Alyssa Fritzlaff
MORWELL RSL will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary this Saturday from 5.30pm.
The Morwell sub-branch was originally chartered on January 1, 1922.
However the first mention of the branch forming was in the Morwell Advertiser in May 1919 where therewas an advertisement for a meeting about forming a branch.
Seventeen people attended the first meeting, and hence the Morwell RSL sub-branch was created.
This weekend’s celebratory Centenary Dinner will have guests hear from many people, including guest speaker Graham Burgess.
Mr Burgess will speak about the Morwell RSL’s history.
Mr Burgess is a life member of the RSL, and is currently working on a project compiling the records of men and women from the Morwell Shire who enlisted in WWI. He served in Vietnam, where he prepared maps for troops on combat operations.
State RSL president Dr Robert Webster will also be in attendance and will present the RSL with it’s 100 year certificate.
The evening will be opened by RSL treasurer and Master of Ceremonies Bill Hall and president Wayne Hutchinson.
Guests will enjoy a main course and desert, and a showing of a slide show presentation featuring Morwell RSL’s history and past and present RSL members.
About 135 members of the RSL will be in attendance.
Mr Hutchinson said its a “privilege” to be the president of the RSL at this time in its history, and credited the work of those that came before him to is continued success.
“It’s a big job, there’s a lot of work, and a lot has gone into it before me,” he said.
