Julia Banks (Chisholm, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Anzac spirit exemplified by our service men and women on the beaches at Gallipoli, on Flanders fields, in the Pacific, in Vietnam and in other conflicts continues to shine with the very special people at Box Hill RSL in Chisholm. I recently had the great honour to join former Deputy Prime Minister and Vietnam veteran the Hon. Tim Fischer and the Vietnam Veterans' Association at the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Coral-Balmoral. Many of the committee at the Box Hill RSL are Vietnam veterans, and it was fantastic to celebrate the promotion of five members to life membership. They were John Haward, president of the sub-branch for 14 years; Brian Tateson, vice-president of the sub-branch; Rod Burgess, secretary of the sub-branch for 10 years; Jerry Walbridge, committee member of the sub-branch for 14 years, and Vic Gallen, who is also a dedicated member of the sub-branch. My sincere congratulations to these five outstanding men, who have dedicated so much of their lives to service and memory.

The Box Hill RSL plays an essential role in our local community, as was evidenced at this year's Anzac Day Dawn Service, which I attended along with hundreds of people from the Chisolm community. Thank you to all at the Box Hill RSL and to the Vietnam veterans for their tireless work and service to the local community and to our country.

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