Speeches
Saturday, 27 June 2026
RSL SA NT Broken Hill 108th Annual Conference
I am pleased to be here for the 108th RSL SA NT Broken Hill Annual Conference.
As Governor and as your patron, I’ve had the privilege of speaking at every conference since 2022. This is my final conference, ahead of my term’s conclusion later this year.
During this time, I have watched the RSL navigate a significant period of change and challenge.
I have worked alongside your Presidents Cheryl Cates, Dave Petersen, Meredith Burgess (acting) and Brad Flaherty.
I’ve been heartened by the resilience, commitment and deep sense of purpose that have sustained the organisation throughout this period.
It’s been a joy for me to engage with RSL communities throughout South Australia, from right across the city to Loxton, Burra, Robe, Port Lincoln and others.
I have witnessed first-hand the profound impact this organisation has on people's lives, in communities large and small.
I’ve been honoured to attend the Anzac Day Dawn Service and Youth Vigil on North Terrace, organised by the RSL in partnership with local council and government; and to participate in marking the centenaries of several First World War memorials across the state.
Early in my term, I toured the Child Care on Wheels service operating from the Robe RSL site, a reminder that the RSL's reach into community life extends well beyond the commemorative.
In 2025, I had the pleasure of launching the RSL Reach Out Mental Health Program, and I was pleased to later visit the Macclesfield Sub-Branch, where members were embracing the program.
I was also pleased to see Macclesfield President Dennis Oldenhove recognised in the recent King's Birthday Honours, and I look forward to investing him with his award.
My engagement with RSL sub branches has shown me this: while structures, leaders and programs will inevitably change, the enduring purpose of the RSL does not.
Remembrance, advocacy, support and service to veterans and their families are the constants that have defined this organisation for more than a century, and will do so into the future.
I believe that institutions which endure do so not because they preserve every tradition unchanged, but because they remain faithful to their purpose.
The RSL I see today remains grounded in remembrance, but is increasingly focused on supporting veterans and families in contemporary ways: through wellbeing programs, mental health support, veteran transition and community connection.
That evolution is not a departure from the RSL's values. It is an expression of them.
At its heart, the RSL has always been about looking after those who serve and those who love them.
The true strength of this organisation is not found in governance structures or strategic plans.
It is found in the people who quietly give their time, as welfare officers, advocates and sub-branch leaders, in service to others, day after day.
I have met many of those people during my term, and what they share is not just dedication to the RSL, but a deep sense of obligation to one another, as well as an understanding that the bonds forged through service do not end when service does.
I trust the RSL will continue leaning into an agile, veteran-first mentality as it conducts its important work in our community.
Friends,
I thank the State branch for organising today’s conference and AGM, as it does each year, and for bringing everyone together.
The State Branch is here to support sub branches with any of their needs, and I encourage you to make the most of this.
At the national level, it’s worth reflecting on the significant influence wielded by the RSL.
As a federated body, this system brings its own challenges, which at times may feel like restrictions.
It can also provide a united voice, 150,000 members strong. This is a powerful asset in terms of advancing your goals.
As I conclude my term as Governor and as your Patron, I do so with gratitude and with faith in your future.
I wish the RSL SA NT Broken Hill all the very best.