December - RSL

STATE COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER
No 6 December 2012
COURAGE * SACRIFICE * MATESHIP * ENDURANCE
Corporal Daniel Keighran VC
The Returned & Services League
of Australia - (NSW Branch)

RECRUITING NOW
ANZAC
MEMORIAL
RSL CORPS
OF
GUARDS
www.rslnsw.org.au
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FLEET REVIEW
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GEORGE ST PARADE
Wednesday 9th October 2013

Corporal Daniel Keighran
Victoria Cross for
Afghanistan courage
STATE
COUNCIL
RSL NSW
The NSW State President of the Returned and
Services League of Australia, Mr Don Rowe,
has paid tribute to Corporal Daniel Keighran,
who was presented with the Victoria Cross in
a ceremony at Government House in
Canberra recently.
“It is remarkable that three Australian soldiers
have now been awarded a VC for operations in
Afghanistan,” said Mr Rowe.
“This is further recognition of the outstanding
service that Australian forces are providing in
Afghanistan.”
Corporal Keighran, of the Brisbane-based 6th
Battalion RAR, is the first non-special forces
soldier to receive the Victoria Cross. The two
previous Afghan war recipients - Corporal Mark
Donaldson VC and Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith
VC - were both members of the Special Forces.
The citation read out at the ceremony said
Corporal Keighran showed great bravery when a
joint operation between Australian and Afghan
forces came under attack on August 24 2010.
"The team was engaged by a prolonged
numerically superior and coordinated enemy
attack by multiple firing points," it said.
"Corporal Keighran, with complete disregard for
his own safety, broke cover on multiple
occasions to draw intense and accurate enemy
fire to identify enemy locations and direct return
fire from Australian and Afghan fire support
elements.
"During one of these occasions when his patrol
sustained a casualty, again on his own initiative
and in an act of exceptional courage, he moved
from his position of cover to deliberately draw
fire away from the team who were treating the
casualty.
Corporal Daniel Keighran VC with Leading
Seaman Ness Schonrock from HMAS
Watson at the recent Remembrance Day
ceremony in Sydney.
"Corporal Keighran remained exposed and
under heavy fire in order to direct suppressing
fire and then assist in the clearing of the
landing zone to enable the evacuation of the
casualty.
"These deliberate acts of exceptional courage
to repeatedly expose himself to accurate and
intense enemy fire, thereby placing himself in
grave danger, ultimately enabled the
identification and suppression of enemy firing
positions."
Corporal Keighran is the 99th Australian
soldier to receive the VC, in a line dating back
to the Boer War of 1899-1902.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
To all members & friends of the RSL NSW
STATE BRANCH
Closed from 24th December 2012
Re-open 2nd January 2013

Remembrance Poppy Coin - Continued promotion with coin now
available at $10 each to RSL Members and the general public through.
Bulk purchase of 25 coins per roll are also available. Sub-Branch’s can still
purchase direct through ANZAC House, all orders by phone or fax.
District Council Meetings - Message of meeting content to become
clearer for reporting from District Council Presidents to sub-Branch members.
Topics and direction from meeting to be presented in digital media format.
Information will be placed on website, direct email to District Council
Presidents for distribution to their sub-Branch network. Also one A4 hard copy
version for State Branch bulk mail for all RSL sub-Branch’s.
Membership & Re-Brand Presentation LOUD Advertising -
Councillor Peter Stephenson presented the working status of the proposed
membership review with assistance from LOUD advertising CEO Lorraine
Jokovic and Director Russell Norton.
RSL National President Ken Doolan and RSL National Promotions Manager
Pat Scammell were in attendance, both were impressed with the potential of
the proposal.
On The Frontline - Presentation by Corporal Geoffrey Evens of his past
deployments on front line duties in Afghanistan.
The moments with the enemy in his sights, his thoughts remembering his
fallen mates at his side, his trauma of engaging back with civilian life and
finding the RSL, a moving presentation. Geoffrey said “the RSL were the first
to help him on his return”.
Defencecare Presentation - Robin Collins General Manager outlined
her first five months of operations with the recruiting and restructure of the
organisation.
The Defencecare role working ‘on base’ with present Defence persons and
connecting with the veteran community of the RSL and ex-service members is
now more demanding than ever. Searching for new ways to service the client
is an ongoing process of learning and delivering.
‘Minute to Remember’ fundraising promotion, its emergence, target and profile
with the potential to now go forward as a new fundraising tool for the charity
arm of the RSL.
RSLNSW.ORG.AU
AFFILIATE
COURAGE * SACRIFICE * MATESHIP * ENDURANCE
RSL NSW Affiliate Membership
Click for application

