Lest we forget the rest

By Shaun Inguanzo
NOBLE Park RSL hopes a wave of new members from modern conflicts such as Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor will keep the Anzac Day spirit and RSL cause alive.
The club is renowned for its support for Vietnam veterans, which is evident by the 450 who have signed up with the club.
Noble Park RSL also hosts an office for the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, which helps veterans with pension and welfare inquiries.
It is now on the lookout for service personnel from more recent conflicts who can work with Vietnam veterans to help ensure Anzac Day is never forgotten, and that the RSL is kept alive in the coming decades.
Noble Park RSL president Gordon Murray, 63, who served nine years in the Royal Australian Navy, said the club had already welcomed a handful of Australian troops who had served in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor conflicts.
Mr Murray said the future of Anzac Day and the RSL would be in their hands.
“I’ve been president of the club for nine years and we have always encouraged veterans of all conflicts to join,” he said.
“We discourage cliques. I mean it is all right to sit with your mates, but everyone has to join in for it to remain a friendly environment.”
Mr Murray said Vietnam veterans had begun to filter into the administration at many RSL sub branches.
But he warned that the RSL needed to embrace even younger service people.
“All the Vietnam veterans are getting into their 60s now, so we have got to recruit more service personnel – just anyone in a service,” Mr Murray said.
Noble Park RSL was one of few RSL sub branches that embraced Vietnam veterans after a conflict that was unpopular with many Australians at the time.
By the 1980s, the club had about 50 Vietnam veterans, and had acquired a few pension officers to help provide welfare to returned servicemen from Vietnam.
Now it has 450 Vietnam Veterans and a separate office for the Vietnam Veteran’s Association.
Noble Park RSL will hold its public Anzac service this Sunday, with people meeting at the railway station at 10.30am for a 10.45am march to Memorial Park adjacent to the club.