Remembering their sacrifice

The role of the Returned Services League (RSL) has never been more important than it is today and Woonona-Bulli RSL Sub-Branch president Neil McLean is determined to make sure that their message continues to be told.

With the RSL’s biggest day of the year, ANZAC Day on Friday, Mr McLean and his committee have been hosting local schools at the Woonona-Bulli RSL Club over the past week, spreading the word about the movement and educating children on the importance of remembering those who paid the ultimate price for their country as well as visiting Woonona High School.

“As we all get older it is important that we educate the next generation of children and hopefully days like ANZAC Day will continue,” Mr McLean said.

Most of the RSL’s work these days however has been looking after the welfare of veterans and their wives.

“Many veterans who served their country don’t have any entitlements – in fact around 80 percent received nothing,” Mr McLean said.

“We have a lot of wives of deceased veterans who come to us looking for help we often assist them with receiving a War Widows Pension.”

“But the bottom line I suppose is that we need to keep young members coming through as some of us are not getting any younger.”

Mr McLean is a Vietnam veteran who joined the army in 1961 and had “one year and six days” in Vietnam in 1965 as a member of the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 173rd Airborne under US command.

“The only reason I wasn’t home earlier was that we struck a cyclone in Manilla and were held up for a short time – but it was sure good to get home,” Mr McLean said.

ANZAC Day celebrations on Friday morning will be held at both the Woonona-Bulli RSL and Corrimal RSL.

The day at Corrimal club will open at 5am and a march will be held from the club at 5.45am to the Memorial at Railway Street for a service and wreath laying.

This will be followed by a free breakfast at the club and Two Up from 1pm. Woonona-Bulli RSL’s day will start from 5.45am from the Franklins car park for a march followed by a free breakfast and Two Up from noon.