COMMEMORATION
Marches, services and community engagement around the state
RECRUITMENT TIPS FROM SUB-BRANCH LEADERS
THE BOND BETWEEN A WAR PHOTOGRAPHER AND VETERAN
ResMed has been helping DVA members and the wider community sleep better for over 30 years. You can count on us for all your sleep health needs. Helping
- Sarah Hicks DVA Account Manager
On a stunning April morning I marched alongside members of RSL NSW, current personnel of the ADF and allied forces, and their families and descendants as part of this year’s ANZAC Day commemorations.
For many veterans, the first ANZAC Day after transition is emblematic of the enormous changes they have experienced: loss of community, loss of routine and a loss of identity. ANZAC Day is an opportunity for all Australians to check in on their mates and pledge their support for veteran friends and family members experiencing the upheavals of transition – and for our members, checking on our mates is a way of life far more often.
Yet change is necessary for growth and forward-focused evolution. It was recently announced that CEO Jon Black, with whom the RSL NSW Board of Directors and I have worked in close collaboration across the past three and a half years, will retire following the 2023 Annual General Meeting and Congress in October 2023.
The RSL NSW Board has commenced the recruitment process and will participate in a comprehensive handover and transition to a new CEO later this year.
This transition is happening at a time when RSL NSW is well positioned as the leading
ex-service organisation in NSW and much of the credit for the bright future in front of the League in NSW goes to Jon and his leadership. The Board will have more to say to thank Jon and celebrate his legacy closer to his retirement, but for now I’m sure you’ll join me in thanking him for his dedicated service to RSL NSW.
In the meantime, the Board, CEO, and the wider team at ANZAC House remain focused on working with District Councils, sub-Branches, reference groups, and the broader membership to implement the RSL NSW Strategic Plan 2021-26, which continues to inform our strategic decision making and guide the organisation into the future.
We understand and respect the passion and commitment, often developed over decades, that our members feel for the organisation, and the willingness to contribute to its future direction. This is why we invite all members to join Ask ANZAC House, a monthly virtual forum that provides the opportunity to ask members of the ANZAC House leadership team about the topics a ecting members, including the Strategic Plan.
I encourage all members to join the next forum on Wednesday 21 June.
“For many Australians who have served in the ADF, their first ANZAC Day after transition is emblematic of the enormous changes they have experienced...
ANZAC Day is an opportunity for all Australians to check in on their mates and pledge their support for veteran friends and family members.”
RAY JAMES OAM PRESIDENT, RSL NSW
The RSL hosted the second National ESO Forum in Sydney in late May to discuss mapping the services that ex-service organisations (ESOs) deliver and take steps to establish the framework of a peak body for the ESO sector to advocate for the needs of veterans and families.
Opening the door to collaboration with other ESOs is critical, as is strengthening the League’s ability to proudly lead the sector through its broad membership and influence of the nation-wide sub-Branch network. To continue to lead, we must continue to work together as one RSL, mobilising our volunteer and financial resources to better deliver our charitable purpose.
RSL-led Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs/Centres are a tangible example of our collective e ort. The vision is to connect these hubs to local and regional sub-Branches, so the first and critical care provided by subBranch volunteers can be further
supported by full-time paid sta at hubs, who are accessing further services. These additional RSL services at the hubs can only be sustained by all sub-branches financially contributing through the Veteran Support Fund.
To new sub-Branch leaders, thank you for your dedication. I hear that the new Guides and online training for O ce Bearers have proven useful, and I look forward to hearing first-hand how else we can support you.
As announced, I am retiring following this year’s Congress. The ANZAC House team is truly amazing, and everyone can be confident that the implementation of initiatives to deliver on our vision for the future will continue because it is being driven by our members, particularly the next generation who will continue the legacy of our founders and make the League as strong and relevant in the future as it was in 1916.
LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA
(NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCH)
ANZAC House
Suite 11.02 Level 11, 175 Pitt St, Sydney, NSW 2000
Phone (02) 9264 8188
Email support@rslnsw.org.au
Web www.rslnsw.org.au
President Ray James
Chief Executive O cer
Jon Black
State Secretary
Je O’Brien
Publishing Director
Jelena Li
Managing Editor
Hallie Donkin
Editor
Lachlan Haycock
Creative Director
Gareth Allsopp
Senior Designer
Fiona Robinson
Integrated Producer
Lisa Galvan
Cover photography
Salty Dingo
Advertising Manager Nicole Prioste +61 2 4932 7123
nicole@nkmedia.com.au
Advertising Operations Executive William Ryan 0412 747 323
william.ryan@mahlab.co
Reveille is published by the New South Wales Branch of the RSL in association with Mahlab. Everything in this magazine is copyright and may not be reproduced unless written permission is granted by RSL NSW prior to its publication date. All rights reserved © copyright by RSL NSW All contributions are welcome; please contact news@rslnsw.org.au. All care will be taken with material but no responsibility is assumed or accepted by the publisher or RSL NSW for loss or damage. All opinions expressed in Reveille are not necessarily those of the publisher or RSL NSW
The Defence Strategic Review outlines the need for a refreshed approach to Australia’s Defence priorities in light of technological and personnel capacity, and recent global geopolitical shifts.
The review points to the distance-based threats such as cyberwarfare and the evolving power relationships in the Indo-Pacific as contributing to the call for a new approach to Defence strategy.
According to regular contributor to the Reveille Professor John Blaxland of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at ANU, the review prompts a reappraisal of the role and volume of Defence personnel.
