REVEille caring for the veteran community | SPRING edition 2016
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance
RSL House
Ex-Service Organisations
106 Memorial Ave, Maroochydore Phone: 07 5443 1719 Fax: 07 5443 7551 email: rslhouse@maroochyrsl.com.au
These groups meet regularly at the RSL House, please feel welcome to attend.
Office Hours
Ex-Service Women’s Association - first Thursday of the month, 10.00am chat, 10.30am meeting
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm
Museum Hours Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm
LEAGUE MEMBER BRIEFINGS Third Monday of the month at 2.00pm Information for members, guests and bona fide visitors. Correct at time of printing.
For more information about meetings refer to page 22.
upcoming
Legacy Laurel Club - fourth Friday of the month at 9.00am National Servicemen’s Association - second Tuesday of every odd month, 9.00am chat, 10.00am meeting Naval Association - second Sunday of the month at 10.30am TPI Association - third Wednesday of the month at 10.30am War Widows Guild - fourth Monday of the month, 9.00am chat, 10.00am meeting Women’s Auxiliary - first Monday of the month, 9.30am chat, 10.00am meeting
Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor (preferably typed or printed and no longer than 200 words) should carry the sender’s full name, address and contact phone number, and will not necessarily express the opinion of the Editor or of this Sub Branch. The Editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish any submission. Email: rslhouse@maroochyrsl.com.au 02 | MAROOCHY RSL - caring for the veteran community
Contents Membership............................................... 3 President’s Report................................... 4 CEO’s Report............................................. 5 PAWS Report............................................ 6
membersHIP Our membership base remains stable and as always we invite you to attend our League briefings, veteran outings and others events. Our aim is to provide support to all veterans and if you know of someone in trouble or who needs a hand we may be able to help make life a little bit easier for them and their families. We have been experiencing some changes at RSL House with renovation works completed on our entry area and office spaces. We thank our members for their patience as we build a facility to serve you better. There is still more work to be done in certain areas but we assure all our members it will be business as usual and you will have access to all the services we usually provide. On a sad note this edition is the first since the departure of our Welfare Manager, Sharon Moore. We extend a massive welcome to her replacement Amanda Jansen who has come in with great experience and I am sure will be able to make some great steps forward in the welfare program so vital to supporting our veterans. We have a range of member outings coming up in spring and if you would like to book your place on any of the outings please see any of the team at RSL House. We hope you enjoy this edition of Reveille and until the next edition stay safe and well and I hope to see you at Maroochy RSL.
Ian Hicks Maroochy RSL League Administration Manager
Soldier to Civilian Life............................. 8 Battle of the Somme 100 Years............12 Silent Guardians...................................... 14 Local Cadets............................................. 17 Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels...............................18 RSL House Welfare Team Changes... 20 RSL House Gets a Facelift..................... 21 ESO Meeting Information ................... 22
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAILING LIST If you wish to receive emails about current veteran related issues and League information, please email us at: rslhouse@maroochyrsl.com.au www.maroochyrsl.com.au Reveille spring edition 2016 | 03
President’s Report Welcome to the spring edition of Reveille. This edition comes with a wide variety of articles and we are sure that there will be something of interest for everyone. The renovations of RSL House are well underway and we are pleased to have been able to refurbish the building without impacting the delivery of our key veteran support services. Planning continues as we investigate options to make further improvements to the operational capability of RSL House. A big welcome goes to Legacy who are now homed in their new office facilities at RSL House. We have a goal to build a strong working relationship with Legacy particularly in the area of welfare support. One of the most emotive events since our last meeting was the unveiling of the “Silent Guardians� war dogs painting unveiled by Mark Donaldson VC. The painting is a fitting tribute to our four legged heroes and will be mounted in a prime position once our renovations are fully complete. It is currently being displayed at RSL House and we welcome everyone to take a look at this wonderful piece. In this edition of Reveille, we feature an article on the centenary of the bloody WW1 offensive that was the battle of the Somme. The sheer magnitude of the loss of so many lives is absolutely staggering. If ever the total futility of war was in evidence, it was here with tens of thousands of lives sacrifices for a few hundred metres of ground only for it to be lost again days later. May the world never see human loss again on this scale. Finally, welcome to all members who have joined our sub branch recently and I hope that your membership gives you the comradery and mateship that we have all experienced during our service life. Sadly, we have held several poppy services for beloved members during winter. We will remember them. Michael Liddelow Maroochy RSL President
