Remembrance Day a time to reflect

The significance of Remembrance Day is increasing with each passing year, according to Bray Park/Strathpine RSL Sub Branch President Greg Searle.

Greg, who served as a maintenance engineer in the Royal Australian Airforce, says while World War I hostilities ended more than a century ago, pausing to remember those killed during the conflict remains relevant, with today’s Defence Force personnel suffering many of the same afflictions as those who returned from battle in 1918.

“Remembrance Day means more than just the activities on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month in 1918,” Greg says.

“It means more and more now because there are more than just victims who lost their lives, there are men who came home with life-long illnesses and injuries and their families suffered too.

“There are personnel who served in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Timor who have psychological injuries from seeing what happens when IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) go off, from seeing their mates die, or suffer horrendous injuries.

“For a young guy in their 20s or 30s, they’re memories they can’t forget.”

Serving the community

Greg, who’s been the president at Bray Park/Strathpine RSL Sub Branch for almost three years, says the role is a privilege, with the branch serving 500 Department of Veterans’ Affairs clients and about 200 members.

Already this year they have farewelled 10 members, holding special poppy ceremonies to honour their mates and placing memorial plaques in the wall of the memorial that stands at the front of Club Pine Rivers at Bray Park.

“I need a bit of quiet time after the poppy services are over,” Greg says, “they really play on your emotions saying goodbye to a fellow veteran and seeing how it affects their families.”

He says many people are not aware of the extent of the RSL’s service to the community.

Working with schools

“We look after 20 schools and visit on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day and present awards for those who represent the spirit of the ANZACs. We do the same for Air Cadets and Army Cadets.

“We hold fundraisers for the schools’ special programs and build memorials for them where possible.

“We also help veterans’ children with funding for things like school fees and laptops.”

Members also check in on each other and on the day we meet, Greg’s on his way to give a man a lift home from hospital.

“I’ve never met him before, but his wife’s in a wheelchair and can’t drive and this is just what we do,” he says.

Mates for life

Greg joined the RAAF as 16-year-old engineering apprentice straight out of school.

“I stayed for 20 years and had a great time - I was very fortunate that I was in operational squadrons all the time.

“I was in Canberra on the helicopter fleet in Richmond working on Caribous and Dakotas, at Williamtown and at Amberley working as a maintenance planner for F 1-11s.

“I’ve got Defence mates I’ve had since I was 16 and I’ve just turned 70. Many of our wives are still friends after more than 40 years knowing each other. It truly is mates for life.”

On Remembrance Day, he says he’ll share tears, laughs and memories with fellow RSL members, and reflect on the service and sacrifice of those no longer with us.

Caring for Veterans

“As a community, we’ve been very slow to learn the lessons of war.

“In World War I … it was just called shell shock when a Veteran returned with psychological injuries.

“It wasn’t until we got to Vietnam that we started to learn that the psychological injuries were just as damaging as the physical ones and the families have to live with that forever.

“Upon their return home they brought with them the horrible atrocities of war in their minds and their bodies.

“We have a high percentage of younger veterans carrying psychological injuries - they’re taught how to be a soldier, sailor or airman but they’re not taught how to be a civilian, meaning fitting back into mainstream community is a struggle for many veterans.

“For many young Veterans, when they get over there (a conflict zone) and they see someone injured or deceased, that’s when the fun goes out of it.

“They have trouble dealing with it and they bring that memory home - we help teach them coping mechanisms, and encourage them to participate in the numerous RSL Sub Branch activities, a mainstay of our cultural pillars of Care-Commemoration and Camaraderie.

Welcome with open arms

“The number one concern above everything else is our people.

“When someone new comes through the door, we make them feel like they’re a long-lost brother.”

Visit remembertoremember.com.au for a full list of Remembrance Day services.