Bellinger River RSL Sub-Branch in Bellingen, New South Wales | Non-profit organisation

Bellinger River RSL Sub-Branch

Locality: Bellingen, New South Wales

Address: PO Box 275 2454 Bellingen, NSW, Australia

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25.01.2022 Just a reminder that there will be no Anzac Day services or march this year. On Saturday 25th April the ABC will be live-streaming two services, the first at 5.30am from the Australian War Memorial and the second at 10am from the Anzac Memorial in Sydney. RSL NSW has developed a resource about how you can commemorate Anzac Day this year. This link is their resource page and includes information about Light Up the Dawn One of the best ways to honour the Anzac Spirit is to re...ach out to help someone who is doing it tough right now. Lest We Forget https://www.rslnsw.org.au/anzac-spirit/

24.01.2022 Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Lance Corporal Jason Marks who lost his life during an engagement with insurgents in Afghanistan on this day in ...2008. Twenty-seven year old Lance Corporal Marks was serving with the Special Operations Task Group and the Sydney - based 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando). Lest We Forget. See more

23.01.2022 Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday toooo us. Happy Birthday to us... and Royal Australian Navy ... To everyone who is and has been a member of the #AusArmy Happy Birthday!

22.01.2022 In 1915 Maud Butler was a young 18 year old with a bit of an adventurous streak, who wasn’t happy with the type of contribution society decided young ladies could and should make to the war effort. She came to notoriety in the press for her attempts to disguise herself as a soldier and stowaway to Egypt. https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/adventurous-maud-butler

21.01.2022 Meritorious Unit Citation for Operation Tamar

21.01.2022 #LestWeForget Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, AC, GM (30 August 1912 7 August 2011) Born in New Zealand, Nancy Wake grew up in Australia and later worked as a journ...alist in France, where, after the German invasion, she fought fiercely as a saboteur and spy for the French Resistance, ultimately becoming the Allies most decorated servicewoman of World War II. The Gestapo called her the White Mouse for her ability to escape traps, and at one time she topped the their most-wanted list with a 5-million-franc price on her head. Aside from being a highly decorated service woman, Nancy was a pioneering feminist who spoke loudly with her words and then backed them up with her actions. She once said, "I hate wars and violence, but if they come I dont see why we women should just wave our men a proud goodbye and then knit them balaclavas." Her autobiography recounts her extraordinary wartime experiences in her own words in "The White Mouse" - a story well worth reading.

21.01.2022 Some overcast sky but no rain for either the Dawn or Main Service, and the Bellingen community turned out in numbers for both

20.01.2022 FOR WIDEST DISSEMINATION. PLEASE SHARE through your networks. The Veteran Card is available to anyone who has served in the Australian Defence Force with at lea...st one day of continuous full-time service. Click on the link for more details. Existing DVA health card holders (Gold or White) and concession card holders (Orange) do not need to apply.

17.01.2022 Remembrance Day on a smoky day in Bellingen. Thanks to all who attended and participated. Our thoughts are with those facing fire threats at the moment.

17.01.2022 On August 13, 1941, the Australian Womens Army Service (AWAS) was formed. By the time the AWAS was disbanded in 1947, 24,026 women had served in its ranks. The...se women had pioneered the role of women in the armed forces. THANK YOU is not really enough but it will have to do today #Thursday #ThankYouForYourService #TYFYS

16.01.2022 75 days, 75 stories As we approach the 75th anniversary of the end of WW2, DVA is publishing stories from veterans. You can find them on the DVA website https://www.dva.gov.au/new/75-days-75-stories/dorothy-clark

15.01.2022 Doing the right thing

13.01.2022 In 1915 Maud Butler was a young 18 year old with a bit of an adventurous streak, who wasnt happy with the type of contribution society decided young ladies could and should make to the war effort. She came to notoriety in the press for her attempts to disguise herself as a soldier and stowaway to Egypt. https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/adventurous-maud-butler

12.01.2022 A very differant ANZAC Day in 2020, put the flag up and laid the sub Branch wreaths this morning at 0530 hrs at the cenotaph. The people of Bellingen had already placed out flowers and wreaths honouring the Bellinger Valleys fallen, recited the Ode with Merv and Josh in attendance. Lest We Forget

11.01.2022 A useful message for staying healthy and happy during periods of isolation - sleep, humour, routine, exercise & healthy diet

