Medals returned after 20 years

By Glen Atwell
A PRICELESS set of medals have been returned to a Vietnam War veteran 20 years after they were stolen from his Narre Warren North home.
John Wright thought he would never see his medals again and it was only by chance that friend Denny Van Maanenberg was the one who reunited the irreplaceable medals with their deserving owner.
Mr Van Maanenberg volunteers at the Casey Regional Veterans Welfare Centre, which is located next to the Cranbourne RSL, and was handed the stolen medals by a member of the Longwarry RSL after they were found shortly after a Remembrance Day parade last year.
“The medals had been found abandoned after the service – it was lucky they were handed in.
“I’ve got a wide network of war veteran contacts, so I started searching for the owner,” he said.
Using the details inscribed on the medals, which included Mr Wright’s regimental number and initials, Mr Van Maanenberg, with the help of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, tracked down Mr Wright.
“I was absolutely gob-smacked when I found out they belonged to John.
“I used to drink with him at the Berwick RSL, it was amazing,” he said.
“We have no idea why the medals were handed in 20 years after they were stolen. Maybe someone was feeling guilty, or perhaps they were given to another person. The most important thing is that they’re back with John,” Mr Van Maanenberg said.
Mr Wright, 63, said he was genuinely surprised to receive the phone call with the good news.
“They were taken when a caravan was stolen from underneath my carport,” he said.
“I was an owner builder at the time, so many of my possessions were in the caravan.”
Mr Wright was disappointed to learn that the medals had been extensively worn in the 20 years he had been without them.
“When they were stolen they were still in the original display box but they are now quite worn,” he said.
Mr Wright had reported the medals as stolen and had even signed a statutory declaration to allow him to order replica replacements.
“When the phone call came through, I thought someone was telling me my replicas had been stolen and found.
“It took a little while to work out that it was the original medals they were referring to.
“Twenty years is a long time,” Mr Wright said.
A small gathering has been organised at the Cranbourne RSL next Wednesday to officially reunite Mr Wright with his medals.
Mr Van Maanenberg said he was looking forward to catching up with his old mate and discussing the amazing story.