teamphotograph, long xuyen hospital, australian civilian surgical team, gibbons collection catalogue, iv corps, vietnamese children

This painting was presented to the St Vincent's civilian medical team by the people of An Giang Province, Vietnam, in recognition of their work in the area. St Vincent's sent four civilian clinical teams to Long Xuyen, South Vietnam, 1965 - 1966 as part of an aid program administered by the Australian Department of External Affairs to assist Vietnamese medical and paramedical personnel and provide medical aid to everyone who needed it. The service of the Australian civilian teams who went to Vietnam 1964 - 1972 was recognised with a special plaque within the grounds of the Australian War Memorial in October 2008. This item has historical significance because it is a memento of the hospital's involvement in a nationally significant wartime aid program to South Vietnam. Landscape painting of deer near a forest stream. Painted in the traditional Vietnamese style using lacquer and paint. Artwork is framed in a black frame but is not behind glass. The artist is unknown.Plaque is attached at lower left corner and translated reads: The people of An Giang Province / are extremely grateful to the Australian Surgical Team.st vincent's hospital melbourne, paintings, artworks, south vietnam, medical aid

A coloured photograph - At the 1st Australian Field Hospital a surgical team works on a wounded patient (note text is missing from bottom of the photograph)photograph, 1st australian field hospital, 1 atf, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, wounded serviceman

An Original painting of Dorothy Angel in the foreground of the painting. In the background there is a patient lying on a bed with five people nearby.Dr Dorothy (Dot) Angel OAM (Order Of Australian Medal) was a young nursing sister who volunteered to serve on one of the Australian Civilian Surgical Teams sent to South Vietnam by the Australian Government from 1964 - 1972. These teams dealt with the Vietnamese casualities of the war itself, but their services were also albe to bolster a very depleted general health care system in the provincial hospitals. Dot served on an Alfrred Hospital team sent to Bien Hoa in 1967painting, vietnam lest we forget, order of australia, nurses - vietnam, bien hoa

Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal: The VSLM was established in 1993, and awarded for one or more of service in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam from 29th May 1964 to 27th January 1973. Civilian surgical and medical teams and other civilian groups who served in Vietnam under Government Jurisdiction, crew members of ships or aircraft; those attached to , or serving with, an Australian or Allied Unit as an observer were eligible. Over 16,000 civilians were awarded the VLSM.Round silver coloured medal with QE II on the obverse. Ribbon is stripes of red, navy, yellow and pale blue. The VSLM was established in 1993, and awarded for one or more of service in support of the Australian Armed Forces in operations in Vietnam from 29th May 1964 to 27th January 1973. Civilian surgical and meidical teams and other civilian groups who served in Vietnam under Government Jurisdiction, crew members of ships or aircraft; those attached to , or serving with, an Australian or Allied Unit as an observer were eligible. Over 16,000 civilians were awarded the VLSM.Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina FDaustralian medal, vietnam logistic and support, vlsm