RSL NSW Auxiliary Newsletter - February 2024

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2024. Happy New Year! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and relaxing break. I know many of you are back to work, especially with ANZAC Day around the corner...

If you are looking for a fundraising idea, knitted and crocheted poppies are always popular. I have included many patterns in the newsletters over the years that you can go back and check out. (There are also thousands on Google!) Last year, I shared this link to make an ANZAC Day poppy wreath: https://youtu.be/s0nFFgTkTa8.

Please consider sharing photos of your ANZAC Day preparations, as a way of encouraging other Auxiliaries and passing on ideas.

As of last year, Auxiliary member details are now recorded in the RSL NSW sub-Branch Portal, so that all Auxiliary members can stay informed of news and activities, and be connected to the support and services offered by RSL NSW. If you do not receive the monthly Auxiliary newsletter via email, please speak to your sub-Branch Secretary to ensure they have your details.

Also, you should now be receiving a copy of Reveille magazine, and if not, please speak to the Secretary. Where there is more than one member in the same household, please advise the Secretary to amend your details in the sub-Branch Portal and save printing and postage costs.

Auxiliaries are encouraged to submit news, stories and photos to be considered for publication in Reveille. Submissions should be emailed to news@rslnsw.org.au no later than one month in advance of each issue (March, June, September, and December).

While not all submissions are able to be published, the team always endeavour to do their best.

PREMIER’S ANZAC MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP (PAMS) 2024 Applications for the 2024 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship (PAMS) are now open.

This scholarship gives NSW history students in years 10 and 11 the opportunity to travel on a study tour to develop their knowledge and understanding of the history of Australians at war.

Accompanied by a military historian, the tour includes visits to significant historical sites to learn about and commemorate the service of Australian men and women in the World Wars and other conflicts.

In 2024, the PAMS study tour will take place in the Term 3 school holidays (30 September to 10 October 2024).

Applications close 3 March 2024 at 11.59pm.

Full details can be found by clicking this link: Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship (PAMS) · Office for Veterans Affairs This is a wonderful opportunity for children or grandchildren. And those who will be a Year 10 or 11 history student in 2025 can register their interest for next year’s scholarship to receive a notification when applications open.

ANZAC Day is approaching fast, and the following circular was recently sent to all sub-Branches regarding guidelines for fundraising — a helpful refresher.

Circular 5/24 Fundraising guidelines for subBranches Circulars 23 Jan 2024

During the year, and at key commemorations, sub-Branches may participate in local fundraising activity to generate income to support veterans and their families. To support this fundraising activity, a selection of new tokens will be available for purchase from our supplier, PMA Global, from March.

New fundraising tokens PMA is offering a charity discount on fundraising tokens to the RSL NSW sub-Branch network, including:

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Rosemary pins – $1.05 each plus shipping

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Poppies – $1.05 each plus shipping

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Pens – $2.15 each plus shipping

A limited number of free tokens, formerly owned by Welfare and Benevolent Institution (WBI), are still available to sub-Branches and can be ordered online through PMA Global. Any sub-Branch that places an order will be required to pay a small packing ($0.25 cents per token) and freight charge, however there is no charge for the tokens. Please note that these tokens will have outdated WBI details on the reverse side of the backing cards. The sub-Branch must cover these details before fundraising in the local community.

To place an order for tokens, please visit the Fundraising page on the RSL NSW website.

If you would like a broader selection than is available from PMA Global, please visit the Military Shop website, although there is no discount agreement in place.

It’s important that any sub-Branch engaging in fundraising activity is familiar with the Charitable

Fundraising Guidelines from NSW Fair Trading. In particular, please be aware of the following: Charitable Fundraising Authority If you raise more than $15,000 in a financial year for a charitable purpose in NSW, your sub -Branch must have an authority to fundraise from NSW Fair Trading. Applying for an authority is free and can last up to five years. All ACNC registered organisations are automatically eligible to receive an authority, however, you will still need to complete and submit an application.

Receipting requirements

Sub-Branches are required to issue a receipt immediately for all monetary donations received, even where not requested by the donor. This does not apply when supplying goods and services (eg. selling badges or other tokens). Visit the NSW Government website to find out more about financial obligations.

