What is the RSL?

Almost every Australian has heard of The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL), but do you know just what it is all about?

At Dawn on the 25th of April (ANZAC Day) the RSL leads commemorative services around the country on the anniversary of the dawn landing of ANZAC troops on the shores of Gallipoli. The campaign was not a success in military terms, but forged the definitions of our nation’s pride, honour and values in a manner unlike any other event before or since.

In addition the RSL keeps the ANZAC spirit alive on a daily basis by providing aid and support in the community.

The RSL was formed in 1917 to service the special needs of our returned troops, now the work extends to the needs of families and service personnel from all campaigns in which Australia’s military is involved. The Mission statement of RSL in NSW reads:
” To provide for the well-being, care, compensation and commemoration of serving and ex-serving Defence Force Personnel and their dependants and promote Government and Community awareness of the need for a stable and progressive Australia.”

There are now 57,760 members in 420 sub-Branches throughout NSW alone!

“The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance”

The National RSL Motto

Written and accepted in 1923, the motto of the RSL echoes the sentiment of wise statesmen over 2000 years old, the words as poignant today as when they were first uttered.