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CEO’s Report Welcome to the spring edition of our Reveille magazine for 2016, we have a lot coming up at Maroochy RSL and we are looking forward to a very busy season. The major event for spring on the RSL calendar is undoubtedly Remembrance Day in November. This year Remembrance Day falls on Friday 11 November 2016 and we will have our morning commemorative service at the Cotton Tree Cenotaph commencing at 10.30am. We invite all members of the community to join us in paying our respects and honouring the brave men and women who served our country. Our RSL House team said farewell to Welfare Manager Sharon Moore who is returning to Scotland to be closer to family. Sharon has been a valuable member of the Maroochy RSL team. With Sharon’s departure, we warmly welcome Amanda Jansen to the Maroochy RSL team in the role of Welfare Team Leader. Amanda has invaluable experience and skills and we warmly welcome her to the team. During winter, RSL House received a small revamp with new office and entrance spaces. It has given the area a much brighter look and we will continue to improve the facilities at RSL house in the coming months. Maroochy RSL would also like to welcome Legacy back to RSL House. You will find the Legacy office located in the front foyer area of RSL House. We look forward to working with the Legacy team on the common issues that our veteran community faces. Also during winter, we were privileged to unveil David Sturmer’s painting ‘Silent Guardians’, a tribute to military dogs that have seen active service. One of the dogs depicted in the painting was handled by Corporal Mark Donaldson (VC) who was on hand to assist in the unveiling of the piece. For those of you who were unable to attend but would like to see the painting it is currently displayed at RSL House. There are many other interesting articles throughout this edition of Reveille and we hope you enjoy what our team has put together. We look forward to welcoming you at Maroochy RSL soon. Clare Paton Maroochy RSL CEO
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PENSIONS, ADVOCACY & WELFARE SECTION (PAWS) REPORT Since our last Reveille there have been quite a necessary help needed by the veteran. In the last few changes. The major change has been the three months our volunteers have provided the departure of our Welfare Manager Sharon Moore, following services: who has returned to family in Scotland. On behalf of all at Maroochy RSL we thank Sharon for her dedication to the veteran community and wish her and Roger all the best as the next phase of their Welfare Officer lives begins in Edinburgh. Of course with any departure comes renewal and we welcome Amanda Jansen to the team as our Welfare Team Leader. Amanda comes here with a wealth of experience as a senior social worker and I am sure that she will bring much to the position and provide strong assistance to our veterans. Our welfare team provides a broad range of human service, social and lifestyle support while pensions and advocacy team supports veterans in developing and submitting claims to DVA for compensation in respect of both physical and mental injury resulting from military service. The Welfare Team Leader is dedicated full time to the co-ordination and implementation of a welfare program to meet the objects of Maroochy RSL. Our welfare program is multi-faceted consisting of the following.
Office Visits 33 Home Visits 14 Hospital Visits No of Visits 25 Patients Seen 237 Nursing Home Visits No of Visits 18 Residents Seen 224 Transport/Social Support No of Requests Carried Out 20 Poppy Service No of Services 6 Cenotaph Maintenance 1 Volunteer / Commerative 350+ hours Vol Welfare Volunteers 485+ hours
A visitation program for hospitals, private homes and nursing facilities. In this program we visit veterans who are hospitalised, are living in nursing homes or are unable to leave their own homes. This aligns with the main objects of the RSL to provide welfare support to the sick, wounded, vulnerable, aged, destitute and needy. Our visits in most cases consist of a simple social chat with no follow on action required. Sadly in too many cases these visits are the only outside contact that many of our elderly have. In some cases these visits identify that follow up action is needed and in these cases our pensions team will liaise as required with relevant government or private providers to obtain the
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• Conduct of “Poppy” Memorial Funeral Services. A “poppy service” is the traditional RSL part of a funeral where the departed veteran is farewelled and thanked for their military service. This is integrated into the main funeral service and is conducted by one of our trained funeral officers who acknowledge and thank the veteran for their service and recite the RSL valedictory before presenting the next of kin with a memorial boxed flag. So far this year Maroochy RSL has conducted 6 poppy services. • Veteran Transport Tasks: Many veterans need transport to and from medical appointments and the like, or to attend some of our social and commemorative events or League briefings. Our team conduct as many of these transport requests as possible where family members or private or government providers are not available. In the last three months we have undertaken 20 transport tasks in support of our veteran clientele. • A Veteran Outing Program comprises social outings to a range of places of interest. These trips occur approximately every 6 to 8 weeks and are intended to increase socialisation among veterans and reduce the incidence of isolation experienced by many of our elderly. Contact the RSL House team for information on future outings.
