Reigniting the Legacy in Aberdeen

THERE are more than 40 names on the service roll in the Aberdeen RSL and Doug McLeod said they are worth honouring by re-establishing a sub-branch in Aberdeen.

In recent years the Aberdeen RSL sub-branch folded, but Mr McLeod a returned serviceman from Somalia recognises the importance of the sub-branch for the growing number of service people in the local area for a sense of place for veterans and also to educate the community about the ongoing nature of their service.

“I’d love to see the club support the local schools and educate people on what our service people have done,” said Mr McLeod.

“There is a lady called Mel Bel and she served in the Gulf and it is interesting that when she wears her medals blokes often tell her ‘lovey you’ve got your medals on the wrong side’ and she says ‘first it’s not lovey and second I’ve earned these medals'”, he laughed.

“But we need to bring awareness to the area that there are people out there still putting other people’s lives in front of their own, who are trying to stop innocent people from being killed and being treated in a way that we won’t stand for as Australians,” he said.

“This Afghanistan war is the longest conflict  Australia has ever participated in and today the stuff our people are doing today is just as important, they are still willing to help people  and is we weren’t over there well the massacres that were going on before we got there would just start happening again,” Doug McLeod said.

To restart he Aberdeen sub-branch there needs to be the five financial members and then an application can be made to the state RSL, a process which may only take a couple of months.

“I’ve found at least 10 people who are all ex-service members who were shocked to find out the branch had folded and it means something to me and the others, so we want to make it happen,” he said.

“When someone says to me ‘no you can’t do it’ it just waves a big red flag in front of my face,” Doug McLeod said.