Centenary of ‘The League’ 2016 - Formation of new committee with
State President Don Rowe, State Vice President John Haines, State Honorary
Treasurer Rod White, Councillors Peter Stephenson and Ian Henderson.
CENTENARY
1916 - 2016
Set up to commence the process of an event calendar for the Centenary,
working statewide.
TIP Nominee - Mr Bob Mowle, District Council President Northern Region
has been nominated to be the RSL Representative on the TIP Consultative
Group.
National Congress 2013 - To be held in Perth WA from 23 & 24
September to coincide after the WA State Congress.
RSL LifeCare Annual Report - 2012 Annual Report now available in
PDF format on website rsllifecare.org.au
RSL NSW Website - Most popular hits on the RSL NSW website in the
past month -
RSL NSW Store 1,639
Commemoration/Heritage - Vietnam War 1,471
Commemoration/Heritage - East Timor 1,038
Commemoration/Heritage - Second World War 979
Commemoration/Heritage - Anzac Day 937
Warhorse On Stage - The National Theatre of Great Britain's smash hit
production WAR HORSE is coming to Australia, launching in Melbourne on
New Years Eve. At its heart are astonishing life-size puppets, who bring
breathing, galloping, charging horses to life on the stage.
RSL has supported an ‘educational aspect’ to the production which will tour
throughout the school community during the staging in Melbourne, Sydney and
Brisbane during 2013.
Exercise Hellfire 12 - State President Don Rowe, travelled with 10
wounded Australian soldiers as they journeyed to Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Thailand for Remembrance Day, visiting Hellfire Pass and Kranji
Commonwealth War Cemetery in Singapore.
Full pictorial and report from President in next issue ‘Reveille’.
MEET THE GUARDS THIS AUSTRALIA DAY AT
ANZAC MEMORIAL
RSL CORPS of GUARDS
10am to 5pm Saturday 26th January 2013 - HYDE PARK SOUTH

Here Today... Rare Tomorrow
POPPY COIN 2012
Now available to the general public
direct from RSL NSW
For a limited time only
Phone Orders
02 - 9264 8188
The 2012 commemorative $2 coin was minted to acknowledge Remembrance
Day. It features a poppy in the centre on a background of microtext, reading:
"remembrance day" and "lest we forget". There are also poppies on either side of
the main design. The obverse features the third effigy of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II by Ian Rank-Broadely, and "Australia 2012".
This limited coloured version of the coin is to be circulated with a mintage of
500,000 as Australia's first coloured circulating coin. Only available through your
State Branch RSL network.

RSL Media Release
4 December 2012
RSL AND ACCOR MARCH TO THE SAME BEAT WITH
EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION PARTNERSHIP
Accor appointed ‘Official Hotel & Resort Partner for RSL’.
Accor has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) to
benefit RSL members across Australia.
Under the agreement, Accor will provide the RSL with a complete range of benefits and offers to their
members, including accommodation savings at Accor’s 200 hotels across Australia and 3500 hotels globally.
In addition, RSL members will be able to get significant membership discounts to Accor’s loyalty programme,
Advantage Plus.
As official Hotel & Resort Partner for RSL, Accor will also support the RSL organisation in fund raising activities
and promotions.
Announcing the partnership deal, RSL National Vice President Mr Don Rowe , said: “This prominent partnership
with the Accor Hotel Group will provide a significant tangible benefit to the RSL National Membership. The RSL
has a strong vibrant membership of over 180,000 members around Australia; I know that our members will
welcome this partnership with Accor. We look forward to a successful association the Accor Group”.
“Accor will be able to provide a vast range of hotel products for RSL members, including city, regional and
resort locations”, says Accor Australia Chief Operating Officer, Simon McGrath.
“We already know how prolific many RSL members are when it comes to travel, whether it be for domestic or
international travel.
We have already worked with the RSL on a national basis and with RSL sub-branches at a local level, and this
agreement will extend that to a more formal, more all-encompassing partnership.
The agreement reflects the importance and popularity of the RSL organisation in Australia. They play such a
positive and proactive role in ensuring that communities remain strong and supportive, and that reflects Accor’s
ethos.
We believe RSL members will benefit considerably from the partnership as it will provide them access to rates
not available to the general public. We look forward to each member becoming a close partner of Accor for
their accommodation needs and hope to build on this agreement in future years,” said Mr McGrath.
About Accor:
Accor is the largest hotel group in Australia operating over 200 hotels under brands such as Sofitel, Pullman,
MGallery, Quay West, Sebel, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure, Citigate and Ibis. Globally, Accor operates over
3,500 hotels in 92 countries.
About the RSL:
The RSL is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected national organisations. The League was founded in
1916 and supports serving and ex-service Defence Force members and their families and promotes a secure,
stable and progressive Australia.
Media contacts: Mr Pat Scammell, RSL National Promotions Manager on Email:
promotions.manager@rsl.org.au or Tel: 0418 313 838
Accor contact: Peter Hook, GM Communications: Email: peter.hook@accor.com or Tel: 0407 462213
National Headquarters of the Returned & Services League of Australia
Cnr Constitution Avenue and Blamey Crescent CAMPBELL, ACT
GPO Box 303, CANBERRA ACT 2601. PH: 02 6248 7199 Fax: 02 6247 7637