Our last two trips where a cruise up Pumistone passage and around Bribie Island and a trip to the Gympie Woodworks and Forestry Museum were both well received and fully booked. One area of increasing demand is the provision of preliminary advice in relation to aged care, both service provision and residential care. Aged care has become a very complex area for veterans and their families and we are well equipped to provide advice. Our veteran welfare program will continue under Amanda’s capable stewardship but Maroochy RSL is always seeking to expand the range of services that we are able to provide to our veteran members. If there are any services that you feel would genuinely benefit our veterans then please don’t hesitate to call Amanda at RSL House and make a suggestion. In our next edition of Reveille we will look into our pensions area to explain how we are able to serve our veterans in the key area of rehabilitation and compensation. Our focus is on helping serving and former serving members. Our help costs nothing and even if you aren’t an RSL league member that doesn’t exclude you from obtaining our assistance. Your service is the only requirement.
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Adjusting from Soldier to Civilian life The RSL Sunshine Coast and Regional District Branch’s inaugural Veteran and Community Forum in July brought local veterans together to share their experiences and learn about services available to them.
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It’s a staggering statistic that the suicide toll of current and past Australian soldiers is conservatively three times higher than our combat toll in Afghanistan. It demonstrates the importance of providing our veterans with access to support and opportunities to share their experiences and understand that they are not alone. Guest speaker Dr Madeline Romaniuk from the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation shared new research for veterans experiencing the ongoing transition from military to civilian life. The three stage study is working with veterans and looks at tools that may be developed to assist in identifying those who may be at risk of reintegration difficulties and the development of a reintegration training program. The program began as a specialised unit for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other issues including depression, anxiety and substance abuse. Now it’s a five year project aiming to improve the life transition for many. Dr Romaniuk said she was surprised to see such little research done on the subject. “We found an obvious pattern of people who were having real difficulties fitting into the civilian world post military life, we found there was a real need to understand the issue and when we went looking for research there was next to nothing out there. We’d meet veterans from Vietnam who are still having issues adjusting and if there are veterans having issues some 40 years on we knew we needed to do something about it now.”
mateship and structure. The military was like their family where they are valued and respected, returning to civilian life can leave them feeling isolated.” Dr Romaniuk said. “Our veterans experience huge change in all areas of life, especially work. What we’ve seen is some can’t keep up with the work pace, struggle to connect, or are unable to relate to civilians, which can make them very frustrated. They have a hard time relating to people who do not know or understand what military personnel have experienced.” Dr Romaniuk said the reintegration can also have an effect on different relationships in the veteran’s life including partners, family and friends. “Transition itself is difficult practically; the family often has to move cities, find accommodation, have children change schools, find employment, etc – but we’re more interested in understanding the psychological impact of this and assist adaptation to civilian society after those practical difficulties are resolved.” The five year study is being funded by RSL Queensland to complement services already available to veterans. “We want to help the programs that are already available and to inform policies and practice to aid transition and also to identify veterans that may be more at risk to offer them support.” To find out more about the research visit www.gallipoliresearch.com.au
While it is expected that veterans may initially experience some issues when returning to civilian life Dr Romaniuk said they are focussed on understanding the issue to reduce future problems. “We’re working on really understanding the issue and the long term effects of the reintegration into society. Essentially what we’ve found is a cultural adjustment, the military has a unique culture, There is a clear expectation of what they need to do, an idea of trust and respect in a common back ground of training and rank. There is discipline,
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Maroochy RSL Welcomes Legacy back to RSL House After ten years Legacy have returned to RSL House at Maroochy RSL and are looking forward to working on common issues in the local veteran community.
