The Victorian Government has scandalised veterans after it was revealed they have employed an infamous former draft dodger as a war historian and "veterans heritage officer".
He is pictured above posing with the Federal Minister for Defence Personnel Warren Snowdon in front of the Australian replica of the Cobbers statue, a tribute to the Australian heroes who served on the battlefields along the Western Front in World War I.
THE DODGY DODGER
The OC has learned that Garrie Hutchison - a former Vietnam War draft dodger and supporter of the Viet Cong - has turned military history into his own personal industry by churning out books about wars he was unwilling to fight and has landed himself a sweet gig at the Veterans unit at the Department of Planning and Community Development in the state government. He occasionally styles himself as head of the Friends of the 15th Brigade. The kind of friend who runs off into the distance at the first sign of trouble perhaps.
With little sense of irony Garrie Hutchison is listed as co-ordinating the Victorian Government's "Spirit of ANZAC Prize Schools Competition". One Aussie vet patriot told the OC that Hutchison's Anzac spirit involved him fleeing Australia for England to avoid being conscripted into "national service" in the army.
SUPPORTED AUSTRALIA'S ENEMIES
In Paul Ham’s excellent book, Vietnam - The Australian War, , chapter 34 titled ‘Australian Viet Cong,’ page 452-53 reads:
“Antipodean resistance spread to Britain, whence some draft dodgers fled to avoid conscription. In 1968 a little émigré group called ‘Australians and New Zealanders Against the Vietnam War’ used to protest outside Australia House. One member, Garrie Hutchinson, left Australia not simply to avoid national service: ‘I remember Tet as a defeat [for the Viet Cong] , one of the most depressing events of 1968. I don’t think the NLF [National Liberation Front] could win and this was an important factor in my leaving Australia.’ He spent weeks showing ‘NLF propaganda films around England.’”
Australian troops in Vietnam fought the Viet Cong (National Liberation Front) and were killed by them. It seems Mr Hutchison was cheering on the VC all the way.
One veteran told the OC that "For Garrie Hutchinson to have become an expert on veterans issues is an outrage to the memory of those Australian who died fighting in Vietnam. For Garrie Hutchinson to be paid taxpayer dollars while Veterans have to fight the government for pensions is just wrong."
CASHING IN ON WAR HISTORY
Hutchison has written extensively on military history, even to the point of being accused by the font of political correctness Geraldine Doogue of becoming militaristic:
Comrade Doogue: Do you think you've become militaristic?
Garrie Hutchinson: Absolutely not, no. I think I'm reconnecting with the bigger story. I think the Vietnam business where the government was conscripting people with no vote to go and fight in a war, that was wrong then and still is.
And he gets a bit touchy when you mention the war:
Comrade Doogue: I think you were a draft dodger, weren't you?
Gary Hutchinson: I was a draft resistor.
Comrade Doogue: Draft resistor, there is a difference?
Gary Hutchinson: There is a difference, yes.
We'd love him to explain the difference and have sent the pampered battlefield touring public servant an email requesting one. We'll let you know if he responds or whether he's just waved the white flag, again.
Game on.
since failed candidate 
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