RSL Queensland Annual Report 2020

65 RSL Queensland Annual Report | 2020 Standing Shoulder to Shoulder Our Stories Make Us Who We Are Goondiwindi RSL Sub Branch, Western District Everyone has a story to tell. With that in mind, Goondiwindi RSL Sub Branch patron Karen Woods spent 18 months compiling the stories of members in a heartfelt booklet to be shared among family and friends. “Being mindful of the ongoing challenges our servicemen and women face, and having huge respect for Goondiwindi members, I wanted to persuade each of them to tell their story and compile them into a booklet. This would enable them to share what life was like before, during and after service. The aim was for members to read each other’s stories and be encouraged to talk to each other in a way that offered some unofficial ‘counselling’.” Annual Highlights A Place to Connect Murgon RSL Sub Branch, Wide Bay and Burnett District A safe and welcoming space to provide welfare, advocacy and connection with others is important for an RSL Sub Branch’s activities as they support veterans in their community. In 2020, the town of Murgon laid foundations for a new drop-in centre which will provide a place for Sub Branch meetings, events, welfare and advocacy, and a space for community services, including telehealth calls. With plans five-years in the making, the project brought the Murgon RSL Sub Branch together, with the entire membership and auxiliary involved in the design, fundraising and building of the centre. Grants and donations enabled the project to commence. "Though We Didn't Know You, We Will Remember You." Ipswich RSL Sub Branch, Tamborine Mountain Tweed Heads and Coolangatta District When 94-year-old British veteran Brian Fortune passed away at Ipswich Hospital, he died without anyone by his side. Brian had no known family or next-of-kin. It was a lonely death. But when Ipswich RSL Sub Branch were asked to help honour Brian, they arranged a Poppy Service and put a call out for a handful of veterans to attend Brian’s funeral service. More than 300 people turned up to honour Brian and pay the respect that he deserved. And by the time the bugle and bagpipes fell silent, hundreds of poppies laid atop Brian’s coffin. It Takes a Village to Help a Veteran Kawana Waters RSL Sub Branch, Sunshine Coast and Regional District Elderly veterans and their partners were among the most impacted by country-wide lockdowns due to COVID-19, with restrictions on social contact and shopping for essentials. Kawana Waters RSL Sub Branch identified the need for additional support among their community and teamed up with their community to help. A donation from Budget Direct Auto and General was used to purchase ingredients, the chefs in the Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club cooked three-course meals, and members of the RSL Sub Branch, the surf club and the general community delivered the hot meals to veterans. 75 meals were prepared each week for seven weeks, for a total of 525 meals delivered to appreciative veterans.