With no Government support, Legacy works hard to fund themselves and are thrilled to be welcomed back to RSL House. Sunshine Coast Legacy Chairman Wal Farquhar said it feels like Legacy have returned home. “We are very grateful for the welcoming attitude and we hope we can make a contribution to Maroochy RSL House which improves the life of our veterans and their dependants. Coming back to RSL House gives us the comfort of working alongside the pensions and welfare team on common issues. I predict that this will be the form for veteran’s support organisations moving forward into the future.” Wal said the support Legacy provides is complementary to the work that the RSL does. “Legacy is an organisation which is unique in caring for the dependants of our deceased
veterans while the RSL exists to look after our living veterans. When a veteran passes Legacy then takes over and looks after their family, providing assistance to the dependants, Legacy helps because of the sacrifices and service the veterans provided.” Experiencing loss is a difficult time for anyone and Legacy are there to support and offer assistance in a time of need. “It is important because when a family member loses their spouse they face a very big readjustment in their life, they have to face things that previously their partner helped them with. We assist with understanding their grief and initially help them adjust to their new situation. We keep an open point of contact that they can always use for any issues that are worrying them.” Over 45 volunteers also known as Legatees
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provide support to more than 1400 dependants on the Sunshine Coast. Wal has been a volunteer for a number of organisations throughout his life and joined Legacy in 2009 after hearing about the support they provided. He said his time with Legacy has been rewarding in a number of ways.
so we’re happy to have them back in the RSL fold so we can work together in improving the lives of our veterans and their dependants.” Legacy are currently looking for another 40 volunteers, to find out more about becoming a Legatee, call 5443 9841, email suncoast@legacybrisbane.org.au, or visit www.legacy.com.au/Legatees.
“It’s the satisfaction in assisting these dependants to find a resolution to an issue which has been worrying them, you learn so much from these people and I enjoy helping them.” Maroochy RSL President Michael Liddelow said the Maroochy RSL is pleased to welcome Legacy back. “These volunteers work hard to honour our veterans by supporting their family once they have passed. The work we do goes hand in hand
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Centenary of the Battle of the Somme July marked the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme offensive and one of the bloodiest battles fought in military history.
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Between July 1 and November 18 in 1916 near the Somme River in France the slaughter claimed thousands of lives, within the first few days. Overall more than a million men were wounded or killed in the battle, which waged for 141 days in all. Desperate to bring World War I to an end, the French and British planned an attack on German forces with the aim of destroying their reserves of manpower. In the early morning of 1 July 1916, more than 100,000 British infantrymen advanced from their trenches into the fields and woods north of the River to attack the opposing German line. The entire offensive was undermined by a failure to appreciate the strength of the German defences and neutralise them prior to the attack. Despite days of shelling before the assault, the British were unable to smash the German trenches and wire obstacles remained uncut. The Germans also had many guns that were kept silent and well-hidden until the offensive began. Within just 24 hours, the British army suffered almost 60,000 casualties, a third of those were fatal, and so it stands as a record of the most costly day in British history. The Battle of Fromelles, designed as a feint to prevent reserve forces from joining the Somme theatre was the first major battle fought by Australian troops on the Western Front. The attack was a complete failure and had no impact at all upon the progress of the Somme offensive and, sadly, many fallen soldiers’ bodies were never found. A mass burial site near Fromelles was missed when military war graves units searched the battlefield areas after the war. Australia’s largest involvement in the Somme offensive was at Pozières when the 1st Australian Division captured the ruined village during hard and intense fighting. Three Australian divisions including 1st, 2nd and 4th took their turn at Pozières and all suffered heavily.
