Birchip RSL Sub-Branch

22/05/2026

📣 Birchip RSL now has an insta profile 🥳 follow at birchiprsl Constructive feedback welcome 🤗

12/05/2026

NO MEDALS REQUIRED ON THE DAY
Storyboards are for reference only, actual boards will be unveiled on the day 🤩

17/04/2026

With Anzac Day next weekend, have a look at this amazing story of the McCredden brothers. When the call to serve came in 1914 nine sons volunteered for service, five were formally attested into the Australian Imperial Force. Three would never return home.
https://www.birchip.vic.au/mccredden-brothers

17/04/2026

Birchip RSL working bee prior to Anzac Day, this Sunday 2.00pm at the RSL hall. Bring brooms, shovels etc.
MEMBERSHIPS NOW DUE, see Judy at the Hardware Store

09/04/2026

Anzac Day
Meet at Birchip Town Hall at 10.15am to leave for the Birchip Nursing Home remembrance service.
Fall in at cenotaph at 10.45am; commemoration begins at 11.00am
Guest speaker followed by drinks & nibbles at Birchip RSL Hall.
Lawn Bowls from 1.30pm afternoon tea available, bring a plate to share.
Memberships are now due!

04/03/2026

22/02/2026

16/02/2026

“Chin up, girls, I’m proud of you, and I love you all.” These were the final words of Matron Irene Drummond on 16 February 1942, moments before 22 Australian nurses were marched into the sea and Japanese soldiers opened fire on them.

This atrocity, known as the Bangka Island Massacre, followed the bombing of the SS Vyner Brooke. There were 65 nurses on board fleeing the Fall of Singapore, treating wounded servicemen and civilians when it was bombed.

Many drowned at sea under aerial fire; the survivors who washed ashore were forced to surrender. Despite the horror, one nurse, Vivian Bullwinkel, miraculously survived to tell their story.

Their bravery is currently being honoured in the stage production 21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke. After seeing it in Canberra last year, we highly recommend catching it on its national tour. More information can be found here: https://www.rslaustralia.org/latest-news/21-hearts-vivian-bullwinkel-and-the-nurses-of-the-vyner-brooke

Today, we honour the women who served others until the very end. Lest we forget.

15/02/2026

Today is National Servicemen's Day, when we honour the young Australian men who served in the National Service Schemes, known as 'Nashos'.

Over 280,000 young men were called up for national service between 1951 and 1972 with the last Nashos discharged in 1974.

Nashos served in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

More than 200 died on active service overseas, and others died while serving in Australia.

Although many young men were proud to serve their country in uniform, national service came at a personal cost for all Nashos, irrespective of the nature and location of their service. They didn’t choose to serve – but when Australia called, they answered.

Today we honour all those who answered the call.

Please join us to commemorate their service by watching the broadcast of the national commemorative service at 11.00 AEDT on ABC or live stream the Last Post Ceremony at 4.30pm AEDT (https://www.youtube.com/c/awmlastpost)