Change of Leadership for RSL

Cohuna/Leitchville RSL Sub-Branch has a new president and vice president. Trevor Powis has taken on the presidency after Geoff Dale decided not to seek re-election at the sub-branch’s AGM held last week.

President for nine years, Geoff was the sub-branch’s first non-service (affiliate) member to hold the position and more recently held it alongside fellow affiliates, Kathy Easton as secretary and Joy Crellin as treasurer. Geoff is proud to have been the driving force behind the mural and overseen the development of the memorial park.

The incoming president and vice-president are both ex-servicemen; Trevor Powis served in the army, and vice-president Brian Roberts in the Air Force for 44 years.

“I plan to learn a lot, being put in this position,” said Trevor. “I’ve chosen to take it on and I would hope to build it. There are a couple of ideas for new members floating around, so we’ll try and get a little bit more known in the public to build our membership, and to keep the interest with social functions.”

Brian said they aim to maintain and build on their membership of close to 100, and will be focussing on organising Anzac Day and other commemorations throughout the year.

Report from Cohuna/Leitchville Sub-Branch:

President Geoff Dale welcomed 18 members to our Annual Meeting held on Thursday, February 15 and after reading his report, stood down and did not seek re-election for 2024. John Brown took the chair and Vice President Trevor Powis was duly elected as incoming president with Brian Roberts accepting the role of Vice President. Kathy Easton and Joy Crellin were elected again as Secretary and Treasurer for the coming year. The February Ordinary meeting followed.

President’s Report (abridged):

It has been an honour to represent the Cohuna/Leitchville RSL Sub-Branch for the past nine years. To my knowledge, I am the first non-service (affiliate) member to hold the position of president of our branch. With our secretary and treasurer also affiliate members, it is important that our and other sub-branches reach out to include affiliate membership and engage with the community in recruiting new members.  

I thank all the past secretaries I have worked with and have helped guide me through my role as president. My thanks to Secretary Kathy and Treasurer Joy, together with Ross and Glennis Bateman as Appeals Officers for their time and commitment to their roles.

Lastly, my thanks to everyone involved in our organisation who has maintained such a high level of enthusiasm in the activities of our Sub-Branch, officials and informal.

Geoff Dale.