“As high-tech and capable as the ADF is, it’s just so small,” he said. “We have historically focused on quality over quantity, and I think we’ve used that as an excuse to let the size of our
Defence Force whittle away to the point where the quality advantage is negated by the quantity disadvantage.”
Blaxland said that even for that relatively small force compared to other countries’, the nature of support for veterans has varied.
“Australians have been provided with as much support as they possibly could when they have been deployed, but it’s not been so great upon their return,” he explained. “I think there’s a need for us to not let the cynicism of the recent past in Middle East conflicts distract from our focus on the challenges of the future, to which the veteran community has an important contribution to make.”
It is that need for improved wellbeing and retention support for current serving members within Defence that RSL NSW CEO and Army veteran Jon
Black says is so important – as those current personnel are the veterans of the future.
“The current separation rate in Defence is in double digits and recruitment targets are not being met, particularly in some critical employment categories,” he said. “Despite the important focus on the future of Defence in Australia in this review, investment in Defence platforms will be undermined if the future workforce issue goes unaddressed.
“The RSL needs to step up and have a voice in lobbying the government to increase funding for veterans’ support and services in line with the increase in the number of Defence personnel recommended by the Defence Strategic Review.”
Help provide assistance to the veterans of the future by making a donation to the RSL NSW Veteran Support Fund.
The Clubs Engagement Toolkit has been created for use by all sub-Branches in engaging the services, facilities and support of local clubs, reflecting the memorandum of understanding between RSL NSW, ClubsNSW and the RSL & Services Clubs Association.
The toolkit includes resources for subBranches to reach out to and collaborate with clubs to engage would-be members, welcome them into the RSL NSW community and connect them with support and services.
Join the conversation about the RSL NSW Strategic Plan 202126, membership and sub-Branch matters at Ask ANZAC House, a monthly online forum for RSL NSW members. Ask your questions directly to the RSL NSW President, CEO, CFO, State Secretary and more – it’s free to join.
the QR code to join the meeting.
The next virtual meeting is on Wednesday 21 June at 1pm.
Increased awareness throughout the RSL NSW network about the support and services provided by RSL LifeCare Veteran Services has meant that, in the first quarter of 2023, hundreds of veterans and their families benefited from the charity’s support.
RSL NSW strives to promote its services and equip sub-Branches with the tools to make referrals for members.
RSL NSW is committed to working with RSL LifeCare Veteran Services to continue delivering valuable support and services to veterans and their families wherever they live in the state. Teams of volunteers at RSL sub-Branches form connecting spokes to
FROM JANUARY TO MARCH 2023, RSL LIFECARE VETERAN SERVICES PROVIDED:
$79,885 in financial assistance 30% increase from the same period last year
assistance to submit 1,084 claims 68% increase from the previous quarter
1,911 nights of accommodation, plus housing support
125% YOY increase in housing and homelessness support
the central hub of RSL LifeCare Veteran Services. But the continuation of those services is reliant on financial support from RSL sub-Branches. In the past two years, RSL NSW has donated a total of $5.2 million dollars to RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, which incorporates substantial financial contributions made by RSL sub-Branches. A further donation is expected later in 2023.
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS. The support and services provided by RSL LifeCare Veteran Services are made possible by the generous donations of RSL sub-Branches. Scan the QR code to donate.
Following the success of the pilot in 2022, ANZAC House is pleased to announce the statewide launch of the new RSL NSW Sport and Recreation Program.
Sub-Branches can register at any time to join this year’s program, which ends in September 2023. There are three options
for sub-Branches looking to get involved:
• The Participation Competition
• The Challenge Ladder
• The Social Program
The results of the participation competition and challenge ladder will be announced at the 2023 RSL NSW State Congress in October.
Register your subBranch in as little as 10 minutes by heading to the Sport and Recreation Program sub-Branch Registration Portal.
SOP1 details how sub-Branches achieve RSL NSW’s charitable purpose, including governance of the application of funds aligned to the charitable purpose.
In consultation with the District Presidents’ Council, amendments have been made to SOP1, and will have a significant impact on our veteran support and impact.
Where sub-Branches have, in the past, contributed independently to initiatives in their local communities and more broadly, this new
procedure will ensure:
• All contributions are aligned with the RSL NSW charitable purpose.
• All contributions, large or small, are recognised as part of RSL NSW’s statewide support. All contributions by sub-Branches will be collected and dispersed via the Veteran Support Fund, overseen by a Donations Oversight Committee made up of sub-Branch representatives.
Sub-Branches can nominate initiatives via District Presidents.
Craig Greenhill always wanted to serve in Defence, but life had other plans. His fortune changed when he was assigned as a photographer to Daniel Chapman’s regiment while on tour in Afghanistan.
As told to Jessica Abelsohn
Craig Greenhill dreamed of being a pilot in the Defence Force, but didn’t pass the entry requirements. Later in life, he finally got the chance to photograph Australian soldiers, including Daniel Chapman, on deployment in Afghanistan.
Iwas an avid reader of National Geographic magazine, whenever my dad would bring it home. I loved the idea of travelling the world to photograph what I experienced. After realising I wouldn’t be able to serve in Defence because of poor eyesight, photography became a new passion of mine. On a whim, I got in touch with The Daily Telegraph, despite not having any paid work experience as a photographer. While on a work experience job with the Tele, I took some photos of my own, from o to the side. To my surprise, those photos were featured in the paper the following day.
From then, I became the Tele’s go-to photographer, especially for the hairier news moments, such as the Cronulla Riots. Then I was o ered the chance to go to Afghanistan – the usual war photographer couldn’t go.
