Serendipity - Phillip Island RSL · 2016. 9. 24. · Vietnam veterans from left, Ken Anderson, Garry Parker, Tom Mallaghan and Bill Noble were among those in attendance. Lest we forget

and beverages as well as a huge range of prizes throughout the year to the value of $210,000.

Members also earn RSL Rewards points which can be put towards meals, beverages or even paying membership renewals.Member support is vital in order for us to provide the broad array of welfare services to our Service members, their families and other members of the local community.

Serendipity Spring newsletter 2016

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Battle of Long Tan 2RSL Management Team visit

Member Benefits 3Father's Day winners

What's coming up 4 - 5Further ahead

Dairy dates & Islander's 6Day Club

5000 poppies 7 - 8

Welfare news 9

Mens's Shed 10

We need you 11

Holiday fun with Joey 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Three year Memberships NOW AVAILABLEKeep an eye out in your emails from RSL Victoria or your mail from us throughout November for your annual renewal of membership. This year, for the first time we are offering a three year membership as follows:

One year membership Three year membership

Service/Affiliate $25 Service/Affiliate $60

Social $30 Social $75

This is also the time to advise our Membership Officer of any change of address, phone number or email address so you can receive current information and promotional opportunities at your RSL.Phillip Island RSL members receive everyday discounts on food

In order for us to continue to be a multi award winning venue, we seek your feedback through our annual patron survey.We value your input and over the years have made many improvements as a result of the feedback such as daily senior’s specials, more activities for children, more gluten free meal options and more chances to win prizes from the RSL Rewards booth.

Have your say - annual patron survey out now

There are 10 chances to win 10,000 points so don’t delay,

jump on line at: www.phillipislandrsl.com.au

click on the link on our home page and tell us what

you think.

If you don’t have a computer at home, there will be hard copies available at the venue.

WHAT’S THAT I HEAR? YOU’RE NOT GETTING OUR MARKETING NOTIFICATIONS? Let us know so we can activate your access to receiving our SMS and email promotions

Phillip Island RSL hosted a small commemorative service on Sunday 14th August in the Garden of Remembrance to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan’s 50th anniversary. Vietnam veterans from left, Ken Anderson, Garry Parker, Tom Mallaghan and Bill Noble were among those in attendance.

Lest we forget – Battle of Long Tan


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Phillip Island RSL was very proud to host the annual Combined Forum and Dinner late August with over 100 delegates attending.

Delegates enjoyed the opportunity to explore what the Island had to offer, experience the penguins and play some golf prior to the dinner function in the ANZAC Room. A major highlight of the evening was the announcement of the August RSL

Rewards member competition – a shiny, bright red Indian Scout motorcycle – won by a lucky member from Warrnambool RSL.

The State President, Major General David McLachlan and CEO, Brigadier Michael Annett, who recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, and both from ANZAC House, took time out of their busy schedules to attend two day conference.

Pictured here is from left to right – ANZAC House executive – Clint Brewster, Brian Cairns – Chief Operations Officer, Major General David McLachlan, Luke Gillholm and General Manager, Phillip Island RSL, George Szeitli.

Victorian RSL management teams visit Phillip Island.

OCTOBERAn additional 10% PLUS the current discount of 10% totalling 20% all up

NOVEMBERAn additional 15% PLUS the current discount of 10% totalling 25% all up

SERVICE MEMBERS EAT FREE – lunch from Senior’s Menu each Thursday

DECEMBERAn additional 40% PLUS the current discount of 10% totalling 50% all up until 19th December

RSL BOOTH PRIZESKeep swiping for your chance to win a variety of free stuff and buy one get one free offers

WEDNESDAY'S FAMILY PARMA DAY$13 for adults and $6 for children Our famous chicken parmas Special toppings only $2 extra

10 LUCKY MEMBERS WILL WIN 5,000 POINTS EACH DAY IN OCTOBERKeep your eyes peeled for the announcement of rslrewards.com.au being launched in November.December RSL promo - 24 days of Christmas giving members the chance to win a different prize each month.

Forthcoming Member Benefits


Congratulations to:Lillian Heflingers and Ian Vinen (pictured) who took home a huge CUB eski full of imbibement.

Congratulations to: our first Footy Fever winners: John MonkJohn Cassidy (pictured)

Gabrielle ForsythMax Opitz Rob JoinerEdith Stewart (pictured is her hubby Des with staff Zac)

Joel GoodallJackie Beverley who each won a Nutri Ninja Slim.

