The 37th Cache in the series
On Monday the 13th September the Northern Expressway officially opened.
The near by bridge is named after the battle of long Tan.
In 1987 Prime Minister Bob Hawke designated 18 August as Australia’s official Vietnam Veterans’ Day. The date commemorates the Battle of Long Tan, during which Delta Company 6 RAR fought an ‘encounter’ battle against enemy forces in the Long Tan rubber plantation just a few thousand metres from the 1st Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat. Delta Company suffered 42 casualties, including 18 dead – more than one third of its strength – while some 245 enemy troops were killed. Delta Company’s 105 men, and three New Zealanders from 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, fought for almost four hours against soldiers of the North Vietnamese Army who outnumbered them by ten to one.
Adjacent to the freeway is a bicycle/ pedestrian lane approximately 24km long, called the Stuart O Grady bike way.
Along this bikeway you will have the opportunity to learn about some of Australia’s historically significant military battles that the five main Expressway Interchanges being named after in honour of our fallen ancestors who gave their lives so that we could be free today.
So why not jump on a bike, get on your scooter don some rollerblades or go for a jog or a walk.
Remember to stay safe and wear a helmet, take some water and slip, slop, slap and slide
PLEASE NOTE IT IS ILLEGAL TO STOP ON THE EXPRESSWAY