RSL Armidale NSW

12/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FrJ3BDra7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

IT’S TIME TO STAND UP FOR VICTORIA BARRACKS SYDNEY!

For 178 years, generations of Australian servicemen and women have served at Victoria Barracks Sydney – the spiritual home of the Australian Army in New South Wales.

Today, Australian Defence Force personnel are still serving there.

But the Commonwealth Government plans to sell it.

Once it’s sold, it’s gone for good.

We cannot recreate 178 years of military history. And at a time of growing global uncertainty, we should not surrender a secure, strategically located and still-operational Defence base on the doorstep of Australia’s largest city.

Those currently serving at Victoria Barracks cannot publicly campaign against the Government’s decision. But veterans can. RSL members can. And the Australian community can.

RSL NSW President Vince Williams, CSC (Retd.) is calling on veterans, their families, and communities across NSW to make their voices heard.

Help us send Canberra a message!

SHARE this post.
TAG your Federal MP and Senators.
ASK THEM: "Will you stand with veterans and help ?"

And we’re calling on our political leaders and those responsible for Defence, veterans and the communities surrounding Victoria Barracks Sydney to listen:
Anthony Albanese
Australian Government
Defence Australia
Australian Army
Richard Marles MP
Peter Khalil
David Harris MP
Allegra Spender
Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs
NSW Office for Veterans Affairs
City of Sydney
Woollahra Council
Forces Command - Australian Army

Opposition to the sale is growing across political lines. We particularly welcome NSW Premier Chris Minns’ support for keeping Victoria Barracks Sydney in public hands and maintaining its operational Defence use.

This is bigger than politics!

It is about protecting an irreplaceable part of Australia's military heritage, preserving a strategically important Defence asset and ensuring future generations don't look back and ask why we allowed it to be sold.

We have one opportunity to save Victoria Barracks Sydney.

Share this post.
Tag your Federal MP.
Make your voice heard.

Find out more about RSL NSW’s ‘Save Victoria Barracks Sydney’ Campaign: https://rslnsw.org.au/save-victoria-barracks-sydney/



RSL Australia

06/10/2026

Lest We Forget

It is with great sadness Defence can confirm the death of Australian Army soldier Corporal Brendan Hannam during a training exercise at the Mount Bundey Training Area on 5 October 2026.

Corporal Hannam, a soldier from the 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, died following a single vehicle rollover accident during training. The death of one of our soldiers is a tragedy and deeply felt by the Army family and across the broader Defence community.

Five other Australian Army soldiers were injured in the accident. Two soldiers remain in hospital in Darwin in a stable condition, while three soldiers are being monitored and supported at the Robertson Barracks Health Centre.

Corporal Hannam served on Operation Highroad in Afghanistan and Operation Kudu in the United Kingdom. He was a respected soldier who was deeply valued by his unit, mates and commanders. His greatest pride was his family, whom he loved unconditionally.

Our highest priority is to support Corporal Hannam's family and all soldiers involved in this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with his partner, children, family, mates and colleagues as they grieve his loss.

28/09/2026

Lest We Forget

VALE 2800246 Pte Ian Barnden passed away on Saturday 26/9/2026.
Ian was called up for National Service early 1970’s. Underwent 3 months basic training in 3rd recruit training battalion, Singleton. He was later deployed to the ordnance corp based at Bandyanna Army camp near the Hume Weir.
He has been a valued member of our sub branch, alway willing to participate in our activities.
He will be sadly missed by his friends in the Nasho’s at our activities and lunches.
Rest in Peace our dear friend.
Lest We Forget
We Will Never Forget.

27/09/2026

President Andrew St-John Brown with our secretary golden retriever “Calei”, who keeping us company at the Markets

27/09/2026

Great to see Tina Rimpici call in today and support the Armidale Sub Branch stall

26/09/2026

We set up for Armidale “Markets in the Mall” this morning , call by and say hello

22/09/2026

Big thank you to Regional Australia Bank for their generous donation of $9512.07 to the Armidale RSL Sub Branch
This was made possible by their
Community Partnership Program

This wonderful contribution will make a genuine difference to our local branch, helping us continue to provide meaningful support, assistance and connection to veterans and their families within Armidale/New England community.

13/09/2026

Can You Help , Looking for Relatives of
SAPPER JOSEPH REGINALD GOARD

The medals and memorabilia of Sapper Joseph Reginald GOARD, a WW1 soldier, have been passed to the RSL Armidale Sub-branch. We would like to see them go to a family member or, failing that, preserved in a way that honours Joseph’s service and bravery.

Joseph GOARD was a miner, born in 1878 in New Zealand. He lived with his father James in Waihi ( a gold mining town) on the North Island of New Zealand. Joseph married Charlotte Isabel GREENWOOD in 1904 and all three (James, Charlotte and Joseph) were together on the 1908 electoral roll for Ohinemuri NZ.

In 1914, Joseph enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Broken Hill NSW and was sent overseas as a Sapper serving in a tunnelling company. He was wounded at Gallipoli and returned to Australia for discharge.

In July 1917, Joseph reenlisted in the AIF and was sent to France, arriving March 1918. He later became ill probably as a consequence of his earlier wounding, and was repatriated via England. Joseph then lived in Broken Hill and was a close friend of John ERRINGTON who passed on his memorabilia. Joseph died in 1923 and is buried in Broken Hill.

We have not found a record of Joseph and Charlotte divorcing, nor of any children of Joseph. A Mrs Charlotte Petersen contacted the Army in April 1917 asking about Joseph which suggests that Charlotte may have remarried. A photo of Sapper Joseph Regonald Goard is attached.

We hope that this story may reach one of Joseph’s or Charlotte’s family members who could help us.