It was the dream of a lifetime to photograph Australians in a war scenario. I was attached to the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, which is how I met Daniel Chapman.
At one point we went into the mountains, quite rugged territory, to a place called Chukrijoy. The journey was risky and the engineers had to walk the pathway with metal detectors to make sure there were no IEDs. I certainly got a taste of what it would be like to serve. Those soldiers are true heroes in my eyes.
relied on. They really leaned on him for support and that proved quite a burden on him.
What’s so unique about Dan are the moments that he boosted morale. I’ll never forget when we were in a makeshift base on ANZAC Day and a man came past with his donkey. Dan negotiated for the troop to have a ride. Even I jumped on.
Before the donkey ride, the company had gathered around a handmade cross to remember those who had fallen. That was one of the most special moments, to be in probably the most remote place of any Australian soldier on that day. It was amazing. These days, it’s a great honour to photograph RSL NSW events such as ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and sporting events such as Aqua Rugby. My grandfathers both went to war, but they didn’t want to speak about their service. My grandfather was injured in Papua New Guinea and spent a lot of time in hospital, even decades later, because of his injuries. And he never spoke about his time.
So to be able to honour people like my grandfather and younger veterans like Dan who I’ve stood side-by-side with, I can’t imagine anything more rewarding.
Dan took me under his wing while I was in Afghanistan and made sure I felt comfortable among the troops. I was an outsider, attached to a really tight group of people, and it was clear that Dan was a person others »
“I certainly got a taste of what it would be like to serve. Those soldiers are true heroes in my eyes.” — Craig Greenhill
Army veteran Daniel Chapman joined Defence a little later than most. After being the person his regiment would rely on for support, he has since found support for himself within the RSL, even as he continues to be a shoulder for those around him.
Iwas a chef prior to enlisting in the Army. After basic training I ended up as cavalryman in the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment. Not long after that, I was deployed to Afghanistan.
I connected immediately with Craig and we’ve formed a really close bond. He still calls me up on ANZAC Day and my birthday. It’s a really wonderful friendship. I’m one of those people who doesn’t like seeing photos of myself, but when I do look at the pictures Craig took from my Army days, I realise he did a really good job at showing what life was like in Afghanistan.
I never took my position for granted. As a soldier, you’re there to do your job. So it could be minus 30 degrees and freezing cold, and I wouldn’t complain. I
knew that there were so many people back home who would take my position in a heartbeat.
I always made sure to thank the engineers especially. They’d say good luck before we left each morning and when we’d come back I’d always say thank you, because they got us back safe and sound.
While on deployment, it became natural to be there for those around me. But the biggest journey has been keeping these guys safe when we got home. We’ve lost so many guys to suicide. I have struggled with mental health, particularly PTSD, but I su ered a lot in silence. It naturally fell on me to keep everyone happy and get the best out of people, especially those who didn’t deploy. I truly think that the service
medal is the most important medal of all. Those who are deployed aren’t able to do their jobs without the people back home. I try to reinforce that with the young guys.
I didn’t want to leave the Army. I was told my services were no longer required and was medically released. I was left without an identity, really.
That’s why I fell in love with the RSL. Being a part of the RSL helped not just me but my family as well, making sure my wife at the time and my kids were looked after.
Last year, I lost everything in the floods. The response from the RSL and RSL LifeCare was very quick; I was provided with temporary housing, food and fuel vouchers. It was incredible to have that that support, and for as long as I needed it.
It’s up to us younger veterans to help out too. That reflects my attitude of helping people and boosting morale – just like I tried to for my unit while on tour in Afghanistan. I still remember the symbolism of commemorating ANZAC Day with a Dawn Service. There’s not one of us who will forget that moment of commemoration and joy.
And Craig was there to capture the moment. He’s certainly an amazing man.
“It’s up to us younger veterans to help out too. That reflects my attitude of helping people and boosting morale – just like I tried to for my unit while on tour in Afghanistan.” — Daniel Chapman
Commemoration. Mateship. Advocacy.
As vital now as they were in 1916.
As important now as they will be in 2036.
The future of RSL NSW is not assured. Mobilising the combined resources of sub-Branches is critical to supporting veterans and their families, and ensuring the RSL brand is recognised and respected by the whole community, so the community knows who we are, what we stand for and what we do.
That’s why we have launched the RSL NSW Strategic Plan which includes a new funding model for the future. Colloquially called the ‘Pooled’ funding model, it has two parts: the Aggregated Investment Management Service and the Veteran Support Fund.
David acted in an advisory capacity to the selection process of the competitive market tender. He provided insight into the assessment of risk, governance, and other qualitative factors on the selection of the preferred investment manager for RSL NSW and its sub-Branches.
“My Future Fund experience showed me the value of alignment of purpose with the pattern of investing and spending to achieve an organisation’s objective.”
DavidMurray
AO,is the Inaugural Chair of the Australian Government Future Fund Board of Guardians.
RSL NSW Board directors Sophie Ray and Phillip Chin outline the joys and challenges of guiding an organisation that commemorates, supports and advocates for more than 25,000 veterans and their families.
Without the actions and guidance of the RSL NSW Board of Directors and former State Councillors over the past several years, the organisation would have likely ceased to exist. Instead, RSL NSW is currently in the best financial, reputational and cultural place it has been for a long time.
“We did some modelling to understand what the future looked like,” says Sophie Ray, Chair of the RSL NSW Board. “I was appointed with another independent director, and shortly afterwards we appointed, through a recruitment process, Jon Black.”