Father's Day winners

Monday member meal deals:

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Every Wednesday morning from 10.00am during school terms, Children’s room in the Lone Pine Bistro, co-ordinated by Dr. Rebecca Overeem. Enjoy a cuppa and cake for $5 and a fun playgroup session with your tot – different activity each week – it’s fun and it’s special time out with mum/parent/guardian and child.

FREE PLAYGROUP

ALL WELCOME


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What’s coming up

2nd to 9th OctoberPhillip Island RSL treats seniors for Seniors Week with a FREE DESSERT (Gluten free or sugar free) when a senior’s main is purchased at lunch times Monday to Friday (3-7 Oct) Not valid with any other offer.

SERVICE MEMBERSkeep your eyes peeled for our annual Veterans survey aimed to keep us informed on your general health and wellbeing so that we can assist in co ordinating services to improve or add to your quality of life.

Wednesday night trivia7.30pm first Wednesday of each month. 5th October - 2nd November in the ANZAC Room FREE FOR MEMBERS – a fun night to exercise the grey matter and win prizes.

From 12.30pm to 2.30pm – free kids activities on the deck. Book the family in for lunch on the deck and obtain a token from the bistro. Numbers are limited so book in today.

30th OctoberHalloween theme

27th NovemberChristmas theme

FREE ACTIVITIES ALL WELCOME

Friday 11th November at 11am – Cowes Cenotaph You are welcome to join the President and Committee at the RSL for light refreshments in the ANZAC Room afterwards.

Remembrance Day

Melbourne Cup DayNEW FORMAT THIS YEAR, where meals will be available all day from 11am to 5pm from a special Melbourne Cup menu of tappas, sliders and share platters to be enjoyed anywhere within the venue. Our Public Holiday Lone Pine Bistro menu will apply for dinner.

BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

SEATS ARE LIMITEDPhone Welfare Co-ordinator – Andrew on 5952 1004 during business hours

OCTOBERTuesday 25th

A Tribute to Frank Sinatra by Davey d.

NOVEMBERTuesday 29th

Christmas Show starring Issi Dye

Morning Melodies


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Further ahead

NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS MUSEUM25 Veterans Drive, Newhaven (behind the Helipad)ph: 03 5956 6400www.vietnamvetsmuseum.org

UNSUNG STORIES: A Special Exhibition

October 2016, Australia Post honours Vietnam veterans with a series of stamps and collectors’ products created with the support of NVVM to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

NVVM is proud to present an exhibition of the original documents and artifacts behind these products.

Unsung Stories features the little-known story of Private John Densley and his mother Christina, flown by the Australian Government to her son’s bedside in Saigon when a sniper’s bullets nrealy took his life, and the tragic tale of Private Errol Noack; controversially, the first conscript soldier to die.

In Vietnam, 1966, a small group of Australian soldiers battled their way into the history books at Long Tan.Theirs is not the only remarkable story of bravery from that year.

This Special Exhibition will be on display from

Wednesday 19 October, 2016 until 30 April 2017Normal entry fee applies.


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2016 Calendar3rd October Indoor bowls and corn in the hole

10th October Guest speaker

17th October Day trip to the Casino – buffet lunch leaving at 9am

24th October BYO baby pic or wedding pic for a guessing comp

31st October 10th birthday party at the Senior Citz – hats, dress up,sweeps

7th November AGM followed by games and trivia

14th November Christmas craft

21st November Day trip to Dame Nellie Melba’s home “Coombs” plus lunch

28th November Last Christmas craft, trading table sales

5th December Ten pin bowling

12th December Christmas break up lunch at the RSL

Islander's Day ClubIslander's Day Club meets at 10am most Monday’s at the ANZAC Room

Diary dates: www.visitphillipisland.com.au21st to 23rd October Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix

22nd October Churchill Island Farmers Market

29th October Newhaven Primary School Fete

29th October Vic State Circuit Racing Championships

12th November Bass Coast Cycle Challenge & Festival

18th November Phillip Island Jazz Festival

25th to 27th November Shearwater Festival

26th November Churchill Island Farmers Market

10th December Cowes Night Market 5pm to 9pm

16th December San Remo Celebrates Christmas

20th December Cowes Community Christmas Celebration

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT - Bill Simondson - 59525401 BH


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It all started with an RSL poppy

And…it all started with a poppy of the woollen kind

A member’s story from Denis Cordingly

A member’s story from Marg Knight

Denis Cordingly very kindly shared his story from a recent visit to France and Europe earlier this year. The trip was on his “bucket list” and was also a sentimental journey to travel to a land where his granddad fought and represented his country.

