RELATED CONTENT: Batemans Bay Anzac Day 2016
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The stalwarts who step up each year to manage increasingly large Anzac Day ceremonies are appealing for reinforcements.
After bumper Anzac Day turnouts throughout the Eurobodalla, organisers are already thinking about next year – and hoping younger volunteers will come forward.
RSL sub-branch leaders in Batemans Bay and Moruya know their committees can’t keep going forever.
Batemans Bay sub-branch President Brian Wheeler said a quick look at the officials on Monday at the Honour Stone said it all.
“You only have to look at the people on the podium, at their features; they are not young features,” he said.
“We are getting older and we need replacements.”
A core group of nine members, with an average age of 71, ensures the Bay Dawn Service and mid-morning ceremonies go ahead.
“If one of us drops off the perch, that is a big hole,” Mr Wheeler said.
“We need them (volunteers) now so they can step into the breach; they (will) have the tradition behind them. We need feet on the ground.”
Moruya RSL Sub-Branch president Harold Barkley said the Moruya Sub-Branch was having similar difficulty.
“It is very hard to get people involved, and hard to get members to go to meetings,” Mr Barkely said.
“A lot of our chaps, because of their medical conditions, feel like they have had enough.”
Mr Wheeler said as enlistment in the Australian Defence Force declined, so too did the recruitment to RSL sub-branches.
However, he knew of 187 returned service people who were members of the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, but not of the sub-branch.
Secretary Les Arnould said anyone who had a relative who was in the ADF could join as an affiliate member and others could volunteer as honorary members.
For details ring the Moruya Memorial Hall on 4474 3513 or the Batemans Bay RSL Sub-branch on 4472 9141.