Merry Christmas from Defencecare
On behalf of the staff of Defencecare, I would like to thank everyone
for their support in 2012 - our donors, the Women's Auxiliaries, RSL
NSW sub-Branch members, our volunteers and our clients. Your
support for the work Defencecare does, in helping veterans of all
ages and their families, is vital to our continued success.
2012 has seen considerable change at Defencecare – change that
will help us better support our clients, both now and in the future.
We would like to especially thank our clients whose willingness to
share their difficulties with us has enriched our lives. In return, we
hope our help has made a difference to their lives.
Wishing everyone a safe, happy and peaceful Christmas and New
Year.
Robyn Collins
General Manager
Defencecare
General Manager - Robyn Collins
Manager - Louise Summerhayes
Entitlements Advisors - Justine Denton, Adel Amin
Senior Advocate - David Murray
Community Support Worker – Peter Pocock
Client Services Coordinator – Elvi Wood
Administration Assistant – Jane Selman
Phone (Direct Line): (02) 8088 0388.
Available Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Voicemail message has an after hours crisis number.
Fax: (02) 9261 4558
Email: defencecare@rslnsw.org.au

ON GUARD
Chief Attendant of the Cenotaph
Wal Scott-Smith on duty during the
Remembrance Day service.
PREMIER ON HAND
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell was on
hand at Martin Place to assist RSL
veteran June Jorgenson OAM on her
way to the Remembrance Day
ceremony.
PERTH TO SYDNEY
Queensland bike
riders arrived in
Sydney after their
RSL fundraising ride
from Perth. Navy
Warrant Officer Mel
Harker was on hand to
greet them early
morning in Martin
Place.
IMAGE BANK
Images from State Branch
Photography by MARK LEE
unless otherwise accredited
WELCOME
POPPYMAN
Sailors from HMAS
Kuttabul welcome
Poppyman to Sydney in
Martin Place during the
promotional week
leading up to
Remembrance Day.

RSL STAFF TRAINING
Training continued at ANZAC
House throughout November
with a series of course for
staff and managers led by
HR trainer Jannelle Drake.
AFOF PACKING
Bob Davies of the Malabar
sub-Branch were part of the
team at Randwick Army
Barracks packing Christmas
parcels for members of our
overseas forces.
MARCHING FORWARD
WREATH OF
REMEMBRANCE
RSL NSW State
President Don
Rowe OAM, lays a
wreath on behalf of
the RSL on 11
November at the
Kanchanaburi
Memorial in
Thailand for the
fallen POW’s at
Hellfire Pass.
Smiles all round from
General Cosgrove AC, MC
with his wife as they depart
Martin Place with
Alexander Weilsmann from
the Office of Veterans’
Affairs.
WHITE ON TUNE
Clean as a whistle in their
summer whites, members of
the RAN Navy band drum
section look a perfect picture
at the Martin Place
Remembrance service.

ON THE BEAT
Affiliate member Tarah Devoy
with Corps of Guards Adjutant
Douglas James selling Poppies
on the streets of Sydney.
POPPY COINS TO GO
Belmore sub-Branch Secretary
Roy Steer was loading his box of
‘Poppy Coins’ for his branch
members at the recent ANZAC
House poppy coin launch.
ARMY GOLFERS
ON PAR AGAIN
The 2012 NSW Interservice
Golf Tournament was played
at Lynwood Golf Course (near
Richmond) over the period 21
– 26 October and consisted
of four days of competitive
golf between the NSW
branches of the Army, Navy,
Air Force, and the Australian
Public Service.
At the end of the matchplay
rounds, Army and APS were
equal on 21 points and the
winner of the tournament had
to be decided by countback.
FIVE DOCK
DONATION
Robert Ridge,
President of Club Five
Dock, RSL NSW
President Don Rowe
OAM, and Sam
Sleeman, President of
Five Dock RSL Sub-
Branch with donation
cheque for the
President’s Shield.
The presentation dinner was
held at Lynwood Golf Club.
Each team captain was asked
to say a few words and
present any team prizes for
the week. Army has a
perpetual trophy (The Phil
Lockyer Most Valuable Player
Trophy) which is awarded to
the player who is judged the
most valuable player by the
other members of the Army
team. In 2012 the Army MVP
was WO1 Tom Faulkner. Tom
was one of 3 players who
went through the matchplay
rounds undefeated. The
other 2 players were WO1
Peter Wucherpfennig and
WO2 Shane Hahesy.
The tournament director was
the only person who knew
which team had won the
Interservice Tournament and
he waited until the last
moment to announce the
winner. The final figures of
the countback saw APS on 56
points and Army on 62 which
gave victory to the Army
team.
Army are supported for this
event by RSL NSW.
BLUEPRINT DELIVERED
State Councillor Peter Stephenson
OAM, at the lectern introducing
members of the LOUD staff who
delivered the membership
blueprint for a future brand and
communication strategy
presentation to State Council.