Over a period of 42 days the Australians made 19 attacks, 16 of them at night. As a consequence, the Australian casualties totalled a staggering 23,000 soldiers, of whom 6,800 were killed. This year marks a century since the series of fierce and ultimately futile battles that consumed the Australian, British and Dominion forces for much of 1916. The offensive was eventually abandoned on 18 November with enormous troop losses and little ground gained. When the Somme offensive ended, the allied forces had managed to advance only 12 kilometres. The small advance cost 430,000 British and Dominion troops and 200,000 French casualties. The offensive destroyed Britain’s mass volunteer army, and for the rest of the war Britain was reliant upon conscription for reinforcements. It was a loss comparable with the casualties sustained by the Australians over eight months at Gallipoli in 1915 and what was supposed to be a great victory was a sad defeat Lest We Forget.
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Corporal Mark Donaldson VC unveils a tribute to the Silent Guardians of war Vietnam Veteran and artist David Sturmer has dedicated a breathtaking original artwork to the courageous four-legged diggers who have served throughout Australia’s military history.
For over a century these animals have played important roles on the battlefield serving alongside our diggers and often making the ultimate sacrifice. Silent Guardians depicts six combat assault dogs and explosive detection dogs who were all sadly killed in action, including Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Mark Donaldson’s VC companion Devil.
Gold Coast local Peter Hayes purchased the original artwork with the funds raised being used to support the Australian Defence Force Trackers and War Dogs Association (ADFTWDA). He and the Association sought to have the artwork displayed publically as a fitting tribute to all war dogs. Maroochy RSL willingly accepted the painting and will place it on public display when renovations are complete.
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In July, the painting was officially unveiled by Corporal Donaldson who described what each of these animals did for our country. “What they did and what they gave was always unconditional. We understand what can happen but for the four legged soldiers it is unconditional, they do it because they love us, and it’s really hard to put into words.” The bond that he and other soldiers shared with the dogs was something he will always cherish. “You’ll give them a pat, sneak them some food and it takes you back home and reminds you why you are doing it; there is no price you can put on that” he said. “They are one of the team and when they are injured or killed it hurts just as much if not more. They did it for us and should be remembered for their unconditional commitment.” David Sturmer was approached by George Hulse from ADFTWDA who asked him to paint a piece to assist in fundraising. “It scared me; I hadn’t picked up a brush for 35 years but I couldn’t let them down, I couldn’t let down a military family so I took it on,” he said
“The hardest part was I never knew when to finish, every night I’d wash my brushes have one more look and then finally the last stroke… A friend had come over for a beer; he looked at the painting and said I can feel his fur. I thought that’s it, it’s done!” David spent 18 months working on what is an amazing tribute to our forgotten heroes of war and said the painting had helped him work through some of the issues he faced as a result of his military service in Vietnam. “It allowed me to understand patience, I was an angry old man; anxiety was a problem, drinking was a problem, depression was a problem. It brought me back to the surface and helped me manage my issues, if it wasn’t for this my life would be very different.” The painting in currently on temporary display in RSL House alongside the biographies of each of the dogs.
“I hadn’t painted since I was 18, I really had to sit back and think about how I was going to do it and mapped it out. I got to know the dogs, feel their personality and love them.”
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Combat Assault Dog Devil Maroochy RSL has recently taken possession of an original oil painting dedicated to the war dogs who have served alongside human handlers in all fields of combat for many years.
Corporal Mark Donaldson VC unveiled the painting and had a special linkage to Devil one of the dogs featured in the artwork. Devil was born in April 2009 and raised by a civilian breeder until 2010. The Belgian Shepherd was posted to Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) with distinguished records of service detecting enemy positions and equipment on operations in Afghanistan and was deployed with Squadron on 28 February 2011.
Sadly, Devil was engaged by the insurgent at close quarters and killed. His early detection of the concealed enemy position definitely saved the lives of not only his handler but also the forward scout of the patrol because they were both unaware of the proximity of the enemy position. Devil was awarded the Canine Operational Service Medal - Clasp Afghanistan and the Canine Service Medal for his dedicated duty with the ADF.
