Association of Returned Sailors and Soldiers Clubs
(now The Australian Legion of Ex-Service Clubs)
Association of Returned Sailors and Soldiers Clubs
(now The Australian Legion of Ex-Service Clubs)
The association was formed on 31st July, 1919 with the following objectives – entertainment of the large number of veterans in hospital, hospital visitations, the supply of ‘Christmas Cheer’ (including a chicken, something special in those days, and a Christmas pudding), and the provision of clothing to the dependents of those who had served.
In January, 1929, the association changed its name to ‘The Australian Legion of Ex-Service Clubs’.
There were many veterans in hospitals and in 1925, the association established a Hospital Entertainment Fund which enabled presents to be given to all patients at Christmas time.
There were many veterans in hospitals and in 1925, the association established a Hospital Entertainment Fund which enabled presents to be given to all patients at Christmas time.
The post-war and the ‘Depression’ years were hard times; employment was difficult to find and in 1931, the government reduced war pensions. As a result, the help given with food and clothing was very significant. It was an incident at the Cenotaph involving members of the Legion of Ex-Service Clubs that gave birth to the Sydney Anzac Day Dawn Service on Anzac Day 1927.
To ensure the continuance of the tradition, the Australian Legion of Ex-Service Clubs, whose representatives were aging, obtained the assistance of National Servicemen's Association NSW Branch, and in 2000, formed a new body The Anzac Day Dawn Service Trust Inc.
Executive committee of the ANZAC Day Dawn Service Trust:
President: LTCOL Jim Sinclair RFD Australian Intelligence Corps Association - NSW
Vice President: Ms Pam Hansen, Harbord Diggers
Secretary: MAJGEN Paul Irving AM PSM RFD (Ret'd), Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (NSW)
Treasurer: Mr Marc Higgins, The Gallipoli Memorial Club
Convenor: Dr Darren Mitchell OAM, Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (NSW)
Members of the ANZAC Day Dawn Service Trust:
- Australian Intelligence Corps Association (NSW)
- Cabra Vale Diggers Club
- Harbord Diggers
- Lakemba Services Club
- Merchant Navy ASSOCIATION
- National Servicemen’s Association (NSW)
- Royal Australian Air Force Association (NSW)
- Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps Association (NSW & ACT)
- Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (NSW)
- THE GALLIPOLI MEMORIAL CLUB
- The Returned and Services League of Australia (NSW Branch)
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