News | Returned & Services League of Australia Wagga Wagga sub-Branch

New Paragraph

NEWS AND EVENTS

2025 Commemorative Services in Wagga Wagga

Get Involved!!

We encourage members to call in to the sub-Branch and find ways to contribute that suit your skills, abilities and schedules. More hands are always needed for ANZAC Day and other commemorative services, we could use more members trained to use our Public Address system, and we always need more members to assist us in the wellbeing space. We hope to see you at the sub-Branch!

REGULAR EVENTS

Sub-Branch Monthly Meeting - Second Wednesday Night Each Month

Held in the Mirage Room of the RSL Club at 7.00 pm, have your say in the operations and activities of the sub-Branch, keep up to date with sub-Branch events, followed by drinks upstairs.

BBQ Lunch Second Wednesday Each Month

The sub-Branch BBQ lunches are popular and are attended by members and local current serving personnel. We ask that RSVPs are submitted the prior Monday to 02 6921 3528 or admin@waggarslsubbranch.com.au

Informal Friday Food Nights

For those who can’t attend the Wednesday BBQ lunches, Friday evenings following our monthly BBQs will see the sub-Branch host an informal Snacks N Chats gathering at the Wagga RSL Club. RSVPs preferred.

2025 UPDATES

ANZAC Day Services Guide 2025

The 2025 ANZAC Day services in Wagga Wagga involve the following commemorations and community events:

Dawn Service
War Cemetery Service
Gunfire Breakfast
ANZAC Day March and Commemorative Service
ANZAC Day Lunch
ANZAC Day Sunset Service

ANZAC Day is one of the most important commemorations in Australia. It honors and delivers recognition to those who currently serve, those who previously served, and significantly, those who sacrificed their lives in conflicts. ANZAC Day is a meaningful opportunity for people to come together and show support for individuals who served for our nation.

It was first established at the end of World War I, to commemorate those who landed in Gallipoli 110 years ago. More recently, it has evolved into a service to acknowledge all who served.

This ANZAC Day, we encourage our local community to come together to show unity and gratitude, to embrace the ANZAC Spirit, with mateship, courage, determination and resourcefulness.

Let's stand together, honor the past, and carry forward a legacy of courage and community. That's the ANZAC Spirit.

Transport Assistance for

ANZAC Day

We can provide transport from your home to Baylis Street to participate in ANZAC Day commemorations.

If you need transport, please reach out to the Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch to organise your transport requirements.

Please contact us via:

Phone: (02) 6921 3528

Email: admin@waggarslsubbranch.com.au

Visit the sub-Branch at: 26 Dobbs Street, Wagga Wagga

Please contact the sub-Branch by 2.00 pm Friday 18 April 2025 if you require our assistance with transport to ANZAC Day commemorations.

The RANCH Poppy Project

Dear Members,

The RANCH Poppy Project is underway again, this time in recognition of ANZAC Day.

The RANCH Poppy Project involves crocheting poppies out of red wool to donate to the RAAF, Army and Navy Community House (The RANCH), located at the RAAF Base Wagga.

If you wish to assist us and crochet poppies for this project, please come down to the Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch at 26 Dobbs Street Wagga to collect the resources which includes wool and needles and are free of charge.

The Wagga RSL sub-Branch and The RANCH look forward to seeing your artistic contributions!

2025 ANZAC Day Luncheon

ANZAC Day Luncheon tickets are now available to purchase. The Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch is selling tickets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.00 am to 11.00 am. Please call us on (02) 6921 3528 or visit the sub-Branch at 26 Dobbs Street, Wagga Wagga.

The ANZAC Day Luncheon will commence at 12.00 noon Friday 25 April 2025 (ANZAC Day 2025), downstairs at the Wagga RSL Club, on the corner of Dobbs and Kincaid Streets.

Ticket Prices for the ANZAC Day Luncheon include:

Sub-Branch Members and partners: $15
ADF Members and partners: $20
Non-Members: $25
Children 5-15: $10
Children under 5: free

Please call the sub-Branch before 12 noon Wednesday 16 April 2025 to book your tickets!

Volunteers Required for ANZAC

Day

The Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch will be selling poppies for ANZAC Day from Saturday 19 April 2025 until Thursday 24 April 2025.

