Holbrook RSL Sub-Branch

17/10/2026

Meet our Poppy seller from Shepparton RSL Sub-Branch, Betty, McInnes. Betty is 94 and has been volunteering since 2002 for both the Poppy and ANZAC appeal, and has been on the Shepparton RSL Sub-Branch welfare commitee for many years.

"My husband, Ron, served in WW2 and later passed away from war related incidents. I also have uncles who served in WW2. Selling badges in the Poppy Appeal has been one way of helping returning service members. It has been very rewarding for me to help in some small way."

If you're in the Shepparton area, help our veterans and their families get the support they need by buying a poppy from Betty and other Sheparton RSL Sub-Branch volunteers.

For more than a century, RSL Victoria has been supporting veterans and their families by connecting them with essential resources and assistance, including access to healthcare, housing, food vouchers, welfare services, wellbeing programs, general financial support and much more

Every poppy purchased helps ensure veterans can access the support they need, when they need it most. You can donate here: https://poppyappeal.com.au/

This Poppy Appeal, buy a poppy to remember our veterans.

11/10/2026

Holbrook RSL sub branch will unveil a plaque commemorating Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) service on Saturday 24th October 2026, at the Holbrook Cenotaph.

The Commemorative Service will commence at 11.00am.

Not only will the service be a commemoration of those who served, but also a celebration and appreciation of the families and friends who supported our service men and women, during what was the longest armed conflict in Australia's history, in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Although 41 soldiers died in combat in Afghanistan, more than this number died by su***de upon their return home and many more were affected by high rates of trauma and PTSD. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Su***de exposed deep systemic failures and these failures continue to affect our veterans and their families to this day.

The effects of this conflict on those who served and the families who supported them is very relevant given that our current generations were exposed continuously to the events by our ever-present media and social media. Many veterans of this conflict live in the Greater Hume Shire. On this day we remember those Veterans and their families.

23/09/2026

23/09/2026

Who's up for Pickleball? Sponsored by Howlong RSL Sub Branch. Register, and let the Holbrook Secretary know, and perhaps we can organise car pooling.

22/09/2026

Our President presented Barnaby Joyce MP, with a submarine.

22/09/2026

Our stall at the Henty Field Days, along with RSL Lifecare and Pro Patria.

17/09/2026

Pop in and see us at the Henty Field Days.

Our team are proud to announce that we have been invited to the 2026 Henty Machinery Field Days between the 22nd-24th of September 2026! This amazing opportunity is brought to us by the Holbrook RSL sub-branch who have kindly invited the Riverina Hub to collaborate with them.

This opportunity will provide our team a chance to reach even more veterans and their families to create a meaningful impact. If you or someone you know will be attending the Field Days, pop over and say hi to our team at Site 350.

Please note the Hub will still remain operational during this time.

Holbrook RSL Sub-Branch | RSL NSW | RSL LifeCare Veteran Services | RSL LifeCare

13/09/2026

September 14 marks the loss of the submarine, HMAS AE1, in 1914.

HMAS AE1 was the first submarine operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the first Allied submarine lost during World War I. Commissioned in London in February 1914, the advanced E-class vessel arrived in Sydney just months before the outbreak of global war. Along with her sister ship, AE2, she represented a significant technological leap for the young nation's naval forces.

In September 1914, AE1 joined the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force tasked with capturing German New Guinea. On 14 September 1914, while patrolling off Cape Gazelle, New Britain, alongside the destroyer HMAS Parramatta, the submarine mysteriously disappeared. Thirty-five brave officers and crew members were tragically lost. It became one of Australia’s most enduring maritime mysteries, as no wreckage, oil slicks, or bodies were ever found at the time

After 103 years of searching, the final resting place of HMAS AE1 was discovered in December 2017. An expedition successfully located the historic wreck off the coast of the Duke of York Islands, lying over 300 metres below the surface. Inspection of the hull suggested the tragedy was caused by a fatal diving accident rather than enemy action, finally bringing closure to the descendants of her pioneering crew.

Because the Royal Australian Navy was brand new at the time, its vessels were manned by a composite crew. The official breakdown of the crew's national backgrounds included:

18 British personnel: This included all three Royal Navy (RN) officers and 15 RN ratings.

16 Australian personnel: Members belonging to the newly formed Royal Australian Navy (RAN). (Note: Of these 16 RAN crewmen, six were originally born in the British Isles but had officially transferred to the Australian service).

1 New Zealander: Able Seaman John "Rosy" Reardon.

The Holbrook RSL Sub Branch is communicating with the Submarines Association Australia, Submariners Association (UK), and the Royal New Zealand Navy, with view to the construction of a memorial in the Submarine Park, to honour those lost.

Lest We Forget.

28/08/2026

On 18 August, we commemorated Vietnam Veterans' Day on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.

We remembered the sacrifices of those who died and say thank you to almost 60,000 Australians who served during the 10 years of our involvement in the Vietnam War. 523 Australians lost their lives in this conflict, with 2400 wounded.

It was with great honour and pride that our Vice President, Doug Spokes performed the duty of flag orderly at this service. The photograph is Doug upon his return to Australia in 1967.