July 27 marks 67 years since the Korean War armistice, and today the nation remembers the 17,000 Australians who fought in the conflict between 1950 and 1953.
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Most Korean War veterans are now aged in their 80s and 90s, and Coffs Harbour RSL Sub-Branch President John Lloyd says some are living on the Mid North Coast with their families.
"I thank and honour all those who served in the Korean War, and I would like to reach out to any in our region and their families to connect with the RSL if we can be of any assistance," he said.
"Australians have tended to ignore the consequences and the sacrifices made by Australian troops in the Korean War, primarily because it came on the heels of World War II.
"The Korean War was, in many ways, the birthplace of the modern Australian army, because its force was significantly smaller than that in the Second World War and was restructured for this purpose."
Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan was among a small group who met to lay a wreath at the Coffs Harbour Cenotaph ahead of the anniversary, and he stressed the importance of never forgetting those who have served their country.
The signing of the armistice marked the end of major hostilities, but it was not a treaty, to this day, a formal peace agreement has never been signed.
"The Korean War is sometimes referred to as the 'forgotten war', together let's reverse this, and honour those Australians who served in the Korean War as they served on behalf of our nation, and our allies," he said.
"I thank all of Australia's Korean War veterans and their families for their service and remember those 297 Australians killed in action and 43 missing in action."
From 1950 to 1953, personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force served as part of the United Nations (UN) multinational force, fighting with distinction to repulse an invasion of South Korea by the Soviet-backed North Korea.
More than 150 Australian nursing sisters served both in Korea and Japan, where they treated the wounded and sick.
The signing of the armistice marked the end of major hostilities, but it was not a treaty, to this day, a formal peace agreement has never been signed.
For more information on the Korean War visit www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/korea.