The modelling showed that unless RSL NSW was able to rapidly reduce the average age of its membership, it would not exist within 15 years.
That is just one challenge the RSL NSW Board of Directors has overcome of late.
It has been a very busy six years for the Board members, who have guided the organisation through various challenges. These include governance changes after failures highlighted by the Bergin Inquiry and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, COVID-19, the Productivity Commission Report, the ongoing Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, a new organisational constitution, the development of the RSL NSW Strategic Plan 2021–2026, and much more.
The role and challenges of the transitional council members and initial Board were enormous, as was the personal reputational and financial risk. Due to the Bergin Inquiry, there was no excuse not to be crystal »
clear around the responsibilities of o ceholders.
The governance model of the League was changed from a state council to a modern board, including the appointment of independent directors as required by the RSL NSW Act. The constitution also allowed for any Board member to become the Board Chair.
Both of these changes combined to mean Ray would join and later become Chair of the Board.
Serving in that role has been a true privilege, she says.
“The community I live in is a veteran community,” says Ray, who moved from Sydney 16 years ago, leaving her career as a corporate lawyer behind, to settle in Berry on the NSW South Coast.
She and her husband took over a local winery and bed and breakfast, and she subsequently built a career as a full time nonexecutive director, sitting on a range of boards.
“We have two Defence bases in our community,” says Ray. “We’ve got HMAS Albatross and HMAS Creswell. So I got to know lots of serving Defence personnel and veterans.
“When RSL NSW advertised for independent directors, and it was the first time they’d done that, a couple of veteran friends said, ‘With your experience, you could put your hand up for this.’
“I was really keen because, having a lot of veteran friends, I had some understanding of the issues — both the personal issues faced by veterans and the issues the organisation was facing. And I was really keen and passionate about contributing to turning that around.”
Fellow Board Director Phillip Chin says directors are responsible for the governance and oversight of RSL NSW, comprised of ANZAC House and more than 300 sub-Branches and Chapters.
“We have to set the strategy,” he says. “We engage with and listen to members, and we try to ensure that the organisation is delivering on its charitable purpose, now and into the future.
“We’re responsible for ensuring that the organisation complies with all the relevant laws and regulations. We have to keep the organisation safe. That includes our members and volunteers, and anybody who does work for us to achieve our charitable purpose.”
Chin was appointed to the RSL NSW State Council in 2017. He’d been working for the Australian Trade Commission at the time, following a decade at the Australian Taxation O ce, was a member of the Army Reserves and Treasurer of the Taxation sub-Branch before it was wound up in 2018.
The Bergin Inquiry was underway at the time, and Chin knew the role would be a challenging one, but also felt a responsibility to help ensure the future sustainability of RSL NSW.
“As a veteran, RSL NSW is our charity,” he says. “We need to look after it so it will be there for our mates who need help.”
He says he was also inspired by his grandparents, who actively supported charities and their local community before migrating to Australia as refugees, and continued to do so after they arrived.
“There wasn’t much transparency between State Branch and sub-Branches,” he says of RSL NSW when he first joined the State Council.
“Good work was being done, but people weren’t focusing on what could be done for veterans outside their local sub-Branch.”
But Chin, through the work he and his colleagues put in, was able to have a positive effect, to begin to lift the organisation back to where it belonged.
“After fixing the compliance issues while keeping RSL DefenceCare services and commemorations up and running, we have moved on to expanding veteran services such as RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, and advocating to the government on what they need to do for veterans.”
But being a director is not all emergencies and crisis management. In fact, since the current Board steered the organisation into calmer waters, directors are finding great satisfaction in ensuring RSL NSW does as much charitable work as it can for veterans and families.
“I’ve been humbled by the way in which most of the members have embraced me,” says Ray. “I’ve learned so much. I get to hear great stories, really fascinating stories, and meet some amazing people.
“Visiting sub-Branches, I’ve just been so welcomed, and met veterans and their families who
Over the past few years, the RSL NSW Board of Directors has collaborated with the ANZAC House team to secure the organisation’s future.
➥ With the Board’s oversight and agreement, changes have moved ANZAC House from defecit budgets to a small, sustainable surplus. An example: Transitioning RSL DefenceCare to RSL LifeCare Veteran Services and transferring ANZAC House staff, allowing services to continue on a more sustainable basis and working with sub-Branches to provide ongoing funding.
➥ Again with oversight and agreement of the Board, the ANZAC House team designed, developed and is implementing the RSL NSW Strategic Plan 2021–2026.
“We engage with and listen to members, and we try to ensure that the organisation is delivering on its charitable purpose, now and into the future.”
— Phillip Chin
»
have done things through their service lives which I am in awe of. Their selflessness has really helped me to stay grounded and made me even more passionate about sustaining RSL into the future.”
The role also provides powerful and valuable experience and education for people looking to extend their careers.
“This is a great board to join if it’s your first, because there’s lots of room for you to learn and to try things out,” says Ray.
“I encourage people who are thinking about sitting on boards to consider this as their first.”
Chin says the role has been very rewarding. It has given him an appreciation for the considerations various committees have when reviewing management reports.
“It brings a di erent perspective,” he says. “It o ers experience and a point of view that only becomes more valuable as one’s career progresses.”
So what tips do Ray and Chin have for those considering taking on the challenge of such a role?
First of all, you don’t need to know everything.
“The Board is a team and is supported by ANZAC House,” says Chin. “And the Board needs to have di erent perspectives. We need as wide a cross-section of people as we can to make sure the decisions we make are the best ones for the veteran community.
