Standing beside the commemorative plaque at the An Phong Vietnamese Children's Orphanage, which ...

Standing beside the commemorative plaque at the An Phong Vietnamese Children's Orphanage, which recognises the efforts of the RAAF in its construction, are left to right, O222956 Chaplain John Edward Grannall, Father Nguyen Van Qui and 0318567 Chaplain Roger Boerth. The orphanage began as a temporary site after a group of nearly 200 orphans were forced to relocate to Vung Tau due to increased Viet Cong activity in the Mekong Delta. They were initially accommodated in a disused seminary which was given the name 'An Phong', meaning 'winds of peace', and was run in the format of a 'Boy's Town'. From its inception An Phong received considerable assistance from the RAAF in the form of supplies and provisions as well as voluntary support. In the early months of 1970 Chaplain Grannall initiated plans to relocate the temporary orphanage and erect a permanent complex outside of Vung Tau, near the settlement of Bai Dau. This construction program became the RAAF's major civic project in the area and its completion was overseen by Chaplain Boerth. It was officially handed over to Father Qui on 27 November 1971.