KERANG’S Anzac Day got off to a flying start with a big crowd braving a crisp morning to pay tribute to Australia’s servicemen and women.
But Kerang RSL president Darren Berry reckons moving forward, his sub-branch has got bigger fish to fry, particularly membership.
“Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, indeed every day, we need to keep the work the RSL does going and to do that we need new members,” Mr Berry said.
“The RSL is the last bastion for patriotism and in country towns such as ours it also plays a big role in keeping the community connected.
“Just look at this morning – we have a big crowd, hard to count in the dark but a couple of hundred at least, coming out at that hour, veterans, families, everyone. And young families too, with kids in pushers and babies, which is great to see.
“We also had a platoon of volunteers from the local Lions helping us out with our Gunfire breakfast – community and connection.
“And we had our local MP, Peter Walsh, the Member for Murray Plains, getting out of bed at 4am in Echuca to be up here in time for our dawn service, and to be a speaker here, and that adds to that sense of community, it is the fabric of regional towns such as ours and a lot of others.”
Mr Berry served with the Royal Australian Navy for nine years and then a further 33 with the RAN Reserves.
He suffered a severe knee injury – football, not fighting – which would cut his naval career short as it seriously limited his service options.
“The worst of that, is I was a shocking footballer, hopeless, but I took the mark of the century, and it was fine going up, not so good coming down,” he said.
According to Mr Berry, one of the keys to keeping the RSL the vibrant and vital organisation it is will be associate memberships.
He said he wasn’t even sure if many people were even aware of them.
“Anyone can be an associate member – they can even be sub-branch president if they would like to take my spot,” Mr Berry said.
“It is a fantastic way to get involved. To be part of the RSL you don’t have to have served.
“But so many people do have those family connections, if you go back to World War I or II, and Korea or Vietnam, there will be a parent, or grandparent, great grandparent and beyond, so a lot of locals have that connection.
“Just look at the honour rolls in the foyer of our club – that’s a lot of names, with a lot of descendants, so yes, lots of people have a strong connection with what the RSL stands for, and right now the RSL needs your help.”
More details are available from Kerang RSL on 5450 9333.