Volunteer identification badges/cards Specific fundraising requirements apply when conducting a face-to-face appeal. Each sub-Branch fundraising participant is required to clearly display their authorisation in the form of an identification card or badge, which must:

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be uniquely numbered with the number shown on the card,

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include the name of the authorised fundraiser and their phone number,

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include the name of the face-to-face collector,

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include the words ‘paid collector’ and name of collector’s employer if collector received a wage, commission or fee for services,

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have printed issue and expiry dates,

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be signed and dated by authority holder, delegate (including the trader where authorised to do so under written agreement) or governing body, and have details printed in sufficient size to be easily read by members of the public.

The identification card or badge should be returned to the sub-Branch with fundraising authority when the appeal has ended.

NEW MEMBER PORTAL Updates from ANZAC House (like the circular above) can now be accessed online via the new Member Portal, a password-protected platform, accessible to all RSL NSW members, that contains important information, support, and resources.

How to access the Member Portal: Visit rslnsw.org.au/member-portal or click on the 'Member Log-in' drop-down on the RSL NSW homepage and select ‘Member Portal’. You'll then be asked to log in using your name and member number. Please use your full name and seven-digit member number, exactly as it appears on your membership card.

If you navigate out of the Member Portal at any time to visit the main website, you can find your way back by clicking on the top right 'Member Portal Home' button. To watch an instructional video, click here.

RSL LIFECARE VETERAN SERVICES RSL NSW’s partner charity RSL Lifecare Veteran Services delivers life-changing services and support to veterans and their families. Their work is supported by funds from RSL sub-Branches around NSW, and donations are instrumental in ensuring veterans can continue to access support encompassing veteran health, assistance with DVA claims, advocacy, housing, employment opportunities, financial aid, wellbeing programs, and disaster relief.

For more information, you can visit the RSL LifeCare website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Between October and December 2023, RSL LifeCare Veteran Services was able to: • • • • • • •

Provide $98,781 in financial assistance.

Assist 77 veterans experiencing homelessness.

Provide 507 nights of accommodation.

Help 246 veterans to lodge 949 DVA claims.

Facilitate 5 veterans or partners receiving employment assistance.

Lodge 56 new VRB appeals, complete 77 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mediation discussions and represent 5 full VRB Hearings.

Guide 13 veterans through horse handling and riding courses, host 12 visitors and log 350 hours of volunteer activities at Spur Ranch.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE QUILT

The first quilt presentations for 2024 took place onboard HMAS Hobart. Commander Tina Brown was very impressed with her quilt. Tina is a worthy recipient — she is the first female officer to take command of a Royal Australian Navy destroyer. (She’s also participated in Navy Rugby Union both as a player and an Association committee member, hosting the Navy Old Salt's Rugby Football team.) Bill Stokes was also blown away by his quilt.

Thanks to Kaye Brown, Jan and Kerry, who have been working hard on our RSL NSW Auxiliaries projects.

AROUND THE AUXILIARIES BARADINE AUXILIARY On 27 November, WWII Veteran and former Kenebri resident, Hilton Pickett, was awarded a Quilt of Valor honouring his war service overseas, at a ceremony held at the Cooinda Hostel in Coonabarabran. The quilt was handmade and awarded by Quilts of Valor representatives, Pam and Chris Bellhouse of Mudgee. The quilts are awarded to acknowledge a veteran’s service. Quilts of Valor was instigated in 2021 by Helen Comport, with the quilt’s three layers representing warmth and comfort to the soldier, and the awareness of health issues suffered by soldiers during overseas service. They are also given in remembrance of those in the unit that didn’t come back.

Hilton was very humbled by the presentation and stated that it was particularly for his mates that he accepted the quilt. Hilton, who turned 100 in October, served during WWII for five years in PNG, Borneo and Japan. He served most of his time in the Paga Coast Guard Battery as a Gunner. His unit was called the Paga “O Heavy” Battery as they manned the large guns. From Paga Hill, the unit went back to Port Moresby, then to the Fly River and also to the Kokoda Track, where they were to get through to the front, however Hilton developed appendicitis and had to be evacuated to the AGH for surgery. Walking across the island in Rabaul, Hilton recalls a volcano erupting and being covered in ash.

In March 1946, instead of going back to Australia, the unit went on the Hospital Ship Manunda, which had been based in Mine Bay. After the Japanese surrender, Manunda was dispatched to Singapore to repatriate ex-POWs and civilian internees who had been imprisoned in Changi Prison. She also sailed to Labuan in Borneo to pick up exPOWs and civilian internees from Batu Lintang camp. The ship sailed to Kure in Japan, where the unit set up the first General Hospital for Occupation Troops. They were there six weeks before heading back to Australia.

