RSL through the years

Not only does this decade include the sub-branch moving closer to turning 100, but the world commemorated the centenary of World War I (1914 to 1918), including the ANZAC landing on April 25, 1915. This meant that each year (2014 to 2018) there were themes for commemoration services as we learned about the various battles and theatres.

Very early in this series it was stated that there would be two recurring themes - clubrooms and memorials – and in these final 10 years, in the century of the Cobram Barooga Sub-branch, we are still talking about them.

For a number of years, Sporties had made the Garden Room available for the monthly sub-branch general meetings (after attendance outgrew the original room), but always there was hope that a permanent home could be found for meetings and to display memorabilia.

Once again the solutions came through the generosity of the Sporties Group.

This time through the offer of a long-term lease of a space within Cobram-Barooga Golf Club.

Negotiations started in August 2017 and, after conquering cross-border property law, we had secured a lease by August 2018.

With financial assistance from RSL Victoria, the previous administration offices and board room were refurbished and the sub-branch held its first meeting there in October 2018.

Named the River Bends Room, it pays tribute to the local area from which so many have left to enlist for service in the Australian Defence Force.

The room was dedicated and officially opened in March last year, with proceedings conducted by personnel from the Army School of Health (Latchford Barracks, Bandiana).

Men From The River Bends is the 2015 title of a book, compiled by Stephen Brooks and Maree Hogan, detailing the 29 men from the area who did not return from World War I.

In 2011, a community commemorative committee was formed to assist the RSL with the organisation of commemorative services and to broaden community involvement.

This included having the Scouts provide the catafalque party and flag orderlies for our services.

In 2018, the pendulum swung again and ceremonial support was requested from the defence force.

The result has been the establishment of an enduring relationship with the Army School of Health, which despite its name is a tri-service establishment.

So, the uniforms of all three services have attended as members of catafalque parties and marching contingents on Anzac Day.

In 2011, the gunfire breakfast on Anzac Day was moved to the memorial precinct and services were started at Ottrey Lodge.

This was also the year that initial moves were made for the refurbishment and relocation of the plaques, originally in the Hay Memorial Avenue, honouring those servicemen from the district who did not return from World War II.

Finally, in 2017, the 21 plaques were in position on a new granite wall facing Hay avenue and, in March 2018, in the presence of relatives of 13 of these men, and descendants of H D Hay (the benefactor responsible for the plaques) the memorial was rededicated.

In 2018, it was decided to create a third memorial which will include plaques to honour all conflicts since 1945. So, yes, we still are talking about memorials.

The Murray Border Flying Club continues to support us by providing a fly past, including for the first time on Remembrance Day last year, four planes flying in formation.

We also learned that this was where the immediate past Chief of Air Force (Air Marshal Leo Davies, AO, CSC) learned to fly. Through this connection we were able to secure him as a guest speaker in June last year.

The sub-branch is grateful to the staff and students from local schools for the support at commemoration services and for the works of art and craft that we have been able to display in vacant shops.

The sub-branch continued to support the seven local schools with a donation to be used during the end-of-year annual awards presentation ceremonies.

And, in 2019, the sub-branch introduced the practice of laying books in lieu of floral wreaths at commemoration services, where the books are then donated to local school libraries as a lasting reminder of our act of commemoration.

Membership numbers increased from around 130 to just under 200 with the majority being affiliate members.

Attendance at monthly meetings during this decade has built up to average 40 with guest speakers entertaining members on topics ranging from trips to Gallipoli to bee-keeping and everything in between.

Social activities for members continue to include dinner functions (at least for Anzac Day and Christmas), three- to four-day bus trips and monthly coffee mornings.

The generosity of our community to donate to our appeals continued to grow with record amounts in 2018 – ANZAC Appeal $14 162 and Poppy Appeal $12 271.

Our care packages sent to the troops on deployment have shown what a small world we live in, as we received letters back from recipients who had a family connection with the Moira Shire.

In November 2013, the sub-branch made its first annual visit to Murchison to attend the commemoration of Italian Remembrance Day at The Ossario (the final resting place of those who died while interned as prisoners of war in the district).

Sub-branch members honoured with National RSL Life membership during this decade included Bert Love (2000), George Hewett (2003), Rob Brown (2011) with Gold Badge added in 2016, presented to Noel Stedman (2016) and Morrie Rowles (2018).

And so, we have arrived at the time when the sub-branch is 100, but this date June 26, 2019 did come as somewhat of a surprise when a congratulatory certificate arrived in April 2019.

We decided to celebrate our centenary year by acknowledging events and people from the past 100 years and to finally hold our celebratory dinner in June this year.

Well, that was the plan until the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and so our planned dinner has been put on hold. We are hoping to make it a grand affair later in the year when we will all be ready for a big party.

Meanwhile, the sub-branch welcomes inquiries for membership from people who have military service, relatives of those who have served in the ADF or the forces of our Allies.

These memberships not only honour those who served but contribute to the ability of the RSL to provide assistance to those in need.

All inquiries can me made to the secretary on 0407 040 208, or email cobrambarooga.rsl@gmail.com

And finally, the sub-branch would like to thank the Cobram Courier, which has been reporting on our affairs since 1919, for publishing this series of articles 100 years of RSL – down through the decades.