Devil performed well on this tour and on numerous occasions was responsible for early warning of enemy dispositions, equipment and the apprehension of insurgents. On his return to Australia, he was re-teamed with handler Trooper PT and was deployed again to Afghanistan with Squadron 3 SASR on Special Operations Task Group 17 on 14 February 2012. Once again Devil performed with distinction and diligence to duty. On numerous occasions, Devil apprehended insurgents and provided early warning of enemy dispositions and located enemy equipment. On 2 July 2012 Devil performed outstandingly by providing early detection of an enemy fighting position and immediately moved to interdict the insurgents. A contact ensued between the friendly force element and the insurgents. Devil apprehended an armed insurgent allowing the friendly force to gain awareness of the exact location and strength the enemy fighting position.
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Cadets Continue A Proud Local Naval Tradition THE AHS Centaur was an Australian hospital ship that was sunk just off Moreton Island on 14 May 1943, the Maleny-based Training Ship (TS) Centaur Australian Navy Cadets are proudly named after it.
Lieutenant Linda Vann, Australian Naval Cadets, is Commanding Officer of the TS Centaur Cadets and says the unit has a great year ahead planned. The group of 25 cadets includes boys and girls aged between 12 and 19 years meet at their unit headquarters every Wednesday at the Maleny Showgrounds, where they undertake training and drills for sailing, navigation and seamanship, as well as team work, self-discipline, confidence and pride. It has already been a huge year for the cadets, with many and varying highlights such as their participation in local Australia Day and ANZAC ceremonies, undertaking a visit to the Navy’s newest ship the HMAS Adelaide, and being awarded the best unit in the Sunshine Coast for the third consecutive year.
The cadet unit was originally formed in 1995 by a group of local people with naval backgrounds and the TS Centaur group continues to be dedicated to learning life skills and being involved in their local community. If you have children aged 12 – 19 and think they would be interested in joining TS Centaur, you are welcome to contact Lieutenant Linda Vann for more information: CONTACT: LEUT Linda Vann ANC, Commanding Officer Phone: 5494 3292 Email: co.tscentaur@navycadets.gov.au
Several individual cadets have also chalked up some impressive achievements. Senior Cadet Petty Officer Joseph Johnson was recently chosen to take part in a 10-day voyage on the tall ship Sail Training Ship (STS) Young Endeavour from Brisbane to Gladstone, which created lifelong memories and friendships. Former cadet Leading Seaman Kate Manlongat also joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Cook. In the months ahead, the cadets will take on a 7-day training activity at Gallipoli Barracks and a full day survival course with Bush Lore Australia in Conondale. In between their many community activities, the cadets will also experience live fire shooting, sailing, kayaking, weekend camps and they will support the Maleny RSL on Remembrance Day as they do every year.
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The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels selfless contribution to World War II Throughout the Kokoda Campaign there was a group of dedicated Papuans who offered their man power and support to allied troops along the Owen Stanley ranges in 1942. The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels, named for their frizzy hair and helpful role, became famous after Australian diggers wrote home describing their efforts along the muddy and treacherous terrain. The only previous contact they had with the modern world was occasional visits from Australian Government officials and they had no knowledge of modern warfare until the Pacific campaign tore through their villages in July 1942. The local men carried in ammunition and supplies for the troops and then transported the sick and wounded on stretchers back to field aid stations. A close bond quickly developed between the Papuans and the Australian Troops as a result of the dedication of “the Angels”. The men gained a reputation for dedication, gentleness and bravery and if it wasn’t for the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels many lives would have been
lost in action. At the peak of the war, 55,000 Papua New Guinea males served as conscripted carriers, often under dreadful conditions. The suffering of the Papua New Guineans was never fully recorded and will never be known in all its detail. Official records show that 81 soldiers and police were killed and about 200 wounded but there is no record of the number of carriers who died or the village people who were killed in a war fought on their soil and over which they had no control. A sculpture designed by late Sub Branch member; designer of the original Cotton Tree Cenotaph and ex-Navy man Hugh Anderson depicting a wounded Australian soldier receiving a drink of water from a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel is prominently displayed as a tribute in the RSL House Museum.