It is intended that all serving overseas veterans of the district will be presented with a quilt in the coming months.

Hilton Pickett with Sue Bellhouse, Quilt of Valour Representative (Mudgee) with Sophie Pickett and Brendon Pickett

Hilton showing off his quilt with the staff of the Cooinda Hostel Coonabarabran

- Evelyn Hampton, Baradine RSL Auxiliary

CASTLE HILL AUXILIARY Castle Hill Auxiliary had a wonderful first meeting of 2024. Twenty one ladies turned up, some had made squares, poppies and trauma teddies to start the year. They will have four quilts to present at their ANZAC Day lunch.

Two of the ladies have joined the sub-Branch art classes, so we might see some Poppy Art for ANZAC Day!

It was also terrific to see a group of sub-Branch and Auxiliary members getting together to enjoy lunch on Australia Day at Club Parramatta after finishing flag planting earlier that morning.

PENRITH AUXILIARY Penrith Auxiliary’s hard-working ladies raised a very impressive $22,684 in 2023. That is an enormous effort from the 18 members! The ladies are a dedicated group and enjoy getting together and having a chat at after-meeting luncheons.

A huge congratulations to Ron and Lesley Irwin from Wingham on their 60th wedding anniversary!

WOMEN’S SHEDS No doubt you will have heard of the Men’s Sheds. They have been around since the 1990s, and now Women’s Sheds are starting to pop up around the state. One has recently opened at Berkeley Vale.

Castle Hill has had a request from the Hills Women’s Shed for some of their Auxiliary members to go along and teach the Shed ladies how to crochet and knit. They will be doing this in March so they can help with poppies to sell for ANZAC Day. If you have a Women’s Shed in your area, why not reach out to them? It’s a possible source for new members and a way of promoting our organisation.

It was announced that the inaugural National Women’s Shed Week will be held between the 6-12 March, 2024.

EVEN SPIRITS HAVE LIMITS When the words on the page Look like alien things With wriggles and swirls And all sorts of strange wings.

I’ll know it is time To put down my pen.

But as long as I’m able You’ll see me writing till then.

For this world is a stage And we are the puppets Some perform well Others are not worth tuppence.

I prefer to believe That I’m one of the former A more than qualified exponent Through my literary performance.

But if that ever changes I would quietly withdraw For the words would mean nothing If they weren’t mine anymore.

My thoughts may be worthless.

Or they may be spot on.

Who knows what the future holds After we’re gone?

All I can tell you Is what I believe in my heart.

There is much more to come.

Although one day we will part!

And nothing at all, Will be like anything before.

My close encounters Make it clear on that score!

Life will go on, Without us being in it!

But our spirit does not die.

Though it will have its limits!

Bill Charlton c 2023

To all our Auxiliary Members who are not feeling the best at the moment, we are thinking of you and sending our love and best wishes.

Recently Pauline had a meeting with RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge. Mick sends his best wishes to all of our members.

RSL NSW SPORT & RECREATION PROGRAM The RSL NSW Sport & Recreation program is gearing up for its biggest year yet, with a goal of delivering more than 1,000 sporting and social activities in 2024! There are currently 68 sub-Branches registered for the program, and Auxiliary members have been helping to coordinate events and taking part in art classes, walks, bowls, pickleball and more. These activities are a great way to improve physical and mental health and provide connection for all members, their families and the wider veteran community. Visit the Sport & Recreation page on the RSL NSW website to view the calendar of events, and if your sub-Branch is not currently registered or delivering activities, share your ideas with the Secretary.

GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE YVONNE BLEACH - BUNDEENA AUXILIARY

Yvonne Bleach was a staunch and valued member of the Bundeena RSL Auxiliary. Awarded Life Membership in 2022, she had volunteered with the group for decades — manning stalls, making goods, serving as treasurer for many years and crocheting thousands of poppies.

Our condolences to her family. She will be greatly missed by all.

MARGARET JONES - EAST MAITLAND

It is with sad hearts that Maitland RSL Auxiliary farewells our much loved and hard working member, Margaret Jones.

Margaret was well known in the Levee where she sat and sold ANZAC and Remembrance Day badges with fellow member, Peggy.

Margaret, you will be missed by everyone.