RSL AUSTRALIAN FORCES OVERSEAS FUND
NSW DIVISION
In 2009, RSL AFOF provided parcels to all serving members of the Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police posted overseas. Christmas parcels were sent to Afghanistan, Butterworth, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Palua, Paua New Guinea, Philippines, Sinai, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Western Samoa. The parcels contained all Australian products, including fruit cake, plum pudding, peanut butter, vegemite, potato chips, strawberry jam, sultanas, Jaffa’s, minties, fruit bonbons, canned peaches, soap, toothpaste, shortbread biscuits, envelopes, writing paper and RSL newsletters.
More recently HMA ships Toowoomba & Warramunga on Operation Slipper were provided with physical fitness gear, sports uniforms, and Satellite TV services for 2FH deployed to MEAO and Patrol Boats on Operation Resolute with hardcover Navy-significant non-fiction books for onboard retention. This will be extended to cover HMAS Stuart and Parramatta who are next in line for Operation Slipper. In late 2009 a visit was conducted to East Timor by the NSW State Commissioner and one of the RSL AFOF Trustee’s to provide recreational equipment such as kayaks, life jackets, paddles, push bikes, gym equipment, electronic entertainment equipment, dart boards and darts and fishing gear for use by our serving forces stationed in East Timor.
Again in 2009, we saw volunteers from RSL State Branch, RSL sub-Branches and Civilians from the Defence Department and the Department of Veteran Affairs joining with serving members of the Deployed Forces Support Unit (39th Battalion) at Randwick Barracks in NSW to pack over 3000 parcels for shipment overseas under the direction of Mr Derek Robson, the RSL AFOF Executive Commissioner. These Parcels are now packed twice a year for dispatch Mid-year and Christmas so as to ensure all serving members of the Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police posted overseas benefit from the service provided by RSL AFOF.
It should be noted that it is essential for the Fund to keep sufficient finances on hand, so that in the event of a sudden requirement, RSL AFOF can act immediately in support of our forces.
To achieve this we receive regular support from the RSL community and thank all sub-Branches, Women’s Auxiliary’s and others for their generous donations totalling $39,806.75. Those donors are listed below:
| Avalon Beach RSL sub-Branch | $1,000.00 |
| Balgowlah – Seaforth –Clontarf RSL sub-Branch | $10,000.00 |
| Bondi Junction – Waverley RSL sub-Branch | $1,000.00 |
| Campsie RSL sub-Branch | $1,500.00 |
| Canterbury –Hurlstone Park RSL Women’s Auxiliary | $1,000.00 |
| CCWA (Yamba RSL Women’s Auxiliary) | $200.00 |
| Chester Hill – Carramar RSL sub-Branch | $1,000.00 |
| City of Blacktown RSL Club Ltd | $893.75 |
| City of Blacktown RSL sub-Branch | $3,000.00 |
| City of Lismore RSL Women’s Auxiliary | $1,000.00 |
| Clovelly RSL sub-Branch | $200.00 |
| Cronulla RSL sub-Branch | $500.00 |
| Far North Coast Area Group Women’s Auxiliary | $400.00 |
| Forestville RSL sub-Branch | $2,000.00 |
| Pottsville Beach RSL Women’s Auxiliary | $500.00 |
| RSL War Vets (Narrabeen) RSL sub-Branch | $1,000.00 |
| Yamba RSL Women’s Auxiliary | $1,200.00 |
| Mrs Margaret M Haynes | 20.00 |
| Woonona Bulli RSL Women’s Auxiliary | $1,000.00 |
We are also most grateful for the significant $12,393.00 donation received from the United Returned Soldiers Fund through the sale of the badges on ANZAC Day.
We would like to acknowledge the fine effort and support provided by Mr John Cannings our Honorary Solicitor for his council, Miss Annette Mulliner, Honorary Treasurer, Mr Barry Lloyd, Chartered Accountant, Honorary Auditor and Mr Don Rowe, State President of The Returned and Services League of Australia (New South Wales Branch) and State Commissioner of RSL Australian Forces Overseas Fund (NSW Division).
Please click here for photos of the visit to East Timor.
