Hawthorn RSL Sub Branch

Hawthorn RSL Sub Branch Hawthorn RSL is the largest traditional Sub-Branch in Victoria. We’re focused on veterans.

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads, father figures and mentors!It also meant a lot to join the Hawthorn RSL Sub ...
06/09/2026

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads, father figures and mentors!

It also meant a lot to join the Hawthorn RSL Sub Branch community to celebrate the restoration works at their Glenferrie Road home.

Seeing this come together reminded me just how much heart goes into a place like this. It was made possible through the tireless efforts of members who gave up their own time and energy, together with a $50,000 grant under the federal government's Veteran Wellbeing Grants Program, which I was proud to help support.

This Sub-Branch has always felt like a second home for so many of our veterans and their families, and being there to see these works come to life was genuinely moving.

I was also deeply honoured to be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation. It's a reminder of why it matters to keep showing up for the grassroots organisations doing this important work in our community.

Looking forward to watching the next phases take shape, and to more moments like this one.

RSL Victoria RSL Australia

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads, the step-dads and anyone who else on dad duty!We hope you’re getting spoiled and look...
06/09/2026

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads, the step-dads and anyone who else on dad duty!
We hope you’re getting spoiled and looked after today!

📸: Fathers Day in Kabul

𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓Today, two members of the Hawthorn RSL Committee combined in a rather special way.M...
05/09/2026

𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓

Today, two members of the Hawthorn RSL Committee combined in a rather special way.

Marianne Gardner is our Membership Officer and, in her spare time, a volunteer tour guide at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Matt French is a Committee Member and a Warrant Officer Class Two at Melbourne University Regiment - Australian Army, where he helps train the next generation of Army Warrant Officers.

With his latest course drawing to a close, Frenchy wanted the trainees to understand that before they can lead the next generation forward, they must first understand and honour those who came before them.

As custodians of the Australian Army’s history and traditions, they carry a responsibility to preserve that legacy and pass it on.

Marianne helped reaffirm that responsibility, giving the trainees an incredibly detailed insight into the history, symbolism and significance of the Shrine, including the many features and traditions that visitors might otherwise take for granted.

This was a wonderful example of two of our committee members bringing their experience together to help shape the leaders of tomorrow by connecting to the past.

Well done, team!

𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐃𝐆𝐄Last Friday, Hawthorn RSL hosted its first evening exclusively for police officers.Behind the Badge is a...
05/09/2026

𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐃𝐆𝐄

Last Friday, Hawthorn RSL hosted its first evening exclusively for police officers.

Behind the Badge is a new monthly gathering where serving police members can connect, socialise away from the public gaze and, most excitingly, have a new portrait photograph taken.

Policing shares many similarities with ADF service. Coppers are regularly exposed to horrific scenes and experiences, yet there are few places where they can decompress, speak openly and spend time with people who understand, outside work and away from the public.

Enter the RSL.
We want Hawthorn RSL to be one of those places: private, welcoming and built around the bonds of service.

If you’re a serving police officer and would like to attend a future Behind the Badge evening, please get in touch.
To everyone who joined us for the first one, thank you. We’ll see you next time!

Restoration of the St James Park Cenotaph in Hawthorn is now complete and it was an honour to join the local community f...
05/09/2026

Restoration of the St James Park Cenotaph in Hawthorn is now complete and it was an honour to join the local community for the morning ceremony marking this milestone.

This project was made possible through $10,000 in funding from the federal government's Saluting Their Service Grants Program, which I advocated for in 2024, working alongside City of Boroondara and the Hawthorn RSL Sub Branch.

For nearly a century, the cenotaph has served as a focal point for reflection and commemoration. As part of the restoration, the memorial has also been updated to honour veterans of more recent conflicts, including East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq alongside those who served in previous wars.

Alongside John Berger MP and Labor's candidate for Hawthorn, Clive Crosby, I had the privilege of laying a wreath for those who did not return.

This cenotaph will continue to stand with dignity, ensuring these stories are honoured for generations to come.

RSL Victoria RSL Australia

Last week, Charlie Pickering and the ABC Melbourne Drive team broadcast live from Coburg RSL, and it was a real pleasure...
04/09/2026

Last week, Charlie Pickering and the ABC Melbourne Drive team broadcast live from Coburg RSL, and it was a real pleasure to see a strong contingent of Hawthorn RSL members there to join them.

We were especially proud of our Secretary, Marianne Doyle, who joined Charlie on air to discuss a range of important issues affecting veterans and their families.

As a Navy veteran and an exceptionally intelligent and accomplished businesswoman, Marianne is a phenomenal representative of Hawthorn RSL and the broader veteran community. She represented us brilliantly.

And don’t worry, we’ve already invited Charlie and the Drive team to conduct their next RSL broadcast from Hawthorn!
As an RSL that is one of the national leaders, we’d love the opportunity to show them another perspective on what a modern RSL can be, and what it can provide for veterans, their families and the wider community. We reckon they’d learn a lot!

Well done to Marianne and all our members who joined the broadcast and represented Hawthorn RSL so proudly, and thank you to Charlie and the ABC team for taking an interest in the RSL and what the league is doing in 2026.

RSL Victoria RSL Australia

We’re open tonight!Join us for our monthly Friday Froffies, our veterans and veteran family social catch up.Doors open a...
03/09/2026

We’re open tonight!

Join us for our monthly Friday Froffies, our veterans and veteran family social catch up.
Doors open at 6pm, food provided (donations welcome), and we can guarantee great people present!
All veterans and veteran families welcome, whether you’re a member or not, we’ll see you there!

‘The signal was sent to HQ, "Australian flag flying on Anzac House. Securing objective"’Today the Australian National Fl...
02/09/2026

‘The signal was sent to HQ, "Australian flag flying on Anzac House. Securing objective"’

Today the Australian National Flag is 125 years old. It first flew at the Melbourne Royal Exhibition buildings in 1901.
In this painting, it flies over ANZAC House or ANZAC Redoubt, a German pillbox that was key terrain during the fighting during the battle of Polygon Wood, 20 September 1917.
The man raising it, Lieutenant A V L Hull of the 18th Battalion, was killed in action three weeks later.

We hope you can all take a moment to celebrate National Flag Day today.

It was great to have Hawthorn RSL represented at this meeting through our committee member Stew. Stew is a passionate ad...
02/09/2026

It was great to have Hawthorn RSL represented at this meeting through our committee member Stew.
Stew is a passionate advocate on veteran issues and a great representative for our community.

“We don’t leave anyone behind”On the 2nd of September 2008 in Afghanistan, Mark Donaldson made a choice that would chang...
01/09/2026

“We don’t leave anyone behind”

On the 2nd of September 2008 in Afghanistan, Mark Donaldson made a choice that would change his life.

In the middle of a massive ambush, with Taliban on all four sides, having already burned through 6 magazines on his rifle engaging the multitude of targets, Mark saw an Australian engineer and Afghan interpreter blown off the back of one of their vehicles when two RPG rockets slammed in near it.

The Australian started moving but the Afghan didn’t.
80 metres of bullet riddled ground separated them.

Without hesitating, Donaldson stood up and ran to him, as bullets zipped past and the ground around him was kicked up.
In the finest traditions of the Australian Army, Mark risked his life to save another.
For his actions, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Mark Donaldson is the very definition of a hero. A humble warrior who lives to serve others.

We thank him for his service, and hope all Australians can know his remarkable story.

Address

605 Glenferrie Road
Hawthorn, VIC
3122

Telephone

+61408736009

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