VIETNAM VETERANS DAY

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1 Serendipity Spring newsletter 2018 SEE PAGE 6 FOR MEMBERS DEALS VIETNAM VETERANS DAY For the first time ever, a march for Vietnam Veterans Day was conducted on Saturday 18th August led by the Royal Australian Navy band in Cowes. As the cenotaph area is still under construction, the route commenced from the IGA carpark en route to the Garden of Remembrance at the Phillip Island RSL. Over 100 people attended, with many veterans from the RAN Communications branch who were staying on Phillip Island for their annual reunion. The service was officiated by Vice President Chris Thompson. STOP PRESS! Jess Feather has been appointed as the General Manager of Phillip Island RSL. Jess was the GM at Morwell Bowls Club for the last 10 years and has been in the hospitality industry throughout his career. We welcome Jess to the RSL and to the Phillip Island community. Jess resides in Wonthaggi and has a young family. He looks forward to meeting you soon. INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Phillip Island Bridge to Recovery Program 2 RSL Active & Stop Press - New General Manager Farmers' Drought Appeal, Raffle ticket sellers needed 3 & Legacy Week Membership Renewal & Members Promotions 4 Don't be a sucker & School Holiday activities 5 Members Discounts & Armistice Living Tribute 6 Memorabilia update & Remembrance Day 7 Islander's Day Club & Vale 8 Veteran & Community Services, Nursing mums & Library 9 Men's Shed 10 Diary and other dates 11 RSL photos 12 1

2 The Phillip Island Bridge to Recovery program Phillip Island RSL is proud to support a new initiative to Phillip Island, based on the highly successful Robe to Recovery program in South Australia. This program is a respite program for veterans, their partners and families on as needs basis referred by veteran support organisation, Soldier On. Local businesses are encouraged to offer complimentary accommodation, meals, activities, produce or even a cuppa generally in the quiet and off season tourist periods. Recent visitors are Duncan Raith and Zheng Zhang pictured here with Joanne Dixon from Phillip Island Apartments. RSL Active RSL Active is a program offered by RSL Victoria providing a range of activities for the younger veteran community in order to create and develop social networks, enhance support circles and improve mental and physical health outcomes. In April this year, PIRSL hosted its first Phillip Island camp where six young veterans experienced a lot of what the Island offers from surfing, bike riding, go karting, penguin viewing and even collecting eggs on a farm. PIRSL is pleased to announce that due to its success, another program is scheduled for December. If members know of young veterans who may benefit from this type of activity, are encouraged to apply on line at: rslactivepicamp.eventbrite.com.au Member survey have your say! We value your feedback and invite you to complete our survey. The results assist us with our budget planning process that occurs later in Ten members will win $50 worth of RSL Rewards points as a special thank you. Fill out the survey at: or printed versions are available in the Bistro. 2

3 A BIG Thank you! Thank you members and their guests for supporting our recent fundraising campaigns to help our stricken farmers across Australia. 1. Via CUB s Let It Pour promotion where we invited you to contribute towards the fund with each pot of beer purchased over August. As a result, we raised $ which has since been donated to Rotary Australia World Community Service for the 2018 Drought Relief Fund for Australian Farmers. 2. Via Parma for a Farmer campaign PIRSL contributed $2 for every special parma sold on a Wednesday during August plus $1 for every other parma sold throughout August plus $1 on each lemon meringue pie sold on National Lemon Meringue Pie Day. As a result, a grand sum of $1845 was raised which has since been donated to Rural Aid's Buy a Bale for a farmer. 3. The Committee recently agreed to donate the proceeds of Friday night Raffle to the Farmers Drought appeal. This was done to support the farmers but also to support the staff initiative of Parmas for Farmers. That night s raffle raised around $630 for the farmers. Raffle ticket sellers needed. Would you like to help our veterans and service personnel? Do you have a couple of spare hours to give? Friday Night Raffle ticket sellers are needed. Sellers are rostered to help out just once every 5 weeks for 2 1/2 hours. All raffle proceeds are spent on RSL Veteran Support programs. Contact the PIRSL Secretary, Michael Curwood on for more information or to sign up. In recognition of our war widows, PIRSL presented each with a $20 venue voucher and signature pen. Val Rainer, President, was thrilled saying our ladies really appreciate the support given by the Phillip Island RSL. This voucher will be put towards a special occasion for many of our ladies. Legacy Week September 2-8 3

4 Join or renew your lapsed membership in September & October and receive... That s $15 on your RSL Rewards card. (valid until 31st Dec 2018) TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY who aren t already members about these amazing prizes. Currently, we are offering $15 worth of RSL Rewards points on new memberships or those renewing their lapsed 2018 memberships (until 31st October). So no more excuses! Swipe your card at the Member's booth for a chance to win! 4

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