“We are trying our best, but the lived experiences of veterans are diverse. So having those di erent perspectives on the Board will help us understand the most pressing challenges veterans have.”
The other important point, says Chin, is that while a director’s role is not onerous in terms of hours per year, it does require a high level of diligence.
It’s about “taking the time to do background work, talk to people, understand the issues, ask questions, and then to bring your perspective to Board meetings”, he adds.
Ray says it’s also important to realise there is no room for overbearing individual points of view or specific agendas.
“You are one of a number of directors around that table,” she says. “We have robust conversations, and you have the opportunity to put your view and argue it as much as you want.
“But in the end, it will come down to a whole-of-Board decision. You will be bound by your director’s duties to uphold and to advocate for the position that the Board takes, even if you don’t agree with it.”
Prepare your nomination for a Board Director role today and get ready for when nominations open on 18 July. Information about how to nominate will be published on the RSL NSW website.
rslnsw.org.au
“This is a great board to join if it’s your first, because there’s lots of room for you to learn and to try things out.” — Sophie Ray
Phillip Chin and Sophie Ray agree that the time commitment of being an RSL NSW Board Director has reduced in recent years.
“We’re conscious that, particularly these days, most of our Board members have jobs,” says Ray. “They’re still working and they have families.
“We have a Board meeting every second month that usually lasts between six and eight hours. From next year, we will be trying to do many of those Board meetings after hours, to fit them in around work time.”
Every second Board meeting is online, meaning members only have to travel to Sydney a couple of times
a year. This fact, says Ray, should ensure greater regional diversity.
“We really want to encourage directors from regional and rural areas,” she says. “That has traditionally been di cult, because everybody had to come to Sydney. But now we are doing so much remotely.”
Board members also sit on committees that meet for an hour or two every couple of months.
Finally, the role involves attendance at the annual Congress in October or November.
“They’re the main commitments,” says Ray. “But we are flexible and we’re trying to cater to a generation that has busy lives.”
Above, L-R: RSL NSW Board Directors Jason Hazell, Steve Graham, Phillip Bridie AM, John Hutcheson AM ADC (Deputy Chair), Louise Sullivan, David McCann, Phillip Chin, Sophie Ray (Chair) and Ray James OAM (President).
RSL NSW members, current serving personnel, their families and the general public gathered in record numbers for ANZAC Day services.
Over 7,000 people gathered in the dark around the Martin Place Cenotaph for the annual Sydney Dawn Service.
Later in the morning, 11,500 veterans, descendants and current Defence members marched down Elizabeth Street towards Hyde Park, the procession flanked by onlookers.
“It was pleasing to see so many people lining the route with their kids,” said Rohan McCardell, Vice-President of Ashfield RSL sub-Branch. “We have to keep the ANZAC spirit alive and bridge the gap between younger people and more senior people.”
Following the march, a Commemoration Service was held at the Anzac Memorial’s Pool of Remembrance.
“There must have been 3,000 people there,” said Trevor Cochrane of Maroubra RSL sub-Branch. “It was great to see the community come out and support our veterans.”
“Our town has a population of about 7,000 people. I would say we had 800 or 900 at the Dawn Service, which is better than we had before COVID.”
“My family and I went to the local Dawn Service and later had breakfast in the park with members of the local veteran community and their families. In the afternoon, I went home and caught up with a couple of friends over the phone, just to touch base and say hello.”
After a Dawn Service at Monument Hill, the ANZAC Day March in the City of Albury commenced at 9am in Macauley Street.
Story Lachlan Haycock
The members of Corowa RSL subBranch’s brand-new executive were in the spotlight on ANZAC Day with an appearance on the Nine Network’s TODAY, organised as part of RSL NSW’s ANZAC Day campaign.
Against the history-rich backdrop of the sub-Branch’s meeting room, located inside Corowa RSL Club, the group refl ected on the changes since they left Defence.
Navy veteran Lesley Rinehart had been serving for just a few years when she was discharged after getting married. Serving in Defence and being married was not a viable combination for women at the time — although there were no such issues for her husband Laurie, a fellow Navy veteran who served for nine years, including in Vietnam.
“That wouldn’t happen today,” Rinehart tells Reveille.
Rinehart eventually joined the sub-Branch in the 1980s and became President for the fi rst time in 2003 before stepping away. She became President a second time earlier this year — but her association with RSL NSW has been ongoing.
“My father was an Army veteran who fought in World War II and joined the sub-Branch upon his return to Australia, and my mother was a life member of the RSL Auxiliary,” she explains.
“I also have a son who served in the Navy and a daughter who is an Army veteran.”
Rinehart, who has served across a variety of other committee roles, is now one of five women from the sub-Branch who have stepped up into leadership.
Not only are the three services of Army, Navy and Air Force included in the new executive, it’s also the first time in the subBranch’s history that the group has consisted entirely of women.
Joining her as one of the subBranch’s two Vice-Presidents is Lucille Thomas, an Air Force veteran who also left active service upon getting married and has been an active sub-Branch member since 2014.
The all-female lineup is rounded out by Army veteran Lynne Mills as the second Vice-President and A liate members Susie Swift and Lorraine Hammet as Treasurer and Secretary respectively.
“My phone is always on” Since being elected on International Women’s Day, the women have featured in a variety of local media.
Although each of them has been involved in the sub-Branch for some years, they remain aware of the importance of opening the doors to veterans living locally. In a town of just over 5,500 people, the number of potential new members, especially younger ones, is limited, but the e ort of seeking
them out is worth it when they get to connect those veterans with sub-Branch support and services.
