Doreen RSL Sub-Branch

16/05/2026

Hey everyone, for those who don’t know, our Doreen RSL was formed in 2017 & we still don’t have a permanent home. We meet at the local sporting club each Friday night which both the footy club & cricket club share with us during their respective seasons. It’s not ideal, but it’s all that we have atm. The room is noisy, we can’t display any our our defence memorabilia, we don’t have a quiet space for the advocacy & crisis work we do with our veterans. The environment is not great for many of our veterans suffering with PTSD. Some Friday nights, there’s a twilight game on too which makes parking difficult. We’ve had veterans arrive, only to find there’s no close parking & the nearest parking is too far for them to walk. They’ve turned around & gone home. The sporting clubs hold the liquor licence, so we have no earning capacity to grow where we are now either.
There is an opportunity for us to have our own space. Labour have delivered on their election promise by funding $1.6M to give us a ‘fit for purpose traditional RSL’ - after consultation with council they offered us 1 choice & 1 choice only of their building known as the Brookwood Community Centre to renovate accordingly. They didn’t consult any group already using that building but hey - it’s their building I guess they can do what they like with it. But the money can only be used on that building. At the April council meeting they have come back with 4 options to us. They have proposed option B - which we have already out grown & you will see there are no refreshment sales meaning no revenue but with a $40k+ rent & a direction that we can’t watch sport on the TV’s. Only option D is viable for us. If we don’t get option D we have no choice but to walk away & lose the $1.6 M. We believe that if they get enough submissions (letters) during the current community consultations, it may be possible to swing the offer to option D for us. So we desperately need as many submissions as possible to help us. If you have the time to write a submission via the below link you could actually be the tipping point to get us across the line. Please read the below info & help us in our plight to achieve option D.
Thank you

A Notice of Intention to lease part of Brookwood Community Centre to Doreen RSL is open for community feedback from 4 May - 31 May 2026.

21/04/2026

Following the Anzac Service, join us for breakfast at the Laurimar Sporting Club rooms and bring some loose change for a game of Two Up! (no change available at bar or canteen).

It's going to be a BIG day! 3 x Senior games at home commencing from 9.40am.

20/01/2026

Pim & her husband from Aksorn Thai Doreen just loved the plaque just as much as we love their continued support & sponsorship of the Doreen RSL. Pim has already proudly displayed it on the shelves within their restaurant. 👏❤️

17/12/2025

Huge ‘thank you’ to Ash & the team from Barry Plant Doreen for their ongoing support to the Doreen RSL.

04/12/2025

‘Thank you Carla’ from YPA Doreen.
Your ongoing support is very much appreciated by our veterans & members.

Carla will display our ‘appreciation plaque’ in her reception area so members of our community knows they support us.

Plaque kindly donated by Philip Wood @ Bespoke Carvings

02/12/2025

A big ‘thank you’ to Scott from Ray White Doreen for his continued support & sponsorship to the Doreen RSL.

Ray White now has an appreciation plaque for their front desk so our community knows they support us.

Plaque kindly donated by

16/10/2025

A big ‘thank you’ to Keiren & Phil from Morrison Kleeman Doreen for their continued support & sponsorship.
They now have an appreciation plaque for their front desk so our community knows they support us.

Plaque kindly donated by

18/09/2025

The Doreen RSL was treated to a very special presentation recently.
A local veteran and artist created this amazing lead light, light box of the legendary Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean VC replicating that famous print of Teddy strapped to a 20mm cannon defending his ship mates & shooting down Japanese planes.
An amazing piece of art created specifically for the Doreen RSL by one of our local veterans - this piece will be very much treasured & proudly displayed in a prominent location within our facility when we get one.

The Artist:
LSNPC Troy Gascoine R164159
RAN
10 June 1997 - Jan 2001 Combat Systems Operator
2006-2008 - Naval Police Coxswain

‘When I was young my Father took me to the War Memorial in Canberra to see a painting of my Grandfather WO Thomas Fisk. Whilst there I remember him telling me the story of Teddy Sheean, and I was amazed and inspired by his bravery, and still am.
When I thought of making this piece for the Doreen RSL, there was no other choice. I enjoy working with Leadlight and hope this paints in a different light the actions of one of our country's bravest men.’

Edward "Teddy" Sheean, VC (28 December 1923 – 1 December 1942) was a sailor in the Royal Australian Navy during the Second World War. Born in Tasmania, Sheean was employed as a farm labourer when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in April 1941. Following training at HMAS Derwent and the Flinders Naval Depot, he was posted to Sydney, where he joined the newly commissioned corvette HMAS Armidale in June 1942. Sheean served aboard Armidale as she took part in es**rt duties along the eastern Australian coast and in New Guinea waters. In October he transferred with the ship to Darwin, where Armidale was tasked with assisting Australian operations in Timor.

On 29 November 1942, Armidaleset out for an operation to Betano, Timor, along with HMAS Castlemaine. The two ships were attacked by Japanese aircraft along the way, and were subsequently late in arriving at their destination, missing a planned rendezvous with HMAS Kuru. While returning to Darwin, the pair encountered Kurusouth of Betano and it was decided by Castlemaine's commanding officer—as the senior officer—that Armidale and Kuru should make for Betano. The two ships took different routes to Betano, during which both vessels came under aerial assault. During a subsequent confrontation with thirteen Japanese aircraft on 1 December, Armidale was struck by two torpedoes and a bomb, and began to sink; the order to abandon ship was given. After helping to free a life-raft, Sheean was wounded by two bullets. He made his way to the aft Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and began to fire on the Japanese aircraft to protect those in the water. Sheean managed to shoot down one of the Japanese bombers, but was killed when Armidale sank. Many of the survivors credited their lives to Sheean and he was posthumously mentioned in despatches, this award was later cancelled on 1 December 2020 when upgraded to the Victoria Cross for Australia.

31/08/2025

VJ Day at Coburg RSL

A large number of members from across the Vic RSL network gathered at Coburg RSL to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Japan in a 1940’s themed Black Tie cocktail party.
Doreen RSL was represented by our President Wes & his lovely wife Sheena .
Huge thanks goes out to Coburg RSL for holding the event, sharing it with many other RSL’s & acknowledging such a significant milestone in Australia’s Military History.

24/08/2025

Happy 8th Anniversary to us.

👏👏🎉🥳🎊🎁🎈🍻🍻🥂🥂