Good day everyone, I hope this report finds you all fit and well.

Sadly I have to report that two of our Members Passed away since the last report. Eric K Innes ex- RAAF WW11 died 14 August 2005 aged 85, with the family upset of Eric dying suddenly we were not informed of his death until this month with apologies. Eric was in fact our longest serving Member, he joined Burleigh RSL in 1966 and remained with us until his death. Keith Alexander (Curly) Forsyth ex-POW Japan 2nd AIF WW11 died 20th February 2006 aged 88 and had been a member since 1991. Curly's funeral was well attended by members of the Sub-Branch and Ex-POW Association. His mates will miss Curly. "Lest We Forget"

The February monthly general meeting was very well attended, ninety members and 2 Auxiliary Ladies attended, 92 in total, great to see so many come along and enjoy themselves on a very hot day. Sadly the Ladies could not have a meeting in February as they didn't have a quorum; the ladies must have forgotten what day it was!

The regular fourth Wednesday Social Day in February was also well attended, with forty-four Members. It is heartening to see so many coming along to enjoy the mateship and again on a hot and sticky day. Sadly the Ladies of the Auxiliary are not attending the socials; they must be leading very busy lives and don't have time.
The March Social day went very well, with fifty-two in attendances, great effort! I think everyone enjoyed himself or herself.
Keep up the good work. Just a reminder, that there will be no 4th Wednesday Social in April due to ANZAC day.

This year's first "Wednesday Movie Day" started off very slowly. February attendance was almost non-existent but we still showed the movie to the few. March was a bit better with 10 in attendance. I hope more members and their wives start attending!

The Sub-Branches 68th Annual General Meeting was a wonderful event, with one hundred and one MEMBERS and our Patron Paul Gamin in attendance, a record attendance, plus 2 visitors. The ladies of the Auxiliary joined us after their 53rd Annual General Meeting, for refreshments and BBQ, they are a small band and I would like to congratulate their new committee for another year. The Women's Auxiliary President for 2006/2007 is Mrs. Pat Welch, Secretary/Treasurer Mrs. Jeannie McKenzie and Vice President Mrs. Dulcie Humrick. The Sub-Branch would be the poorer should the ladies decide to call it a day as their numbers are struggling and are always on the look out for new members., I would like to thank the ladies most sincerely for their contribution on the day of the AGM and for their continuing contribution throughout the year!

A huge thanks goes to the cooks, Ken McNaught & Ray Coppin, the meat was cooked to perfection. Another huge thanks to the Providore, Les McKenzie and his band of merry men, Bruce Weir & Brian Williams who provide lovely cold refreshments after the meetings! The new Committee man Fundraiser Kevin Cook and his assistants Trevor Davis, I would like to thank them for their contribution on the day, which was fantastic. Allan Price Door keeper and his helper John Rapp again excelled it their duties, thank you! George Utterson committeeman, willing helper and all the other members who assisted to make the day a huge success, Thankyou!

All Sub-Branch Committee positions for 2006/07 had been nominated and those who nominated were duly elected unopposed.
Yours truly Chris Keating, C Dec, President, Bob Birch, Senior Vice President, Les McKenzie, Jnr Vice President, Ray Fellenberg, Honorary Secretary/Treasurer, Robert K Jones, Honorary Assistant Secretary/Webmaster, Allan Price, JP C dec, Doorkeeper Allan Price. The Following elected to the committee, Kevin Cook, Bruce Paterson, George Utterson, Bruce Weir and Brian Williams. Welcome aboard for another year and it looks like it's going to be another huge success and thank you for accepting your nominations. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Secretary/treasurer Barry Miller, and outgoing Committeemen Trevor Davis and Shorty Short for their invaluable contribution whilst serving on the Committee. It was a pleasure working with these three members and I wish them well in their well-deserved retirement.

The 2006/07 appointed Pension Officer for the Sub-Branch is Honorary Senior Advocate/Pension officer Neil Harcourt, OAM; Neil can be contacted on the following phone numbers Surfers Paradise RSL Veterans Office 075539 8336 Mobile 0419 641843 and or in an emergency only after hours 5576 3091 home. Neil is a very experienced Pensions Officer and should continue to give our members the very best of service in obtaining their deserved DVA entitlements. Please should you feel your pension entitlements are not up to scratch, arrange to see Neil Harcourt and get it reviewed!

I have again been appointed your Welfare Officer, should you require to contact me please phone me 0407 761663.

Again, there have been a few new members that have joined us since the last report, I would like to welcome you all to the sub-branch and hope your stay with us will be a very long one.

To all the members who had birthdays recently, and those about to have one, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you have a great day and have many more birthdays to come.

Those Members who have been on sick parade, I hope you all improve and are the mend, 100% again.

As your district councilor, I would like to report that the 7th Gold Coast district Annual Conference was held on Saturday 11th February 2006 at Beenleigh RSL Club, all current executive officers were elected unopposed. At the Saturday evening Conference dinner, Neil Harcourt was presented with an award for his untiring work for Veterans and ex-service persons; I extended the congratulations on behalf of the Burleigh RSL Sub-Branch members.

I am looking forward to representing the Burleigh Heads RSL Members as your elected Delegate at the next State Congress at Roma in June. It should be a very interesting congress and possibly one of many changes. More news to follow! I have to report that on Friday 24th March 2006, the Qld RSL State President, Mr Bill Mason resigned for personal reasons after leading the RSL in Queensland for nearly three years. Much has improved within the League in this time and I look forward to a new member talking on this very demanding responsibility! We all wish Bill well in his retirement!

Please remember this year is going to be very special, it is the 90th Anniversary of the RSL and for the first time in Queensland history, the Queensland RSL will lead the ANZAC Day March in Brisbane, with Districts and sub-Branches representatives following with banners.

ANZAC Day this year is the 91st Anniversary of the landing of ANZAC troops on the shore of Gallipoli, the 61st Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, also the 40th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in Vietnam. It's a special year all round, only one World War One Veterans left in Australia, history in the making, once they are gone there will be no one!

A huge thanks to all members that made the effort and paid their 2006 subscriptions on time, and those who paid early a wonderful effort, strength through numbers! Sadly we have lost five members that have not renewed and do not intend to renew! That is a sad state as we in this sub-branch have had 100% renewal for the last eleven years!

I will conclude with a special request for members to keep attending Monthly General Meetings, Monthly Socials, please try and attend the 1st Wednesday movie days, it would be great to have forty or fifty coming along!

Remember ANZAC Day, Tuesday 25th April, there will be notices handed out at the April general meeting, and for those who can't be at the meeting to collect one, the arrangements will be the same as last year! Look forward to a great year.

Another small reminder, the Uniting Church Burleigh Heads will be conducting an ANZAC church service on Sunday evening 23rd April 2006 at 6pm. Please try and attended, Medal to be worn if issued, Jim Watt does a great job in organizing this annual event! A few extra prayers never hurt!

Bowlers, please remember the ANZAC Bowls Carnival at the Burleigh Bowls Club to be held at the Bowls club on Saturday 22nd April 2006. Please contact the Club or Alistair McColl 5535 8273.

 

Yours in service.
Christopher Keating
President