“We have one young veteran who’s in his 30s,” says Thomas. “He and his partner come along to sub-Branch meetings and we’ve gotten to know them quite well. And he quite enjoys being with us old folks! We’ve also got a couple of other members who are in their late 40s and early 50s.
“It’s very important to us to include the younger veterans because if they need support for any reason, they need to know there’s somebody there for them. My phone is always on.”
E orts to attract new members include advertising on Facebook and collaborating with Corowa RSL Club, which provides the sub-Branch with its spacious meeting and activity space.
“They provide us with incredible support,” says Rinehart, who adds that their collective e orts are beginning to pay o .
“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved at the subBranch. In the past, we struggled to have 12 or 13 members attending meetings, and half of those were the committee. But we’ve had enough sign-ups lately that we’re now welcoming at least 30 members to meetings — and have more than 100 members overall.”
The RSL NSW Member Recruitment Toolkit is a onestop shop for sub-Branches to attract new members. Scan the QR code to access the toolkit, which also includes tools for collaborating with your local RSL Club, just like Corowa RSL sub-Branch has done.
Although the Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre operates from a purpose-built building on the NSW South Coast, the centre shares its services far and wide to cater for veterans and families throughout the region.
Story Chris Sheedy
Not long ago, a Vietnam veteran visited the new, purpose-built premises of the Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre, which is operated by RSL LifeCare Veteran Services. He was clearly not in a positive frame of mind.
“He was incredibly cranky,” says Jason Grimes, a veteran of the US Marine Corps and manager of the centre. “That’s a nice way of saying it. He had some colourful language.”
“But we sat down with him and determined what he was so frustrated about. He just genuinely felt he kept running into brick walls any time he tried to find help. He was hard of hearing, so getting on the telephone and doing those kinds of things wasn’t really an option.”
Grimes and his three colleagues, who help cover an area containing 30 RSL subBranches, immediately sat down with the veteran to identify his needs. They quickly realised his
issues were physical, social and emotional.
The veteran’s frequent walks for exercise had been ended by COVID lockdowns. His veterans’ co ee groups had su ered a similar fate. There was a Department of Veterans’ A airs (DVA) claim he’d been considering lodging for over three decades, but something always got in the way.
“The Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre is a positive step forward in servicing the local veteran community of the Shoalhaven and surrounds. The staff are dynamic in nature and, with the assistance of mentors, have been instrumental in helping local veterans’ organisations to work cooperatively to realise common goals and achievable milestones.”
— Darryl Kelly OAM, Army veteran
Jason
Nowra
Wellbeing
Manager and US Marine Corps veteran.
The facility includes counselling rooms and meeting areas around an open floor plan.
“The next day we brought him back in and sat him down with two physios from a local provider and sta from Invictus Australia,” says Grimes. “We also put him in touch with four di erent veterans’ co ee groups, including a couple specific to Vietnam veterans, and we got his claims appointment set up.
“And now, he’ll just pop in and have a cup of co ee for no reason, just to say hello. His entire demeanour, everything about him, has changed. He’s brought his wife and kids in, and he’s brought all these people in to show them that this is the place [to seek help].”
Grimes was working for RSL LifeCare Veteran Services on the NSW North Coast when he met with Nicki Young, now RSL LifeCare Chief Operating O cer. He asked about opportunities within the organisation. She
mentioned the Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre that was being built. Soon afterwards, in January 2022, Grimes relocated his family.
The new centre is a veteran-centric, purpose-built facility that includes counselling rooms and meeting areas, as well as a hall that seats 120 people, all around an open floor plan. Every piece of furniture was designed to be moved and rotated easily, so the centre’s purpose can constantly change and adapt.
And that’s important, says Grimes. The centre, like its host RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, specialises in veteran wellbeing, claims advocacy and homelessness services. But it also does much more across a region that stretches to Goulburn and Yass, reflecting the ‘hub and spoke’ model of services envisioned by RSL NSW.
A veteran’s needs could be anything from driving lessons for their children or a co ee and a chat, to assistance for serious medical issues or guidance with a DVA claim.
“Whether someone needs a claims advocate or Open Arms with their peer support, or the local physio or gym, I’ll bring them into the centre. So at the very next appointment that veteran has the ability to access all of that in one appointment.” — Jason Grimes
Clients usually have “a laundry list of things they want to accomplish”, says Grimes.
The day after a visit from a veteran, the team at Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre will set appointments for that individual.
“Whether someone needs a claims advocate or Open Arms peer support, or the local physio or gym, I’ll bring them into the centre,” he says. “So at the next appointment that veteran has the ability to access all of that.
“We’re quite honest upfront that we aren’t case managers. We are a drop-in centre. Our role is to empower clients to seek results.”
Why did Grimes move his family hundreds of kilometres for this role? Because as a veteran, he knows the challenges individuals can face. And he knows how it feels to come out the other side, empowered and enabled.
“I was diagnosed with PTSD,” he recalls. “I had mental health challenges and a similar story to a lot of veterans. I went through a divorce that was very hard, and I found myself doing a lot of the things that our clients do, isolating myself from friends and family.
“It took good friends, some veterans and some not, to bring me back into the fold and get that bounce back in my life.
“To be able to help people, that’s the reward in itself. This is my opportunity to pay it forward.”
We are currently seeking to expand the hub and spoke model through three applications for Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs in Queanbeyan, Tweed and Hunter under the new Federal Government’s grant scheme, and have proposed to DVA a whole-of-Sydney-basin service delivery model that would include the Hawkesbury and Central Coast.