EXPERIENCE ON HAND
Hyde Park Inn General Manager Peter Gamblin presenting at recent
staff training with first hand stories on customer service from his many
varied experiences in the hotel industry in Australia and the UK.
CHRISTMAS CHEER
President of the Federated TB
Ex-Service Association Stan
Poulsen was one of many
special guests of State President
Don Rowe OAM, at the recent
appreciation luncheon.
MAKE OUR CAKE
RSL Guardian David Howells
enjoyed the task of providing
and delivering the birthday
cake for the Guardians first
anniversary. Photo Tarah Devoy
CHRISTMAS CHEER
Lorrae Desmond MBE, member of
the troop entertainment corps, a
special guest of State President Don
Rowe at the recent appreciation
luncheon held at Hyde Park Forum.
IMAGE BANK
Images from State Branch
November - December
ONE BIG GUARDIAN CANDLE
The first year of operation of the RSL Corp of
Guards saw the big candle blown out by the
Guards with their partners on a unique birthday
cake at a private function in Surrey Hills.

IMAGE BANK
Images from State Branch
November - December
POPPYMAN ON TRACK
Trackside at Warwick
Farm racecourse selling
Poppies Affiliate Member
Margaret Lee, with off duty
Guardians Bill Kotsovolos
and Lou Kamanski.
LAKE MACQUARIE BRANCH DONATE
Visiting head office L:R - Shaun McGill, sub-Branch
President Daniel Sloane, State President Don Rowe
AO, Des Green and Ron Smith presenting their annual
donation towards the State Presidents’s Shield Fund.
HIGH IN VOICE
Put yourself in the middle of a group of Australian French expats
proudly singing their national anthem with vigor and a gusto and you
feel the pride in the air! The ladies and gents of the French veterans
associations were in full voice after the Martin Place ceremony on
Remembrance Day reminding the locals of where they were from.

CHRISTMAS CHEER
Left: Chaplain for the RSL Monsignor Brian
Raynor with designer Amanda Beazley.
Right: Board members of the Hyde Park Inn
Gary Cook and Alan Davidson at the
appreciation luncheon.
CHRISTMAS CHEER
Hon Secretary of the
Mosman sub-Branch Eileen
Henderson with General
Manager of ASAP Printing
Rowland Palazzolo at the
appreciation luncheon.
BACK IN TIME
RSL Teachers sub-branch
conducted a unique Remembrance
service with the showing of a 60
minute silent movie accompanied
with a grand piano adding the
sounds of the battlefield in a
special commemoration at the Dept
of Education.
Secretary Ken Stevenson (above
left) conducted the service with
assistance form Army members
Paddington Barracks.

