The RSL was founded in June 1916 and evolved as a direct result of the camaraderie, concern and mateship shown by the diggers for the welfare of their mates during and after the 1914-1918 world war. That ethos of compassion, service and loyalty remains to this day the motivating influence of the RSL.
Our mission is to ensure that programs are in place for the well-being, care, compensation and commemoration of serving and ex-serving Defence Force members and their dependants; and promote Government and community awareness of the need for a secure, stable and progressive Australia.
We aim to continue to provide a friendly and welcoming environment to the broader community. Our Sub-Branch network provides opportunity for individuals to become part of the local community to ensure commemoration and the tradition of the RSL name continues.
Boronia RSL Sub Branch
The suburb of Boronia is located 30 kilometres east of Melbourne at the base of Mount Dandenong. Before the amalgamation of the surrounding suburbs its was known as the Shire of Ferntree Gully. The area at the time after WW1 was mainly made up of market gardens and flower gardens.
During the 20’s the returned veterans formed a Sub-Branch to look after the widows and dependants of those who had died or were wounded during World War 1 and it was called the Ferntree Gully Returned Sailor’s, Soldier’s and Airmen’s Imperial League of Australia (Ferntree Gully R.S.S.A.I.L.A.)
As the area became more populated there became a need to create another Sub-Branch in the area and it was in 1937 that the Boronia RSL came into being. Its ideals were the same as those of the Ferntree Gully RSL and these ideals still apply to us today if not more.
Boronia RSL does not have any gaming machines, paid staff or any of the trappings of a big Sub-Branch. All our needs we try to meet using our volunteers and if we have to pay to have work done we try to manage using members to keep the cost down. The only income stream we have are our takings from the bar, functions, raffles, hiring of the hall and a small percentage of the subscriptions with the remainder going to ANZAC HOUSE. A percentage of welfare monies raised i.e Poppy Appeal and Anzac Appeals are placed into the welfare account for welfare work required by our Veterans.
Our contributions to the Veteran Community sees us having a volunteer workforce we call on to help those in need whether it be mowing lawns, gardening, maintenance jobs or just to visit and have a chat, that is in keeping with the original ideals used to start the Sub-Branch.