“It is nice to know that as I approach the end of my career, there are places being run by people like Jason Grimes to support me after my service is done.”
— Captain Scott Palmer, Commanding Officer at HMAS Albatross
Get in touch with the Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre to access the free support and services available to RSL NSW members. Scan the QR code or call:
02 4428 5777
“The Nowra Veterans Wellbeing Centre has provided the catalyst for collaborations between ESOs, which means increased capability, practical real-time support and referrals, proactive approaches and service expansion.”
— Maxine Starkey, Shoalhaven Defence Families Association
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Three RSL sub-Branch leaders share their tips for attracting and engaging a new and younger membership.
Our members have told us that it is critical for RSL NSW to modernise, innovate and maintain a presence across the state.
A recent RSL NSW virtual Q&A event gave members a chance to hear how fellow veterans are reaching out to and engaging new members and building community.
Young veteran leaders from Kingscli , Nabiac and Paddington/Woollahra RSL sub-Branches shared their experiences in Defence and joining their sub-Branch, which activities prove most e ective in attracting prospective members and their families, how their sub-Branches are innovating their approach to engagement with families and the community, and more.
Here are some of the highlights. »
Matthew Sun is a member of Nabiac RSL sub-Branch and the founder of Sunny’s Place, a supplementary care program for veterans, youth and people with disabilities.
Sun explained how sub-Branch President Arthur Chapman was a critical influence in getting him to sign up.
“I’ve been involved in RSL NSW since ANZAC Day last year,” he said. “I was at the Nabiac dawn service and was approached by our president Arthur Chapman. He started a conversation, asked what I was doing for the day. He invited me and my family over to the Nabiac Hotel, where I could meet the other members.”
The decision to join the subBranch was made easy because of the flexibility o ered to him.
“What really appealed to me from that invite was that he included my family,” recalled Sun. “My young family is my priority, and the fact that they were invited as well got me through the door to start with.”
Despite Nabiac’s small size, the sub-Branch has taken on at least 16 new members since March 2022, doubling the membership to 35 members.
“One thing Arthur did was educate me about what RSL NSW actually does and the support it can provide to a veteran,” added Sun. “My idea before was that you only engaged with RSL NSW if you’re putting in a claim. Because I didn’t go down that path, I thought RSL NSW wasn’t for me — until Anzac Day last year.”
Russell Maddalena is President of Kingscli RSL sub-Branch, Vice-President of the Far North Coast District Council, and an independent member of the Program Steering Group for the RSL NSW Strategic Plan 2021–2026.
Maddalena credits the inviting nature of the Mount Isa RSL sub-Branch in Queensland as the reason he joined.
“I found it a very welcoming environment, with a great group of people doing great things,” he told attendees.
Now, as President of Kingscli RSL sub-Branch, Maddalena has focused on not making too many changes too quickly and
“My young family is my priority, and the fact that they were invited as well got me through the door to start with.”
— Matthew Sun
“disenfranchising those that have come before”, which has been something of a balancing act.
“This year, the plan is to reduce the number of formal meetings,” he explained. “That has been a message that we’ve heard loud and clear from veterans who can’t come during working hours — the formality of the meetings is not what they want.”
Instead, Maddalena and the committee will use the time to organise in-person social activities, co ee catch-ups and more events on weekends.
“Attracting new members isn’t rocket science, it’s about being proactive,” he said. “It’s about trial and error a lot of the time, but also about doing it as a team and getting multiple sub-Branches working together to share the load.
“We can’t please all people all the time, so you’ve got to make decisions that are best for the group and move forward.”
Jacqui McDonald is Secretary of the Paddington/Woollahra RSL sub-Branch and President of the Eastern Metropolitan District Council.
McDonald shared the positive impact of the RSL NSW Sport and Recreation Program on the sub-Branch’s members.
“We’re networking and building relationships between younger and existing veterans,”
she told attendees. “At a recent adaptive soccer event, we had people in their 80s playing and people in their 20s. It was loads of fun, and we had multiple generations connect.”
The sub-Branch also works with current members of the ADF at the nearby Victoria Barracks to organise events for the wider community.
“Their Physical Training Instructor (PTI) wants to pull together a weekly program with us at the sub-Branch. The aim is to encourage current serving members, ex-serving members and those transitioning out of Defence to come along to weekly activities held on the base.”
When it comes to attracting new and younger members, she said her sub-Branch is slowly gaining momentum.
“At our sub-Branch, we do think we need to change our thinking,” she explained. “We recently formed the Eastern Metropolitan Sport and Recreation Committee to develop and promote wellbeing via sport and recreational activities for veterans and families.”
RSL NSW has compiled a range of tools and guides to assist sub-Branches in engaging their veteran community and attracting new members. Watch the Q&A event on-demand and access other tools by scanning the QR code.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from veterans who can’t come during working hours — the formality of the meetings is not what they want.”
— Russell Maddalena
Since 1911, not-for-pro t RSL LifeCare has been developing connected and vibrant communities, for veterans and seniors with personalised care and services that suit your lifestyle.
Throughout our 28 Retirement Villages, 27 Residential Aged Care facilities, and via Home Care services across NSW and ACT we help you stay independent and safe in your own home or one of ours.
RSL LifeCare remains true to its mission – to provide peace, security and care to veterans and all seniors.
FIVE DOCK / COLEDALE
Five Dock and Coledale RSL sub-Branches have joined forces to donate $10,500 to the RSL NSW Veteran Support Fund’s scholarships pool, money which will help fund multiple $1,000 scholarships for veterans to undertake the ACU Veterans Transition Program.
