House debates

Monday, 7 December 2020

Private Members' Business

Returned and Services League of Australia

12:10 pm

Photo of Tony ZappiaTony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

A defining Australian characteristic is that one would struggle to find a township without a war memorial or an RSL club. It's largely a legacy of World War I, when few households did not have at least have one family member enlist and more likely than not were left to grieve a loved one by the war's end. Grief and loss bring people together in an enduring way. For those who serve, who face the horrors of war, the experience will very likely never leave them. Only those who have lived through war would understand the effects it can have on a person and the help that is needed. That is why in 1916, as Australians began returning home from World War I, often mentally and physically damaged, the need for an RSL became apparent. It would be a place where those returned soldiers could find comfort, understanding and mateship.

Today around 550 RSL clubs still exist around Australia, with a membership of around 177,000. There are several in the region I represent. Only a week ago I attended a centenary celebration lunch of the Salisbury RSL. The Salisbury branch was established on 3 July 1920, but, because of the COVID pandemic, the lunch was deferred until last week. As I sat in the clubrooms, as I have done so many times before, I looked around at the walls adorned by 100 years of memorabilia, photos and honour boards. It brought home to me the number of people who had passed through the clubrooms and the very unique purpose it serves. On the day, club President Don Prider gave a brief overview of the club's very extensive 100-year history.

The same can be said of the Tea Tree Gully RSL, which I also visit often, including in recent weeks. It too has a very long and proud history, with a great leadership team who always put the interests of veterans first. Over recent weeks, with assistance from Tea Tree Gully President Mal Fergusson, Vice-President Terry Nicholas, Secretary Wayne Langford, longstanding member Michael Sherlock and SA RSL state President Cheryl Cates, we organised several special presentation ceremonies of World War II appreciation medals to Colin Keay, Bill Andrew and Brian Attrill. Time doesn't permit to read their military citations, but I felt very humbled by each of their military contributions. Sadly, Brian Attrill passed away earlier this year, so his medal was accepted by his wife, Alma, and other family members who gathered for the presentation.

Today, 104 years since their inception and some 75 years since the end of World War II, some RSL clubs are beginning to struggle with membership numbers and many of their members are, understandably, also getting to an age where they can't regularly attend. Yet the needs of the veterans have never been greater, as evidenced by around 600 veterans suicides over the past two decades. The prevalence of mental health, family breakdowns and homelessness across veterans should be of concern to us all, and I know those matters have been raised by other speakers. That's why we need a royal commission into veterans suicides and why the government's proposition of a veterans commissioner falls well short of what is needed and what the veterans community is asking for. The statistics of course would be much worse were it not for the RSL clubs, which is why we not only acknowledge the RSL's history but also thank them for their efforts since 1916 in supporting veterans.

Finally, I thank RSLs for their broader community work and for telling the story of the defence forces to younger generations through things like school visits and visits to other community facilities. In doing so, they are not only passing on our history and appreciation to the men and women who have served in Australia's defence forces over the years; they are also educating our young people about those who have come before us and who have made this nation the nation that it is—none more so than the men and women who have served in our defence forces and done so in the protection of our country.

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