Vietnam veterans and Sunbury RSL members Graeme Williams and Phil Morgan honoured with life membership

THE deeds of two Vietnam veterans have been saluted, with both men receiving rare life membership honours from the RSL’s national committee.

Vietnam veterans and Sunbury RSL members Phil Morgan and Graham Williams have been honoured with RSL life membership. Picture: Rob Leeson

SUNBURY RSL sub branch members are saluting the deeds of two members honoured with life membership of the Victorian RSL.

The rare honours, approved by a national committee, were given to president Graeme Williams and treasurer Phil Morgan, who collectively have been involved in the RSL for more than 90 years.

Both men were surprised when a planned monthly dinner turned into an impromptu ceremony at the Sunbury Football Club last month.

Sunbury RSL secretary Harry Beckwith said both men had helped form the backbone of the busy sub branch, where membership rose to more than 200 members last year.

“Between them they have been driving forces fostering and mentoring members, as well as motivating them to assist badge selling,” Mr Beckwith said.

Mr Morgan, who served in Vietnam in the 4th battalion, has been involved in the RSL since 1969 and became part of the Sunbury sub branch in 1986.

“In many branches as a Vietnam veteran you’d not always be accepted and you’d get World War II veterans say ‘come back when you’ve been to a real war’, but it was never the case here,” he said.

“I really want to see more Iraq and Afghanistan veterans join as we know there are a lot out there.”

Mr Williams, who was in the Australian Survey Corps in Vietnam, said the Sunbury sub branch was a great club to be part of with a strong focus on helping veterans access welfare and pensions.

The acceptance of the wider Sunbury community for the RSL and military had also helped the branch, which is based in two rooms within the Sunbury Memorial Hall, he said.

“Anzac Day and Remembrance Day appeals are so well supported in Sunbury and on a per capita process the branch does so much better than elsewhere when we undertake our appeals,” Mr Williams said.

In the 2012 Anzac Day appeal, the branch raised more than $32,000, rising to more than $46,000 in 2015 coinciding with the centenary of Anzac ceremonies.

The total remained strong in 2016 when $38,800 was raised.

Mr Williams said Sunbury RSL members had regularly knocked back pushes to establish a commercial arm as seen elsewhere, preferring its humble room in the hall.

The pair are the only two Victorian RSL life members from Sunbury.