NATIONAL
PRESIDENTS
NEWSLETTER
Ken Doolan
No 7 of 2012
1. Ballot for ANZAC Cove 25 April 2015.
On Thursday 27 September 2012 the
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs the Hon Warren
Snowdon MP issued a press release
advising of a limit of 8000 on the number of
Australians who could be allowed access to
the ANZAC Day commemorations at
Gallipoli on 25 April 2015. This press
release also advised that there would be a
ballot for these places after a period of
public consultation. This period of
consultation will close on 30 November
2012.
The National Executive will debate the
content of an overall RSL response to the
ballot proposal at the forthcoming meeting in
Canberra. Factors which will be taken into
account are:
•the reality that the number of
descendants of Australian Gallipoli
veterans is unknown but is estimated to
be as high as 1 million
•the fact that most Australians who have
attended the Dawn Service at Gallipoli
over the past decade have been young
Australians backpacking in Europe
•the fact that ANZAC Cove is in a
relatively remote area of Turkey requiring
most who attend the Dawn Service to
travel there by bus from Istanbul before
camping out on ground sheets and
sleeping bags
•the sometimes inhospitably cold and wet
conditions at the commemoration site at
that time of the year
The content of the submission decided upon
by the National Executive will be posted on
the RSL National web site. Individual
Members, Sub Branches or Branches may
opt to make separate submissions to
Government on this topic.
2. Adverse decisions by Department of
Health and Aging contested.
I wrote to the Minister for Health and
Ageing, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP on 27
October urging reconsideration of two recent
adverse decisions of the Department of
Health and Ageing. The first was the
decision to remove the Medicate Provider
number 10315 for Hyperbaric Oxygen
Treatment (HBOT). I made the point that
notwithstanding informal advice from the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs that holders
of Gold or White Cards for specific
conditions will still be able to access HBOT
based on clinical need, the decision will still
leave those ex-service personnel without a
DVA Medical Treatment Card liable for the
full cost of treatment.
I explained to the Minister that whilst the
League understands that patients suffering
from cancer or diabetes will still have
access to HBOT, those ex-service personnel
who do not have these diseases will be
required to pay the full cost of HBOT
treatment.
The second decision about which we have
concern is that to close the Medicare
Chronic Disease Dental Scheme. Whilst we
acknowledge that dental arrangements
funded by DVA are not affected by this
closure; and that members of the ex-service

community with a Gold or White Card for
specific conditions will continue to receive
dental treatment under DVA arrangements,
the League considers this decision
disadvantages those ex-service personnel
with a DVA Medical Treatment Card.
We await the Minister’s response.
3. Military Court of Australia Bill 2012.
The RSL has continued to steadfastly
oppose this legislation for the reasons
explained in earlier newsletters. Recent
events suggest its future is uncertain. The
formal position is that the legislation
remains before the House of
Representatives. It was placed on the
parliamentary business paper for
consideration on Wednesday 31 October
but, in the event, was not debated. Since
then it has been difficult to ascertain quite
what is intended. Some informal advice
indicates the Bill was shunted out for
consideration at a future sitting of the House
of Representatives. Other advice suggests
the Bill has to all intents and purposes been
withdrawn because of the substantial
changes that would be needed to
accommodate issues raised during the
Parliamentary Committee hearings into the
proposed legislation. There is also
speculation that the Bill will not reappear
during the life of the current parliament.
We will continue to monitor the situation
closely.
4. Attendance at Royal New Zealand
Returned and Services Association 2012
Conference. I attended this conference at
Wellington during the period 14 to 17
October 2012 at the invitation of the
National President of the RNZRSA. At their
specific request my address to the New
Zealand conference focused solely on the
ANZAC Centenary and on how our two
organisations can best work together
towards the common commemorative goal.
Sub Branch straddling the Murray River
between New South Wales and Victoria; the
Stephens Sub Branch in suburban Brisbane;
the WA State Branch Conference at Perth;
and the Gosford RSL Club for the annual
conference of the Extremely Disabled War
Veterans. I thank all RSL members who
made me so welcome on all these occasions
and for the admirable work they are doing in
promoting the objects of the League. It was
most heartening to meet new and younger
members of the League on some of these
occasions and as is evidenced by the
content of this newsletter, we continue to be
very active on behalf of both the ex-service
community and those who are currently
serving in the ADF.
6. Indexation of Military Superannuation.
As yet there has been no response to my
letter to the Prime Minister which formed
part of my National President’s Newsletter
No 6 of 2012. There has however been a
development in the Parliament with the
Independent Member for Kennedy, the Hon.
Bob Katter MP introducing a Private
Member’s Fair Indexation Bill into the House
of Representatives. Mr Katter raised this
possibility with me when I called on him at
Parliament House when seeking his support
for the RSL stance on the Military Court of
Australia Bill 2012. I have since had
informal discussions with other members of
Parliament about the prospects for Mr
Katter’s Bill and will seek to keep RSL
members advised of developments.
5. Visits to RSL Sub Branches and WA
State Branch Conference.
During the past month I have had the
privilege of visiting the Cobram/Barooga

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
While we enjoy Christmas with family and friends,
our dedicated Australian troops will be risking life
and limb serving their country abroad in many
locations. They may be far away, but they are
constantly in our thoughts here back home.
To all RSL members and friends across our Service
community nationwide, may your Christmas and
New Year celebrations and reunions be safe, one of
happiness and joy with your friends and family.
My team of State Councillors and the Staff at
ANZAC House look forward to seeing you all back in
2013 for another busy and successful year.
Thank you for all your support and contributions to
‘The League’ throughout 2012.
Don Rowe OAM
RSL NSW State President