Arthur Edward Cordingly was born in 1879 in Bendigo. At the age of 36, he enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in 1915, departing Melbourne in February 1916 on board HMAS Warilda after joining the 23rd Battalion AIF bound for France. According to the war records, Arthur suffered badly with oedema feet (swollen ankles and feet) before being admitted into hospital after

a long time marching across France. It’s recorded that he also caught mumps, pneumonia and paratyphoid.So much illness in 18 months and sadly, 17th December 1917 was reported as killed in action in Ballycourt, his body never recovered.

“The battle field is immense, literally thousands of acres, rolling hills, monuments, tombstones but so green, right on the coast” recalled Denis. “I had carried an RSL poppy since ANZAC Day Dawn service, here in Cowes right across the world and placed it at Villers Bretenoux, with a sense of fulfilling an obligation on behalf of my family – this being 100 years this year”

5000 POPPIES Community Textile Art ProjectWhen my sister-in-law, Lynn Berry and I began our project in 2013 little did we know what we had taken on. It has been an honour and privilege for us to collect over 250,000 handmade poppies sent from around the globe to create this tribute of respect and remembrance for those who serve their countries in wartime.

Continue over >

We have had many poppies contributed from Phillip Island and when we needed more on stems for the design planned for London a group of dedicated volunteers from the Phillip Island Patchworkers and the ladies from the Phillip Island RSL Islander’s Dayclub enthusiastically took on the task of making 1,000 of them.Lynn and I feel proud to have been able to take it to the world stage, in conjunction with Phillip Johnson, by displaying it in the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital in London during the renowned Chelsea Flower show in May. It is a powerful and emotional display and we have shed many tears when reading the dedications submitted with contributors’ poppies.

We have just returned from the Western Front in Fromelles, France where we had a smaller but extremely poignant display of the stemmed poppies at Cobbers Memorial Park between Pheasant

Wood Cemetery and VC Corner to mark the 100-year anniversary of the battle where the 5th Australian Division suffered 5,533 casualties.

My personal experience of the project has been extremely rewarding. I have worked with a my extremely talented sister-in-law, Lynn Berry who I have nicknamed Super Woman, and a wonderful dedicated group of volunteers without whom we could not have pulled this massive community art project together; many friendships have been formed and lots of local community groups cemented by having this project to focus on.

The Chelsea Pensioners, whose backyard we took over to do our installation in London, were incredibly welcoming and I loved hearing the stories they told of their lives at the Chelsea Hospital. It still brings a tear to my eye when I remember their piper coming down the red carpet in the centre of our display playing Waltzing Matilda as their thanks to us for what we were doing.

I am also still feeling overwhelmed by the public response to the display in London and without the photos to prove it I would not believe I had the privilege to meet so many VIPs on the opening day including people such as Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall, Demi Moore, Wilbur Smith, a couple of the Bond Girls, Theresa May (then Home Secretary and now Prime Minister of Britain) and of course many members of the Royal Family including Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, Prince

William and his beautiful wife Kate Middleton. The absolute pinnacle though was the incredible honour of meeting Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.


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We are hoping that the poppies will be on display in many venues between now and the end of 2018 when there will be a final large installation of them at the War Memorial in Canberra on November 11 to mark the 100-year anniversary of the end of WWI.

If you would like to follow our story, please check our

blog https://5000poppies.wordpress.com/.-Marg Knight.

We have always seen the project as a fibre art installation, firstly as a personal tribute to our fathers and then as a community art project. The ability for anyone to contribute their poppy has made this very accessible for the community to pay respect in a personal way.

Morning Melodies program August’s Morning Melodies entertainer was Glenn Starr, performing songs from the 50’s and 60’s. It was a complete sell out and true to form, Glenn wowed the crowd and made a very special day for one lucky patron – Marg Brooks – who not only dedicated a song to her but joined her for lunch after the show!

Friday night raffle Thank you to the all the committee members and RSL sporting club volunteers for their time on Friday nights. All the money raised on Friday nights goes towards Welfare; this would not be possible without the continued efforts of a few dedicated individuals.

Legacy Week 2016 Legacy Week 2016 occurred late in August. In an effort to show our gratitude towards the Legacy Ladies, the RSL offered a complimentary 3 course senior’s menu meal voucher for all the Legacy Lady members. These were presented to the ladies at their meeting on Monday 5th September.

