TWO RSL members have spoken of their pride after their long-standing commitment was recognised with Australia Day honours.
Cockburn vice president Malcolm Small and long-time member Arthur Stanton were awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for their service to youth and veterans alike.
Mr Small, who also serves as the sub-branch’s welfare officer, has given almost 40 years to Scouts WA, for whom he is a life member.
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READ NOWHe joined the Cockburn RSL 12 years ago, where he met Mr Stanton, who has been at the helm of a number of local initiatives over the course of his 25 years with the sub-branch.
Mr Stanton said he was proud of his efforts in that time, which had seen him take on many roles, including caretaker president during difficult stretches.
“Every club, organisation and business, at certain times you have difficulties. We’ve had that here, in 1997 and 2008 and in both cases, without bragging, I was the last man standing,” he said.
“If I’d said ‘I’m out’ we wouldn’t be where we are now. Somebody had to stand fast, take control and keep the organisation afloat and alive.”
The Samson resident said by far his greatest achievement during his time on the committee was introducing new events into the club calendar such as their Vietnam and Korean War commemorative services and his pet project, the youth parade.
He was also integral to Cockburn RSL’s running of the Fremantle dawn service and Anzac Day parade in the early 2000s.
“Those are the little things that make you feel real proud of the fact you are contributing and have contributed towards the success of the RSL in Cockburn and WA,” Mr Stanton said.
Mr Small, a former Silver Emu recipient for his distinguished service to the scouts, said it was nice to know his service to both the RSL and the scouts had been appreciated.
“I’m still a registered scouts member at 38 years now. The best times I had in scouting were when I was group leader over at Bibra Lake for 14 years,” he said.
“When we got the hall built at Bibra Lake on Hope Road, I petitioned the committee to change the name of the group from Coolbellup to Bibra Lake, because I was about the only person left in the group who still lived in Coolbellup.”