RSL Queensland State Congress Opening Ceremony

RSL Queensland State President, Major General Stephen Day DSC AM and the Board of Directors; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Robert Skoda; Australian Army Chaplain, the Reverend Dr Peter Devenish-Meares; RSL Queensland members and staff; distinguished guests.

I too, begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here this morning.

Graeme and I are delighted to be here with you on this important occasion: the Opening Ceremony of the RSL Queensland State Congress. Congratulations to all involved in the convening of the Congress and to the many, many delegates from all over the State.  

As Joint Patrons of RSL Queensland, we are proud of the enduring care that members continue to provide to veterans and their families. Your role is crucial, and we commend you for your efforts.

The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) is a national network with great awareness of the necessity to serve the needs of our defence communities who have, in turn, served and sacrificed for our country in numerous ways.

RSL Queensland has a mission ‘to provide care, commemoration and camaraderie to enable veterans and their families to live with dignity and respect’.

It is gratifying and uplifting to see not only the intent of your strategic plan outlined in the ‘2030 Strategy on a Page’ document but also the progress you have made to reach some of those goals already. Congratulations on your foresight and dedication to this enterprise.   

Australia owes much to its Defence Force members; in the eyes of many, there is no greater civic role to play.

In this role, our defence personnel become part of something bigger than themselves, and stronger than their individual contributions; they become members of a family which will look after them during and after their ‘noble hearted endeavours’. As those of you in this room are more than aware, it is no easy task to serve one’s country and emerge unscathed.

To all the Congress organisers and delegates, please take our best wishes with you as you set about reflecting upon what has been achieved thus far in your quest to support and enable returned service men and women and their families to live satisfying lives, and to look ahead to the accomplishment of those objectives and goals still to be realised.

Your efforts are vital to the dignified and respectful transition to civilian life for so many defence community members, and you have the gratitude of our State and nation.

With pleasure, I now declare this 2024 RSL Queensland State Congress officially open.