11.01.2022 Congratulations to Eileen (Joan) Fisher (nee Mason), who is 100 today. Born in Belmore, Sydney, Joan joined the Red Cross Voluntary Aid (VA) Detachment after wa...r was declared. After her training, she worked in Concord Military Hospital in Sydney and then in Goulburn before heading overseas on the hospital ship, HS Oranje. As war progressed, the VAs were transferred to the Australian Army Medical Womens Services and Joan attained the rank of Sergeant. She joined the 2/6th Australian General Hospital and worked back in Australia, mainly in the Atherton Tablelands. In 1945, Joan left Australia again, this time on HS Manunda to Morotai and Labuan, where she nursed prisoners of war (POW) liberated from Kuching and Changi. The most memorable thing about Joans service was welcoming the POWs and trying to do as much as possible for them after what they had suffered. Her advice to younger serving personnel is it is so important to acknowledge that it is hard to re-adjust to civilian life, so take time and accept help if you need it. Joan made many friends while serving, but two in particular remained lifelong friends Norma Fisher and Peggy Barr, and through marriage, the three became related. Joan continued her caring role after she married and was always an active member of the community. This work was acknowledged when she was awarded an OAM in 2011 for services to veterans and the community. Joans secret to her long life is to take time to do things slowly but well, and stay active - use it or lose it! she says. Happy birthday Joan and thank you for your service. #TYFYS #OurVeterans

10.01.2022 Judy, a purebred pointer, was the mascot of several ships in the Pacific, and was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and taken to a prison camp. There she met Air...craftsman Frank Williams, who shared his small portion of rice with her. Judy raised morale in the POW camp, and also barked when poisonous snakes, crocodiles or even tigers approached the prisoners. When the prisoners were shipped back to Singapore, she was smuggled out in a rice sack, never whimpering or betraying her presence to the guards. The next day, that ship was torpedoed. Williams pushed Judy out of a porthole in an attempt to save her life, even though there was a 15-foot drop to the sea. He made his own escape from the ship, but was then recaptured and sent to a new POW camp. He didnt know if Judy had survived, but soon he began hearing stories about a dog helping drowning men reach pieces of debris after the shipwreck. And when Williams arrived at the new camp, he said: "I couldnt believe my eyes! As I walked through the gate, a scraggly dog hit me square between the shoulders and knocked me over. Id never been so glad to see the old girl!" They spent a year together at that camp in Sumatra. "Judy saved my life in so many ways," said Williams. "But the greatest of all was giving me a reason to live. All I had to do was look into those weary, bloodshot eyes and ask myself: What would happen to her if I died? I had to keep going." Once hostilities ceased, Judy was then smuggled aboard a troopship heading back to Liverpool. In England, she was awarded the Dickin Medal (the "Victoria Cross" for animals) in May 1946. Her citation reads: "For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps, which helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners, and also for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness". At the same time, Frank Williams was awarded the PDSAs White Cross of St. Giles for his devotion to Judy. Frank and Judy spent a year after the war visiting the relatives of English POWs who had not survived, and Frank said that Judy "always provided a comforting presence to the families." When Judy finally died at the age of 13, Frank spent two months building a granite and marble memorial in her memory, which included a plaque describing her life story.

09.01.2022 2020 is the International Year of the Nurse & Midwife. Today we celebrate the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (RAANC) and honour their history. The Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) had been formed in July 1903 as part of the Australian Army Medical Corps. During the war more than 2,000 of its members served overseas alongside Australian nurses working with other organisations, such as the Queen Alexandras Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS), the Red Cross, o...r privately sponsored facilities. More than 3,000 Australian civilian nurses volunteered for active service during the First World War. While enabling direct participation in the war effort, nursing also provided opportunities for independence and travel, sometimes with the hope of being closer to loved ones serving overseas. "I have never regretted that I took the notion into my head to take on nursing, for it has opened up opportunities that I would never have had." Sister Jessie Tomlins Read more about nursing during the Great War: https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/nurses/ww1

09.01.2022 ANNOUNCEMENT || Today, we are proud to announce the appointment of Lorraine Hatton OAM, Aunty Lorraine, as the second #AusArmy Indigenous Elder. Aunty Lorraine... served in the Royal Australian Signals Corps for 20 years, retiring at the rank of Warrant Officer Class Two. She is an advocate for numerous veterans, youth and community initiatives, and was awarded an Order of Australia in 2019 for services to the Indigenous community. Aunty Lorraine will build on the work of Uncle Roy Mundine OAM, who has provided Army with exemplary service as Armys inaugural Indigenous Elder since 2015. You can read the full Order of the Day here http://ow.ly/d8MD50zMeBo #GoodSoldiering

