He was sent on to Ingleburn for Infantry training for three months, followed by more training in Canungra, Queensland.

He was then sent back to Ingleburn to the Australian Reinforcement Unit.

Bill was deployed in September 1969 and sent to the 9th Battalion based at Nui Dat on the Australian task force.

There he served under Platoon Commander Peter Cosgrove, now our new Governor General, for a month.

He served out his remaining tour on combat missions in the 6th Battalion 12th Platoon D Company.

In 1970 Bill returned to Australia to his family farm at Jugiong to help out his father once again.

His year away was not kind to folks on the land and things had become tough, so shearing was another money-maker at the time.

As time passed and with a need for more money, Bill spent 24 years working in telecommunications.

He married in 1970 and the couple had two strapping lads, Aaron and Mark Payne. Unfortunately Bill’s marriage broke down as a result of Post Traumatic Stress syndrome caused by his service in Vietnam.

Bill left his family home to live in the bush, as far from civilisation as possible for seven years. But still wanting to be close to his family, things got tough.

In the time spent by himself Bill has had many realisations of the effect war has on the human spirit not just in a foreign land but in his own country.

He has written lyrics for his musician brother, the song named Cardboard Charlie which reflects back into the training, combat and return home from such an emotionally draining and nightmarish experience.

Today Bill lives in Bowning and is a strong and loyal friend to those who respect and accept him for being him.

Story told by Bill Payne and written by Connie Elliott