RSL Sub Branch’s 100th celebration

“It is an honour and privilege to be the president of the sub branch in this, the centenary year of the Corowa RSL Sub-Branch,” Mr Magill, who has been president since 2012, told The Free Press. 

“The role of the NSW RSL is to promote the interests and welfare of former and current members of the Australian Defence Force and their dependants. The Corowa RSL Sub-Branch role is to support the veterans and dependants of Corowa and surrounding areas. 

“I would like to acknowledge the past members of the sub branch who have so tirelessly worked on behalf of the sub-branch in supporting all veterans of the RSL in the Corowa community and also thank the community for their support to enable the sub branch to achieve this aim.

“I say a big thank you to Lorraine Hammett and her committee for their monumental effort to ensure that this celebration is a success.

“We have invited a large number of guests, including the Local Federal and State members of Parliament, President of the State Branch of NSW RSL, Guest of Honour Maj Gen Shane Caughy AC CSC Ret, who was born and bred in Corowa, and representatives of past Corowa RSL Sub-Branch presidents.”

Whilst there is no official record of the actual date as to when the Corowa Returned Soldiers Association (R.S.A.) was formed, extracts from The Free Press in Corowa in 1918, 1919 and 1920 are most interesting and show there was an R.S.A. in Corowa as early as June 1919 with Mr J. Dunn as President.

There were other local organisations active in the Corowa district which supported the Returned Soldiers and fighting men prior to the formation of Corowa’s R.S.A. in 1919. These included Corowa and District Returned Wounded Soldiers Fund, Corowa Red Cross (formed in 1914), Dads Association and Local Repatriation Committee (formed in 1918).

The Corowa and District Local Repatriation Committee was formed at a public meeting held in the Literary Institute (Rex Theatre) in Sanger Street Corowa on May 29 1918, which had been called by the Mayor of Corowa, Alderman W.H.Parkin and the President of the Coreen Shire.

Sub committees were appointed for each district and a committee of seven (J.P. Galbraith, T. J.Kelly, J. Chivell, P.K.Ritchie, J. Leahy, J.D.Fraser and W.H.Parkin) elected as a Reception Committee to welcome home all returned soldiers. 

At a large meeting in June 1918, an executive committee of five (three Coreen Shire - E.B.Bott, H.A.Hay, C.Howard;  two Corowa Municipality - A.A.Piggin, F.J.Sammons) were elected.

Corowa’s R.S.L. Sub-Branch history began with the First World War 1914-1918. By May 1919, 325 sub-branches existed throughout Australia. The name changed to Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia then to Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia.

The active Soldiers Club Fund received good public support. But it was not until the sub-branch started a Club Building Fund and Committee in 1944 and the establishment in 1945 of the R.S.L. Ladies Auxiliary – as well as the Mayor calling for support at a public meeting in 1945 - that the purchase of land and buildings in Queen Street Corowa by the Sub-Branch committee was made possible; the Corowa RSL Club commenced.

The Corowa Women’s Auxiliary was formed in 1945 following a well-attended meeting in the Corowa Council Chambers. 

Mrs Marjorie Allen, wife of the RSL Sub-Branch President P.A. Allen, was the inaugural president. Meetings were held in the offices of Messrs J.D.Fraser & Son.

The auxiliary’s main revenue came from catering for many special events including weddings, Lodge installations, Diggers Day, Field Day, Balls, Children’s Christmas Parties, Sub-Branch meeting suppers and re-union dinners.

Among its many special catering functions of yesteryear, the Corowa Women’s Auxiliary catered in a concrete floored pavilion in the town’s showgrounds (now the Corowa High School) for the NSW Governor Sir John Northcott after he officially opened the Corowa RSL Club on Anzac Day, April 25, 1953.  

In 1971 the R.S.L presented foundation member Mrs Lilian Parkin with a Certificate of Merit - the highest individual award – for her outstanding service which included being secretary for four years and president for 35 years, retiring in 1987. Mrs Peg Hanrahan OAM became president and retired after 22 years.

After two name changes, the name ‘The Returned Services League of Australia’ applied to the RSL Corowa Sub-Branch on October 29, 1965.

After assisting hundreds of returned men, the Corowa and District Local Repatriation Committee finally closed on March 31, 1969.

Since the erection, and Dedication of the Corowa Soldiers Memorial on September 1922, Anzac Day, April 25 and Remembrance Day, November 11 have always been of special significance in Corowa to the RSL Sub-Branch and to the general public, with particular emphasis on the Anzac Day March, which, since 1972, also included the Vietnam Veterans and in more recent times, the Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

A Military Catafalque Party from Bandiana participates at our ANZAC Day ceremony each year at the Wahgunyah and Corowa Memorials.  

The bugle calls, sounding of Last Post and playing of Reveille always form a solemn and moving part of Anzac Day and other RSL Funerals and functions Special acknowledgment is made buglers Cliff Broderick (over 50 years) and Joanne Howell for the last 20-plus years. 

The Diggers who have passed on are always remembered and, since 1951, short Remembrance Ceremony (laying of a wreath, reciting the ODE, sounding of the Last Post and playing of Reveille) has been conducted at the local cemeteries.  

The first Anzac Day Dawn Service was held on April 25, 1959. The short service is one of silence, and deep reverence and memories.

For the past 13 years, the 11.00am service with the big march, the ANZAC Day Memorial Service has been conducted by the school captains of Corowa High School (under the supervision of the RSL Corowa Sub-Branch) and the address is given by the student who won the school debating competition. Numerous organisations, including students from all local schools, lay wreaths at the Memorials.

The history of the Corowa RSL Sub-Branch from 1919 to 1989 was compiled by R.S.Jackson who was RSL Sub-Branch President from 1961 to 1965, 1967 to 1968, 1977 to 1978 and from 1982 to 1985; made a Life Member in 1965. 

“Bob Jackson has shown a great deal of dedication to the ex-servicemen and women; his research demonstrates the work of the R.S.L,” State Councillor Far South West District Harold Fife commented about Mr Jackson in his message for the 70-year-history book.

Two more paragraphs in that foreword are pertinent to the Corowa RSL Sub-Branch. “The history of the Corowa R.S.L. is a fitting tribute to the men and women who returned and have carried on from the unforgettable days of service to their country, to the humane task of helping the less fortunate to overcome the scars of battle.

“We salute you Corowa, for preserving a history of your RSL Sub-Branch and the men and women who have made it.”