The program aims to help set up veterans for success in the world of tertiary
education following their transition out of Defence.
Across the two-week course, students participate in orientation activities, workshops, lectures, tutorials and assessments, all of which are designed to prepare them for university life.
But attending can prove a challenge when many have work or other commitments that take priority. The charitable donation made by Five Dock and Coledale subBranches provides financial assistance and peace of mind to veterans seeking to join the program.
ANZAC House encourages subBranches to consider how they can help to fund scholarship programs for veterans by donating to the Veteran Support Fund. Use the QR code to view fund balances and to donate.
Those in attendance at the centre’s opening included RSL
NSW President Ray James OAM, Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack MP and CootamundraGundagai Regional Council Mayor Charlie Sheahan.
The Cootamundra RSL sub-Branch’s Veterans Drop-in Centre has o cially opened its doors, marking a significant milestone for the veteran community in the Cootamundra region.
The centre, which is operated by a team of dedicated volunteers from the sub-Branch, will be open every Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 2pm. The aim of the centre is to be a resource for local veterans and their families, providing much-needed support and connecting them with a range of services to meet their needs.
The spirit of Easter was brought to life with panache by members of the Finley RSL sub-Branch, whose Easter ra e aimed to raise money to help facilitate the subBranch’s provision of support
In a purposeful show of cooperation between RSL sub-Branch and Defence base, Ingleburn RSL sub-Branch hosted members of the School of Military Engineering at Holsworthy base for a tour of Ingleburn Soldiers Memorial Park.
Such cooperation between a sub-Branch and a local military base, also on show at other sub-Branches
and services to members of the local veteran community, including their families.
Bob Coates won first prize, Cheryl Bodycoat was awarded second prize, and Denise Hanson received third prize.
Congratulations to Angela McCann OAM, who was named as a finalist in the Aware Super NSW Community Hero of the Year Award. McCann was elected Secretary of the Coolamon RSL sub-Branch in 2000, and has since worked to revitalise local commemorations, institute the RSL Schools Essay Competition and implement perpetual trophies at six rural schools for students who display qualities of leadership, loyalty and citizenship.
such as PaddingtonWoollahra, helps to build lasting connections between ex-serving and active serving members
of the ADF. The tour included a photo opportunity and was followed by a barbeque lunch.
Visitors from the School of Military Engineering were treated to agreeable weather during their tour of Ingleburn Soldiers Memorial Park.
L-R: Gri th RSL subBranch Senior Vice-President Colin Beaton, President Michael Borg and SecretaryTreasurer Berdene Oxley-Boyd
A new sub-Branch committee has been elected in the town of Gri th, with younger veterans taking up key leadership roles.
The new President Michael Borg is an Army veteran and previously served as the subBranch’s Vice-President.
Berdene Oxley-Boyd, who is also a member of the RSL NSW Young Veterans
Committee, has come on board as Secretary-Treasurer. Meanwhile, Colin Beaton takes the mantle of Senior Vice-President and Paul Hughes becomes Junior Vice-President.
The first event the group organised was a social barbeque for young veterans and first responders, reflecting their focus on fostering links with younger veterans.
“I’m very excited about the future of the subBranch,” Oxley-Boyd told The Area News
Scan the QR code to find out how Berdene Oxley-Boyd and the Gri th RSL subBranch reached out to and engaged the community ahead of ANZAC Day this year.
Gri th RSL
sub-Branch isn’t the only sub-Branch experiencing a renaissance. New committees have been elected at sub-Branches throughout the state, including:
+ Dubbo
+ Kirribilli
+ North Bondi
The Old Bar Beach Auxiliary plans to sell the handmade poppies created at a recent pottery class ahead of Remembrance Day later this year.
Members of the Old Bar Beach RSL Auxiliary enjoyed a hands-on social and artistic activity recently.
Auxiliary member Kylie Chambers and sub-Branch member Shane Pritchard ran a pottery class for Auxiliary members, who produced all manner of hand-made goodies to be sold.
ADAMS, AL 8072594
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The information contained in the Last Post has been provided by the DVA and RSL members. Where possible we have attempted to provide all service details. We regret any missing information.
The RSL NSW Member Recruitment Toolkit is a one-stop shop for sub-Branches to engage their veteran communities and attract new members.
The RSL NSW Member Recruitment Toolkit contains resources to empower RSL NSW members reach out to veterans in their community and encourage them to join, including:
Advertising material, including signage, posters and banners, to help you publicise your sub-Branch to local veterans and their families
Social media resources, templates and guides so you can put your sub-Branch’s best foot forward
Event-in-a-box collateral to help create opportunities to speak with local veterans and build community
A new member welcome kit, to turn interest into long-term membership and active sub-Branch involvement
The toolkit is free to download for all sub-Branches.
Share how your sub-Branch is using the toolkit to reach out to and engage new members and their families – it can help us develop even more effective tools for sub-Branches.
APRIL 2023
Charli Biram, a Year 9 student at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College in Berkeley Vale, won the Secondary School Division of the RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art Competition for her work, ‘Our Unsung Heroes’. The artwork, displayed in exhibition at the Anzac Memorial 3–30 April, pays tribute to the remarkable contributions of Australian nurses who served during World War II.
There should be no barrier for any current serving member or veteran of the ADF to join RSL NSW. That’s why we’ve made membership fee-free.
Members receive:
A membership badge
Reveille magazine
Access to RSL services and support
Connection to community
Mateship and connection to others who have served
Opportunity to volunteer and support veterans and coordinate commemorations
Join
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