Ongoing veteran assistance Welfare has been working with about half a dozen members who have required additional assistance. Time allocated to these individuals can vary from 10 minutes to 3 hours, sometimes on a daily basis. Without the assistance of Bass Coast Health and DVA, the ongoing health and wellbeing of these members would be in question.

Transport programThe Transport program now boasts two new vehicles – Holden Cruise Wagons...This program is for veterans and their immediate family; Service and Affiliate members only. Please understand that this program is entirely supported by volunteer drivers so we can’t always promise transport as required. A minimum of two weeks’ notice is preferable.

Community grantsWe were very happy to receive a healthy number of community grant applications at the recent Grant round. Applications are invited each year in July to August from local not for profit clubs or associations that are endorsed by the ATO for both charity tax concession and deductible gift recipient status. Successful applicants are advised in September with funding provided in November.

Bass Coast Veterans and Dependants Centre60 Graham Street, Wonthaggi(5672 4483)

Phillip Island RSL has stepped in financially with a grant of $2200 to support this much needed service.

The Centre missed out on grant funding and possibly faced closure. This valuable resource in the Bass Coast region assists with pension cases, Vietnam Veterans, Peacekeeper and Peacemaker luncheons, hosts DVA Outreach visits, offers urgent financial assistance to veterans in need as well as moral support to local veterans.

Welfare news


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Sadly, August saw the passing of Life Member Peter Langeweg. Peter was a Service member and a past committee member of the Phillip Island RSL.

We also mourned the passing of Arthur Farrelly, another Service Member of our club.

We have been in contact with several different aged health care departments of late (as well as DVA pension workers and Veteran assistance workers).

This ongoing relationship has made it easier to assist our older Service members.

This month we hosted a DVA outreach day. We had 3 Service members meet with DVA, only 2 of the 3 were Service members over the age of 80. All of our over 80’s service members had been informed about the day.

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED FOR LIGHT GARDENING DUTIES

Contact Welfare BH on 5952 1004

Please advise Administration of your voluntary hours – this information is not only required by our RSL but by ANZAC

House, to ensure that we are meeting our charity classification.

URGENT MESSAGETO OUR VOLUNTEERS

Phillip Island RSL Community Men’s Shed


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The current active membership remains at twenty five. Members of the RSL and the general public are invited to attend and join in the activities of the Shed which is open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9.00 am to noon.

The Shed recently lost one of the newest members, Michael Bowe. Michael passed away unexpectedly on 24th August 2016. Michael first started attending the Shed late in March 2016.

He immediately became one of the most regular attendees at the Shed, and also attended all fourteen sessions conducted for the year 5 & 6 primary School students from Cowes and Newhaven College. Michael had much to offer the Shed, he will be sadly missed.

Members of the Shed recently manufactured fifty small wooden toys for inclusion in Samaritian purse boxes. These boxes are sent to Third World countries for distribution to children.

Since the opening of the Shed six years ago, members of the community have used the skills of the Shed to restore/repair furniture. This activity continues and is a win for both parties, the community members receive their furniture back looking as it once did and the Shed members receive satisfaction from completing the job.

The planned extension of the Shed has reached another stage i.e. the building permit has been granted. The gathering of quotations from contractors has commenced and it anticipated that commencement of construction is not far off.

With the winter now past and the expected summer weather to be with us soon, the return of those members who have traveled to warmer locations, it is anticipated the number of members attending the Men’s Shed sessions will increase.

CONTACT DETAILS:Terry Heffernan. 0438 808 428 [email protected] the PIRSL - 5952 6955


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We need you!If you have a few hours to spare weekly or monthly or whatever you can spare.

We need volunteers to assist with: Drivers for our transport program

Home maintenance

Gardening

Visiting socially isolated members

Visiting unwell members at home or in hospital

Skills and/or interested in creating and co-ordinating new RSL internal groups – knitting, basic photography,

walking club, book club

Please contact Welfare Co-ordinatorAndrew Tolley: 03 5952 1004 (BH) or: [email protected]


September School Holidays with Joey from Joey’s Kids Club

Joey meets Joey Connell (in blue) and family from Pakenham, Avonsleigh, Cardinia

Sophi Georgia Ava Bailey Godden from Pakenham

Joey invades the kitchen and meets chefs – Daman Singh and Head Chef, Neil Douglas

Alecia Dragwidge with grandparents from Coronet Bay

Lillian Heflingers

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Documents

Serendipity - Phillip Island RSL · 2016. 9. 24. · Vietnam veterans from left, Ken Anderson, Garry Parker, Tom Mallaghan and Bill Noble were among those in attendance. Lest we forget