The Jungle Dark is the powerful true story behind the iconic war song I Was Only 19, by John Schumann, and its main protagonist Frankie – Bega Vietnam veteran Frank Hunt.

It was a little surreal to have such a huge crowd in a pub stand silently as the Redgum version of the song played in full over the PA before the talk got underway.

Mr Hunt and the book’s author, former editor of the Bega District News Steve Strevens, were at Thursday night’s event to speak to the crowd about the book, but even they looked taken aback by the size of the crowd and reaction to the launch.

A stall set up by Candelo Books inside the club sold out of its 150-odd copies within two hours and Mr Strevens and Mr Hunt were kept busy signing them.

Peter Florance from Bega Valley Legacy introduced the two VIPs and played an interviewer's role to get the pair to open up about the writing of The Jungle Dark.

“Tonight’s about a bloke and a song,” Mr Florance said to open proceedings.

He introduced Mr Strevens as a former Navy serviceman and then writer and journalist, “with one of the only blots on his record is he wrote a book about Collingwood!”

He then asked Mr Hunt why hadn’t he shared his story with anyone other than Mr Strevens.

“He wrote about tragedies in the Bega Valley with compassion and understanding, and feeling for the victims,” Mr Hunt said.

“I thought he’s the one who can tell my story.”

Mr Strevens said it is a story that needed to be told.

“This is not necessarily just about Frank.

 “The ‘jungle dark’ is a real jungle, but it’s also metaphoric.

“Vietnam veterans and veterans of all persuasions sometimes discover the dark jungles in their mind.

“Hopefully this story is evocative enough for people to understand something of what goes on in the heads of veterans.”

Mr Hunt said allowing his story to be written and “exposing my life like this” was “one of the most courageous things I’ve ever done”.

“It was hard work – physically and mentally,” he said.

Mr Strevens also said it was a difficult journey, taking three-and-a-half years to write.

“It’s a lunatic writing about the other lunatics,” he quipped.

And the hard work continues as Mr Hunt travels the country as a mentor to schoolchildren, speaking as the “Frankie” who kicked a mine the day mankind kicked the moon.

“The song has taken me in every direction,” he said.

“It wasn’t an easy trip, but I’m so proud of the way Steve has written this book and allowed me to keep my dignity.

“And I want to thank the schools and parents for entrusting their children to my care and it’s so pleasing to see them succeed.”