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Travelling Exhibition Visits Australia’s Wartime Past The ANZAC spirit is well and truly alive as Australians are given the opportunity to discover our past while honouring those who served and the sacrifices made by them through a travelling exhibition.
The Spirit of the ANZAC Experience tells the story of Australia’s involvement in the First World War and the subsequent century of service of Australia’s armed forces in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. With more than 200 artefacts on display the experience follows a chronological timeline spanning the period from pre-First World War Australia to the present day with a mix of visuals, artefacts, audio and film. Heavy artillery, weapons, wooden legs, knitted socks, priceless paintings, trench batons are just some of the historic pieces which are featured in the exhibition. The experience is part of the ANZAC Centenary national program that aims to give all Australians
the opportunity to honour the service and sacrifice of those who have worn an Australian uniform, including more than 102,000 who lost their lives in conflict. The exhibition has been touring around Australia since September 2015 and will visit 23 locations by April next year. Whilst it has already visited Brisbane you can take a virtual and interactive tour of the exhibition through their Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience 360° Explorer for smartphones. Visit www.spiritofanzac.gov.au information.
for
more
We Will Remember Them
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Maroochy rsl house welcomes a new face to our team A new face to our RSL House members, Welfare Team Leader Amanda Jansen joins us to take our welfare service to the next level.
Amanda joins us as a qualified social worker with 35 years of experience in a wide range of areas including work for the Defence Community Association.
supported,” she said.
Amanda has replaced the departing Sharon Moore. Sharon was an invaluable member of our team who returned to Scotland to care for family.
“It’s such a valuable service; it’s about going in and visiting our veterans in hospital, sometimes transporting them to where they need to go, answering their enquiries about veterans affairs and linking people to the services they need. There is always much to do but it is vital work.”
Amanda is settling in well and says she is impressed by the commitment of our Sub Branch volunteers. “The camaraderie is amazing and it is terrific to see how dedicated each of the volunteers are to the veterans they are working for.” Amanda is looking forward to seeing where welfare services can be taken in the future and is enjoying the team approach of the Sub Branch. “There’s a lot to learn and I’m excited to find strength in what is working. I’d like to really grow and expand the role to see where we can go and what we can do differently. The service we provide is very hands on and we’re here to make sure our local veteran community feel
Amanda understands that each day in the life of the Welfare Team Leader is varied and rewarding.
Maroochy RSL President Michael Liddelow welcomes Amanda and thanks Sharon for her contribution to the Maroochydore Sub Branch. “It is always sad to say goodbye to a great staff member and we sincerely appreciate how much Sharon did for the welfare program over the past few years. We are thrilled to have Amanda on board to continue building on the services we have established for the benefit of our veterans,” he said. Next time you visit the RSL House please pop in and say hello to Amanda, she’d love to meet you.
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RSL House Gets A Facelift Maroochy RSL like all progressive organisations has evolved over the years but whilst changing has still remained steadfast in its commitment to the objects of the RSL and support to the veteran community. The latest changes are in the form of a refurbishment program to the building to modernise the facilities and provide more office and interview rooms.
The Maroochydore Sub Branch has come a long way since it was founded in the early 1930s and in those days the organisation had very few funds and no building dedicated for its use. In true Australian spirit, the founders of the Sub Branch pressed on by initially hosting meetings in private homes, as well as at the E.S & A bank premises, or anywhere else that the local community was kind enough to make available. In January 1939 an application was made to the Lands Department for a grant of land to erect a Soldiers Memorial Hall. In April 1939, the erection of the Memorial Hall was approved for the portion of the land now reserved as a Memorial Park, bounded by First and Memorial Avenues and George Street.