If you would like to help us with this initiative, please reach out to the Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch via (02) 6921 3528 or by visiting 26 Dobbs Street, Wagga Wagga.

This year, we will be selling poppies at:

Bunnings
Kooringal
Marketplace
South City
Sturt Mall

Free Hearing Check for Veterans

RSL NSW has partnered with Hearing Australia to ensure local Veterans have access to free, quality, hearing checks. This initiative has been designed to prevent hearing loss in the local Veteran community, and operates via a Hearing Australia bus.

Hearing Australia strongly recommends that Veterans access hearing checks every three years after the age of 50. This is due to an increased risk of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or hearing loss due to exposure to a high level of noise when serving.

To book your free hearing check, please call 134 432 or click here.

PAST EVENTS

Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch 2024 Newsletters

Please find below the Newsletters from the Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch for March 2024 and September 2024.

March 2024 Newsletter

September 2024 Newsletter

2024 Remembrance Day Commemorative Service

On Monday 11 November 2024, the Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch held a Remembrance Day Commemorative Service at the Cenotaph in the Victory Memorial Gardens. There were approximately 180 people at this moving service, demonstrating the importance of this occasion to the local community.

We were privileged to have Major General Stephen Jobson AM CSC as the keynote speaker at the Commemorative Service. We wish to thank Major General Stephen Jobson AM CSC, the Forest Hill RAAF Base, 1RTB Kapooka and the Australian Army Band Kapooka for their attendance and strong support.

Following the service, the Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch and the Riverina Veteran and Family Hub held light refreshments for guests who attended the commemorative service.

Please view photos from the Remembrance Day Commemorative Service here.

2024 Post 1975 Conflicts Commemorative Service

On Tuesday 22 October 2024, the Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch held the 2024 Post 1975 Conflicts Commemorative Service.

The service was to pay honour and respect to all Servicemen and Servicewomen who were involved in global conflicts and peacekeeping missions since 1975.

The Keynote Address was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Damien Morse, the Chief of Staff at the 1st Recruit Training Battalion (1RTB) Kapooka. We wish to thank LTCOL Morse, 1RTB Kapooka and RAAF Base Forest Hill for supporting the service.

Many community members attended the commemorative service. The Wagga Wagga RSL sub-Branch wishes to thank those who attended to acknowledge the service.

Please see photos from the commemorative service.

2024 Korea Veterans Day Commemorative Service

At 11.00 am on Saturday 27 July 2024, the Korea Veterans Day commemorative service was held in the Council Meeting Room at the Wagga Wagga City Council building.

The service was well attended and the Keynote Address was given by Major David Adams. The Charge d’Affaires of the Republic of Korea, Mr Joyoung Jeon, presented the Ambassador for Peace medal to Veterans of the Korean War from Wagga Wagga and Narrandera.

The Veterans who received the Ambassador for Peace medals (in alphabetical order) were Maskell Burke, Harry Edmonds, the Late Alan Evans (accepted by Mrs Nancye Evans), Harold Menzies (accepted by John Sullivan and passed to Harold in Narrandera following the commemorative service) and John Sullivan.

The venue for the commemorative service was changed from the Korean Memorial in the Victory Memorial Gardens to the Council Meeting Room at the Wagga City Council building, due to an inclement weather forecast.

Left to right: Colonel Kim, Veteran John Sullivan, Charge' d'affaires Mr Joyoung Jeon, Veteran Harry Edmonds, Veteran Maskell Burke, Mrs Nancye Evans.

2024 Inaugural Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO)

Commemorative Service

The inaugural Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) Commemorative Service was held by the Wagga RSL sub-Branch at 11.00 am on Thursday 11 July 2024 at the Cenotaph in the Wagga Wagga Victory Memorial Gardens.

The MEAO service honoured the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who served in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Australia’s longest military engagement, from 2001 to 2021, the MEAO holds great importance.

We were honoured to have Major Jennifer White as the Keynote Speaker at the MEAO Commemorative Service. She delivered a moving speech and it was a privilege to have her participate.

See below the photos from the MEAO Commemorative Service of Major White (R) presenting her speech and Wayne Lennon (L) delivering The Ode.