IN JULY 1946 the Nambucca Heads RSL Women’s Auxiliary held its first meeting and was mostly made up of wives and relatives of those who had served in the first World War.

Fast forward to 2022 and the Auxiliary, one of the district’s oldest not-for-profit organisations, is still in existence but unless they get some new members their future is not certain.

Over the years the Nambucca Heads RSL Women’s Auxiliary has raised money for the RSL sub-Branch to provide assistance for veterans when needed, particularly when urgent and immediate help is required.

Over the last 76 years other areas of the community, including the aged care sector, have benefited from funds raised by the Auxiliary.

Unfortunately the lack of new people joining and the ageing of existing members has resulted in the Auxiliary putting a call out to the public for locals to step forward and join them.

News Of The Area spoke to the Coordinator of the Nambucca Heads RSL Women’s Auxiliary, Mrs Catherine Henderson, who said, “We desperately need some members of the community to come and join us so this wonderful local institution can continue into the future and our sub Branch will have the funds to help veterans in need.

“You do not need to be from an ex-service family, just someone who wants to support our veterans and despite being named the Women’s Auxiliary, men may also join us.”

Treasurer of the Nambucca Heads RSL sub-Branch, Mr John Kent OAM, said, “With the number of veterans in the community on the rise, particularly since the end of Australian military involvement in Afghanistan the Auxiliary is still very much needed.”

The Nambucca Heads RSL Women’s Auxiliary runs Monday morning Bingo at the Nambucca Heads RSL Club as their primary means of raising funds in support of veterans as well as three major raffles throughout the year.

Catherine Henderson concludes, “Running the bingo is often great fun but we really need more members to help.”

If giving back to the community through supporting veterans is something you would like to do then consider joining the Nambucca Heads RSL Women’s Auxiliary, you can call Catherine Henderson on 02 6568 7710 or come down to see the team during bingo at the Nambucca Heads RSL Club at 10:00 am each Monday morning.

 

By Mick BIRTLES