Rsl leaders visit sub-branches as local volunteers confront a changing future
On a Thursday afternoon in Lakes Entrance, rsl representatives sat down with state leaders, local committee members and volunteers to talk through what is working, what is slipping away and what needs protecting next. The meeting was part of a two-day visit across East Gippsland that put the organisation’s grassroots reality under a sharper light.
Why did the rsl visit matter to local members?
The visit, coordinated by Shadow Minister for Veterans Tim Bull, brought together Victoria’s RSL state president Mark Schröffel, chief executive officer Sue Cattermole, Lakes Entrance RSL president Peter Tunnage, secretary Rob Ferguson and manager Jay Merino. It was designed to give state leadership direct contact with sub-branches, volunteers and members across the region.
Over two days, the delegation travelled through Heyfield, Maffra, Sale, Stratford and Briagolong before continuing to Bairnsdale, Paynesville and Metung. The tour ended in Lakes Entrance, where local representatives raised the practical realities facing smaller clubs.
Mr Bull said the value of the visit was in the conversation itself. He said it gave the president and chief executive officer a chance to meet the people behind the scenes, hear their issues and outline their plans.
What challenges are smaller sub-branches facing?
For Mr Schröffel, the clearest theme was declining membership in smaller towns. He described it as a demographic challenge linked to an ageing population, with membership not being replaced at the same rate. That concern echoed through the discussions as state leaders heard from committees trying to keep local branches active and relevant.
The issue is not only about numbers. It is also about continuity, volunteer energy and the role the sub-branch plays in a town. When membership falls, the pressure spreads: fewer people are available to organise events, maintain traditions and carry everyday responsibilities. In places where a branch is a social anchor, the loss is felt beyond the organisation itself.
Mr Schröffel said the meetings were intended to help state leadership understand how to support individual sub-branches. He said the aim was to gather feedback from both large and small clubs, respect local heritage and connections, and avoid dictating solutions from above.
That approach matters because the experience of each branch is different. Some have broader membership bases, while others are trying to hold together with a shrinking volunteer pool. The visit suggested that the same policy response will not fit every town.
What support is being discussed for local branches?
The leadership team said support needs to go where it is needed most, with each sub-branch treated as a distinct case. Mr Schröffel said the organisation wants to improve communication across the RSL and make sure members feel heard. He also said the visit showed strong enthusiasm for the organisation, with members keen to stay involved despite the pressure on numbers.
Mr Bull framed the visit as an opportunity for the state leaders to listen first and lead second. That sequence mattered in the meetings with committees and volunteers, where practical needs and local knowledge took priority over broad statements. The message from the region was clear: support is welcome, but it has to fit the town.
What does this say about the rsl’s wider future?
The East Gippsland tour points to a larger question facing the rsl: how to keep local branches viable when demographics are shifting. The organisation’s strength has long depended on local commitment, but the visit showed that commitment now has to be matched with careful support, especially in smaller places where membership is harder to rebuild.
At Lakes Entrance, the meeting ended where it began — with people around a table trying to make sure the branch remains useful, connected and local. The rsl leaders left with feedback, but also with a reminder that in many towns the future will depend on whether the next generation steps forward fast enough to keep the doors open.
Image alt: rsl leaders visit sub-branches during an East Gippsland tour focused on membership, volunteers and local support