extend to the museum to provide an enhanced display area with modern inclusions such as touch screen systems to display information. Maroochy RSL President Michael Liddelow said the works will help meet the ongoing needs of our war veterans. “The refurbishment and modernisation of the current facilities are underway to ensure we can continue to provide support to all veterans over the years to come.�
After its completion, both business and social activities were held in the Hall for several years, focusing mainly on providing welfare for veterans and their families. The eventual establishment of the RSL House building in 1996 is one of the most important milestones in the Sub Branch’s history to date. Its current renovations will ensure that the vital work of the Sub Branch can continue well into the future. The staged renovations including specialist office accommodation for Legacy as well as modernisation of existing office space, enhanced lighting and air conditioning as well as modernisation of the foyer and toilet areas is expected to be finished by the end of this year. Further renovations and modernisation for other areas in the building including the Keith Payne VC conference room are also planned for a later date. This refurbishment will also eventually
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Returned & Service League of Australia (Queensland Branch) Maroochydore Sub Branch Inc. RSL House 106 Memorial Ave, Maroochydore Phone: 07 5443 1719 Fax: 07 5443 7551 e-mail: rslhouse@maroochyrsl.com.au Monday to Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm Museum Hours Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm 2016 League Briefings 19 September 2016 17 October 2016 21 November 2016
Naval Association of Australia
The Maroochy Waters Sub-Section meets at RSL House, Maroochydore on the second Sunday each month at 10.30am. 2016 Meetings 11 September 2016 9 October 2016 13 November 2016 Expressions of interest and all enquiries should be directed to the Secretary at PO Box 615, Maroochydore QLD 4558 Phone: 07 5443 1719
QLD TPI Association
(Sunshine Coast Branch)
The Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen and Women (Queensland Branch) Inc. The above organisation is a member of the State and Federal Body operating on the Sunshine Coast and meets on the third Wednesday of each month at RSL House, Maroochydore at 10.30am. 2016 Meetings 21 September 2016 19 October 2016 16 November 2016 Please feel free to come along to the meetings, partners are most welcome. For any additional information please contact Tony Cresswick-Jackson, Secretary on 07 5493 4719 or 0400 576 118 e-mail: farmerjaxon@hotmail.com
Legacy Laurel Club
Maroochydore
Meetings are held at RSL House, Maroochydore on the fourth Friday of each month at 9.00am. 2016 Meetings 23 September 2016 28 October 2016 25 November 2016 All eligible widows are most welcome. Sunshine Coast Legatees are always available to assist with any concerns members may have. For additional information contact: Nita on 07 5453 4329 or Barbara on 07 5445 4768
22 | MAROOCHY RSL - caring for the veteran community
National Servicemen’s Association
Maroochydore
Meetings at RSL House on second Tuesday of every odd month at 10.00am (9.00am chat). 2016 Meetings 13 September 2016 No Meeting in October 10 November 2016 For more information call Don Holt, 07 5446 5953
Ex-Service Women’s Association
Women’s Auxiliary
Maroochydore
Meetings are on the first Monday each month at 9.30am for a cuppa and chat, meeting starts at 10.00am. 2016 Meetings 5 September 2016 No Meeting in October 7 November 2016 For more information call the Secretary, Andrena King on 07 5496 9081
War Widows’ Guild Maroochydore
Our meetings are happy ones and well attended. The ‘Healthy Away’ days, the social activity that takes place between meetings, also have a good turnout at Cotton Tree and continue to be an enjoyable outing for all. New members, from all Services are always welcome. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month.
We aim to protect the interests of all War Widows and offer a program of social activities to promote friendship. Meetings are on the fourth Monday of each month. Morning Tea from 9.00am, General Meeting 10.00am. Members are invited to meet afterwards at the Club for a bite to eat and chat.
2016 Meetings 1 September 2016 6 October 2016 3 November 2016
2016 Meetings 26 September 2016 24 October 2016 28 November 2016
Where: RSL House, Maroochydore is still the place to be for a cuppa and a chat at 10.00am with the meeting commencing at 10.30am. Cost: $5.00 per annum. We look forward to seeing all the older members and many new.
Contact: Shirley Murphy 07 5437 6560
Come and join us. Contact: Larraine on 07 5448 6037
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REMEMBRANCE DAY FRIDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2016 Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War in 1918. Join us for the Remembrance Day Service as we commemorate this national day of remembrance at the Cotton Tree Cenotaph, commencing at 10.30am.