Women's Auxillary

Only nine women attended the first meeting in 1949 which was held in the Brisbane Water District Club and chaired by the sub-
branch President, Mr Errol Hickey. By the November meeting of that year, the auxiliary had already grown in size and could boast a bank balance of twenty pounds thanks to a donation from the sub-branch. The women who founded the auxiliary were totally dedicated to the work of the RSL The first President, Mrs Ivy Keevers held the position for over thirty years and eventually received an Order of Australia Medal in 1987 for her dedication and service to the RSL. The auxiliary tackled their first activity at a New Years Eve function in 1949 and raised a princely sum of thirteen pounds twelve shillings.

Today, the women's auxiliary continues to be a totally dedicated group of people headed by President Nancy McDonough and Secretary
Bonnie Egan with the able assistance of Karlien Biddolph. They are the primary fund raising arm of the sub-branch, having provided in excess of $60,000.00 for use by the sub-branch over the last five years. These ladies run street stalls: manage the sale of badges for Anzac Day and Poppies for Remembrance Day in support of the United Returned Soldiers Fund and present their now famous reviews for Christmas in July and the Auxiliary Birthday luncheon.

The sub-branch is honoured to be associated with them.

RSL NSW Women’s Auxiliaries Poppy Day Appeal

A Commemoration Service and Launch of the RSL NSW Women’s Auxiliaries Poppy Appeal took place at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney on Friday, 1st November 2013 at 10.45am.

The Deputy Commissioner for Veterans’ Affairs, Ms Jennifer Collins, officially opened the Launch. The Women’s Auxiliary will be seeking donations for poppies leading up to Remembrance Day to raise funds for welfare work carried out by the DefenceCare and RSL sub-Branches.

The State President of the RSL (NSW Branch), Mr Don Rowe said, “Our women’s auxiliaries do a wonderful job in raising funds to help those in need. Therefore, I ask for your support in helping them to raise much needed funds by purchasing a poppy and wearing it with pride.”