09.01.2022 This would be a lovely day if you feel like a trip to the Sunshine Coast

07.01.2022 Congratulations Moira, its great to see your significant public service recognised

07.01.2022 https://www.awm.gov.au/articles//the-search-for-Curly-Dawes

07.01.2022 It is with great sadness that we farewell our comrade, WW2 veteran and long term resident of the Bellinger Valley, Lance Rose. Lance served as an engineer in the Australian Army. He died peacefully on Saturday 30th March after a short illness. Lance will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Lances wife Enid, and their family.... Lest we Forget

07.01.2022 Tomorrow marks the anniversary of the sinking of Australian Hospital Ship Centaur in 1943. Sister Ellen Savage, the only nurse to survive the sinking gave assistance to other survivors despite being injured herself. She was awarded the George Medal. https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/centaur

07.01.2022 By the Left Women leading the Marchers. Susan Lumsdaine, Chrissie Lewis,Senior Guide Rebecca Hodgson, Kaye Barr, Kathy Mortimer, Mary Ann Perry, Emma Palmer, Dianne Hutchinson, & Val Watt seated

07.01.2022 Honouring Indigenous Veterans As part of National Reconciliation Week, a ceremony is held in each capital city to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Indigenous veterans. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have continued to fight for their country since the Frontier Wars and have been present as a part of the Australian Defence Force in every major conflict since the Boer War

06.01.2022 This weekend marks the date, 105 years ago on 3rd May 1915, that Canadian Lt. Col. John McCrae, a physician and a soldier, penned his now-famous poem, "In Fland...ers Fields" as a piece to mark the funeral of his friend Lt. Alexis Helmer. "In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields." What are your reflections of the poem and your previous visits to Flanders Fields? What are you looking forward to visiting again in the future?

05.01.2022 On August 13, 1941, the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) was formed. By the time the AWAS was disbanded in 1947, 24,026 women had served in its ranks. The...se women had pioneered the role of women in the armed forces. THANK YOU is not really enough but it will have to do today #Thursday #ThankYouForYourService #TYFYS

04.01.2022 Vale Hal Hobson 1920 -2019 It is with great sadness that we farewell our dear comrade Hal Hobson. Hal was born and raised in the Bellinger Valley and was a strong member of the local community belonging to a number of community service organisations and clubs. Hal died after a short Illness last Thursday week. Our thoughts are with his dear wife of 69 years, Nancy and their three daughters Rosemary, Cally, Janet and families. ... Hal served as De Havilland Mosquito pilot with 464 Sqn RAAF in France and Belgium in 1945 after two years of flying Instructional duties in Canada with the Empire Air Training Scheme. Hal completed 18 combat sorties with 464 Sqn before German surrender. His Log Book records a total of 1627.25 flying hours in Tiger Moth, Cessna Crane, Avro Anson and Mosquito aircraft between March 1942 and September 1945. Happy Landings Hal, we will miss you.

03.01.2022 Congratulations Heather, an award well deserved for your many years of work supporting our community

03.01.2022 In the lead up to Anzac Day we pay homage to Sister Elizabeth Kenny, an unaccredited Aussie nurse who completed 16 round trips during WWI on dark ships (trans...port that ran without lights between Australia and England). Sister Kennys unconventional methods in caring for soldiers infected with polio exercising the affected muscles rather than immobilising them, later became the foundation for physiotherapy. A remarkable woman! See more

02.01.2022 Id love to be in Canberra for this. Bookings for a curator led tour close on Tuesday

01.01.2022 Here is information about Barbs funeral. Spot has requested casual dress

01.01.2022 It is with great regret that due to the current Covid 19 pandemic RSL NSW has directed that there is to be no public ANZAC Day ceremonies conducted by sub-Branches. This message formally cancels the Dawn Services conducted in Bellingen and Repton also the March and Main Service at Bellingen. Members of the public are welcome to place floral tributes on the memorial on the day. "Lest we Forget"

01.01.2022 WW11 RAAF Pilot Hal Hobson with his wife Nancy & daughter Rosemary