Mr Hillier was killed in the Vietnam War in 1965 at just 26 years-of-age.
Mrs Anderson will make the journey from Swan Hill with her sister, Kerryn Benzley, and the pair will watch as Corporal Hillier’s body is finally put to rest on home soil.
“It means so much to our family,” Mrs Anderson said.
“My mother and her sister Margaret were almost obsessed with getting their brother home.
“Unfortunately, neither of them are alive to see this so we will be attending for our mum.”
Margaret’s son Neil Bond was instrumental in the Bringing Them Home Campaign which spanned over two years. He was part of a group that lobbied the Australian Government to repatriate the 24 soldiers who died in the Vietnam War prior to 1966.
This week in Darwin the culmination of that lobbying will come to fruit and will end 50 years of waiting.
Mrs Anderson recalled hearing countless stories of her Uncle Reg as a child and although she was born six weeks after he died, she felt a strong connection to him through her mother’s memories.
Corporal Hillier holds the distinct recognition of being the only Territorian killed during the Vietnam conflict.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Friday’s Guardian (June 10)
