Merimbula RSL Sub Branch

18/08/2026

This Vietnam Veterans’ Day marks the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Today, we express our gratitude for the spirit, suffering and sacrifice of all Australians who served in the Vietnam War, and we particularly remember those who fought and fell at Long Tan.

Between 1962 and 1973, some 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam. Some 15,000 were “Nashos”: men conscripted under the National Service Scheme who went to war and served wholeheartedly alongside those in the regulars. The Vietnam War saw around 3,129 Australians wounded and 523 Australians tragically killed.

Early on the morning of August 18th, 1966, the Battle of Long Tan took place in Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam. D Company, comprising about 100 Australians, fought 2,000 Viet Cong soldiers in a rubber plantation amid torrential rain. Supported by New Zealand artillery, and a daring resupply by RAAF helicopters, the Australian troops held out against the odds until reinforcements arrived.

The Battle of Long Tan has gained due significance alongside many other battles where Australians demonstrated their courage, professionalism and initiative, often alongside our Kiwi and American allies.

18/08/2026

Today we gather to commemorate Vietnam Veterans day on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan 1966.
The Vietnam War was Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th Century, with almost 60,000 Australians serving during a decade of conflict between 1962 and 1972.
About 3000 Australians were wounded during the war, and 524 died during their service in Vietnam or as a result of their service.

Vietnam Veterans Day 🇦🇺

We remember their service and sacrifice, and honour the enduring legacy they left for our nation.

About 40 gathered this morning at the Merimbula Cenotaph to say thank you to those who served.

06/08/2026

Merimbula RSL Sub Branch will be holding a service at the cenotaph, Beach Street Merimbula on Tuesday 18th August at 11am, to thank our Vietnam Veterans for their service to our country and those who served in this conflict.

The next Sub- Branch meeting will be Monday 17 August at Merimbula RSL at 2 pm in the Lantern Room.

20/07/2026

Only 3 more days to sign this petition.

Petition Reason
The 2026–27 Federal Budget imposes a $5,000 annual cap on Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) funded allied health services — including physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, podiatry and dietetics — commencing 1 July 2027. The cap applies to all Veteran Card holders under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defencerelated Claims) Act 1988 and the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, including Gold Card holders, war widows and dependants. Veterans rely on multidisciplinary allied health for service-caused injuries. At current DVA fee schedules, $5,000 is exhausted by approximately twenty psychology sessions, or fifty physiotherapy sessions — well short of the clinical need of veterans with multiple accepted conditions typical of long service. The cap contradicts the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant, enacted in 2019, by which the Parliament undertook to support all veterans as respected and valued members of the community. It is inconsistent with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Su***de, which identified financial and administrative barriers to care as drivers of poor outcomes. AIHW data shows the su***de rate for ex-serving Australian males remains substantially elevated compared to the general population.

Petition Request
We therefore ask the House to : (a) reject the $5,000 annual allied health cap for DVA card holders; (b) at minimum, exempt Gold Card holders and legislate a statutory clinical-need override with published criteria, mandated decision timeframes and merits review by the Veterans’ Review Board; and (c) defer commencement of the measure until these protections are legislated and operational.

If you believe this is in error, please copy this code 20260624T113554Z-177498d5bfbt2c5khC1DM1fde00000000eq0000000001m3e and contact us HERE

15/07/2026

The next Merimbula Sub Branch meeting will be held at Merimbula RSL on Monday 20th July at 2pm.
New members very welcome.

08/06/2026

The next Merimbula Sub Branch meeting will be held at Merimbula RSL on Monday 15th June at 2pm.
New members very welcome.

15/05/2026

The next meeting of Merimbula Sub Branch will be held at Merimbula RSL on Monday 18th May at 2pm.

25/04/2026

It was estimated that well over 1000 people attended the dawn service this morning and a much smaller march at the 11 am service.
It was a chilly morning and the little nip of rum certainly was welcome.

Thank you to Diggers Football Club for providing a sausage sizzle, coffee and tea and bickies.

The weather started with a fiery glow to brilliant sunshine.

The Pambula Surf Lifesaving Club were in the lake on their surfboats behind the cenotaph with their oars raised ( see photo).

This was the first ANZAC Day without Allan Browning our Sub Branch President who passed away last year and we now have a new President Loretta Walsh ex Navy retired.

Where else would you want to spend ANZAC Day than Merimbula.

Followed by a sumptuous lunch put on by Derek and his staff at Merimbula RSL.
I took lots of photos, anyone you know?

Merimbula Sub Branch meets at Merimbula RSL Club every 3rd Monday at 2pm. Veterans, ex veterans and affiliated members are very welcome.

24/04/2026

This lovely lady Michelle thought that Shane and I looked hungry, so she got with the theme of ANZAC Day and supplied us withsome ANZAC biscuits.

08/04/2026

Why do we wear poppies on Remembrance Day and rosemary on
ANZAC Day?

While they share many similarities, Australia’s two major commemorations have distinct origins and traditions.

Here’s a simple guide to understanding the difference: