Merriwa RSL: 100 Not Out!

by Mike Wong

Originally founded in 1916, the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) is an organisation that offers care services, financial assistance and advocacy to veterans and their families.

The Merriwa RSL Sub-branch is our local connection and was the venue for a celebratory dinner recognising one hundred years of fine work, together with providing commemorative services that help us honour those who have served our country.

See gallery below.

Our local RSL isn’t just a place where visitors can grab a great meal and a drink – it’s also a place of remembrance, reflection and thanksgiving.

From the memorial garden facing Bettington Street, to the historical displays adorning the walls and display cabinets, our local RSL is a portal to our past that unites us with the future.

The youngest female member of the Merriwa RSL Sub-branch is Merriwa local, Stephanie Abra.

Steph has been a soldier for six years and is currently involved in the field of logistics in Operator Movements and is aiming to be a recruit instructor at Wagga Wagga.

Corporal Abra enjoyed exchanging stories with the Sub-branch’s eldest female member, Mrs Mary O’Neill, who has served as the Club Secretary for 27 years since first joining in 1992.

Retired Signal Woman O’Neill deferred her university studies and enlisted after the bombing of Darwin in 1942; “I wanted to join because Australians were being killed” – she was demobilised in 1946 after serving three years.

Two of the special guests were NSW State President of the RSL and retired Chief Petty Officer, Ray James and his wife of 47 years, Pauline.

Ray served in the Royal Australian Navy for twenty years, followed by twenty-seven years as a reservist.

Pauline has also been the President of the NSW RSL Auxiliaries, (the RSL’s fund raising arm) for three years.

According to Ray, “it’s a bit of a family tradition to be in the RSL.”

“My father served in World War 2 and my brother, my son and son-in-law are all members of the RSL,” Ray James said.

Tradition and the welfare of its members and their families are certainly important features of the RSL movement, but local farmer, Vietnam veteran and Club Treasurer Tony Marsh also explained, “the RSL is all about the camaraderie – look around you.”

“We have people who have served in World War II talking to people who are currently on deployment,” he said.

“We all get together and talk about the times we’ve had,” Mr Marsh said.

Merriwa Sub-branch President Brion Booth agreed , “after you leave the defence forces, you often feel lost.”

“But when you join the RSL, you meet people of all different ages that all share a similar mindset – an esprit de corps that you once had in the service,” said Brion Booth.