MORE than 260 people will gather at the Warwick RSL Memorial Club this Saturday to celebrate the centenary of the formation of what is now the RSL according to Warwick RSL Sub-branch president, John Skinner.
Soldiers returning from World War I were concerned about the lack of support being offered to their mates who were wounded or disabled, out of work and with no compensation or pension.
Some community organisations and religious groups were helping to care for these veterans and new groups were being formed in communities across Australia, many with the aim of involving government in the repatriation and care of those unable to look after themselves.
Some of those new groups gathered in Melbourne on 6 June, 1916, and formed what has since become the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL).
This Saturday in Warwick, three local RSL Sub-branches will combine to host a luncheon to celebrate the centenary of the RSL.
Mr Skinner said Allora, Killarney and Warwick Sub-branches will host the luncheon at the RSL Memorial Club with 270 people from across the region already confirmed as attending.
“We’ve invited all members of the three Sub-branches along with as many of the community groups we deal with throughout the year,” Mr Skinner said.
“This includes our local bands, ambulance, SES, police, representatives from the service organisations, high schools, Southern Downs Regional Council and many others.
“We have the local cadet unit doing a flag presentation ceremony with a piper from the Warwick Thistle Pipe Band, the program will include the moving “Missing Member’ ceremony and our guest speaker will be RSL Queensland State President Stewart Cameron.”
Interestingly, the Warwick RSL Sub-branch was formed only a year later and is now Queensland’s oldest continuing Sub-branch.
Mr Skinner said his Sub-branch will celebrate their own centenary next year and hope to have a book launch featuring the first 100 years of the organisation.
“The RSL was formed in 1916 with the aim of caring for the welfare of veterans and ex-servicemen and women, and while many things have changed in those 100 years since, the aim of the organisation is the same today as it was then,” Mr Skinner said.
“Thousands of volunteers in Sub-branches right across Australia still work tirelessly to further those aims every day.”
