The Returned and Services League of Australia, Washington, DC

We are honored that T he Hon Kim Beazley, AC Ambassador of Australia to the United States, has accepted an invitation to be the guest speaker at the March 13 meeting.  The meeting will fill up quickly so please do not  hold your RSVP until March 12 th because you may miss out.  We look forward to seeing you on Thursday March 13 th.          Time - Noon to 2:00 pm. Where –Amenities Room, Embassy of Australia, 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20036 Guest speaker:  The Hon Kim Beazley, AC Ambassador of Australia to the United States of America. Charge - $15.00, including buffet lunch and sodas. Alcoholic beverages- $2.00 each.                                             ...

Lest we Forget Returned & Services League of Australia, Washington Sub-Branch, 1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 202-352-8550 dmward1973 at gmail dot com www.rsl-dc.com 2014 Membership dues of $30.00 are payable at the meeting. Alternatively, make your check payable to R&SL, and send it to Dave Ward, 2308 November Lane, Reston, VA, For your calendar: Monthly meetings - April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, and December 11. Additional dates: March 30 – SSC Brunch,  April 25 - Anzac Day, June 14 - Bakers Creek Air Crash Commemoration, June 21 SSC-AAA BBQ, August 18 - Long Tan Day (Australia’s Vietnam Veterans Day), and November 11 -Remembrance Day.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson warmly welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to posthumously awar d the Victoria Cross for Australia to the late Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird MG. “Corporal Baird was a true Australian hero, his actions on 22 June 2013, while serving in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, were truly remarkable. He displayed the highest level of gallantry, making the ultimate sacrifice to protect his comrades,” Senator Ronaldson said. “The actions of Corporal Baird will be forever instilled in Australia’s military history. The Victoria Cross was awarded in recognition of his most conspicuous acts of valour, extreme devotion to duty and ultimate self-sacrifice.” Corporal Baird will join a small group of gallant Australians who have been bestowed Australia’s highest military honour. The Victoria Cross for Australia has recently been awarded to Corporal Mark Donaldson, VC, Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, MG and Corpor...

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, The Hon. Steven Ciobo MP, today unveiled a new $1 circulating 2014 coin featuring the Centenary of Anzac logo and produced by the Royal Australian Mint. The special commemorative 2014 $1 circulating coin features the official logo of the Anzac Centenary, including the image of an Australian soldier, head bowed and rifle reversed in solemn reflection and the words ‘100 Years of Anzac – The Spirit Lives’. The coin is rimmed with a motif reflecting the sun’s rays as captured on the Australian Army’s Rising Sun badge. Senator Ronaldson said the Anzac Centenary would be one of the most important commemorations in Australia’s history and it was fitting that the Royal Australian Mint had created this coin. “The Centenary of Anzac will be one of the most defining moments in our nations’ story and the creation of a coin is a perma...

Time - Noon to 2:00 pm. Where –Amenities Room, Embassy of Australia, 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20036 Our guest speaker will be R&SL Life Member Major Edward Connor, USAF (Rtd).  Edward will describe the WWII Battle of the Bismarck Sea from his viewpoint as a Radio Gunner flying in a North American B25 Mitchell Medium Bomber. Charge - $15.00, including buffet lunch and sodas. Alcoholic beverages- $2.00 each. Attire: Business casual RSVP by noon on Wednesday October 9, to David Ward at 202-352-8550 or via e-mail to dmward1973@gmail.com NOTE: Valid photo ID required Parking: While there is no parking at the Embassy, paid off street parking is available behind and under the Airline Pilots Association- 17th and Mass, and at 15th and Mass (1240 15th street). On street two hour metered parking is also available. Short Biography:   Edward Conner enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps - the predecessor to the U.S. ...

Time - Noon to 2:00 pm. Where –Amenities Room, Embassy of Australia, 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20036 Speaker:  Major General Timothy McOwan,  AO,   DSC, CSM, Head Australian Defence Staff (Washington), and Australian Defence Attache. Charge - $15.00, including buffet lunch and sodas. Alcoholic beverages- $2.00 each. Attire: Business casual RSVP by noon on Wednesday September 11, to David Ward at 202-352-8550 or via e-mail to  dmward1973@gmail.com NOTE: Valid photo ID required Parking: While there is no parking at the Embassy, paid off street parking is available behind and under the Airline Pilots Association- 17th and Mass, and at 15th and Mass (1240 15th street). On street two hour metered parking is also available. Biography: Tim McOwan enlisted into the Army in 1976 and gained his commission from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1980. Major General McOwan served in regimental appointments with ...

August 3, 2013- R&SL Washington past president Dave Gudes invites you to join him and other members of VVA chapter 641, as they honor the fallen by washing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.  The group assembles at 6:30 am at the Western end of the Wall, near the statues of the three soldiers. Directions to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall can be found at http://www.nps.gov/vive/planyourvisit/directions.htm .  Parking: Regular participants suggest the best places to park for the Wall Wash are on the streets perpendicular to Constitution Avenue:  23rd, 22nd, and 21st.  Parking is free until 7:30 am.  Photographs taken by Dan Arant at the May wall wash can be found at https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=0af50ddd737da8b9&id=AF50DDD737DA8B9%218497&authkey= !APOzHgMVg2V8t1w The remaining Wall Washing dates for 2013 are August 3, September 7, October 5, and November 2. How VVA641 started the Wall washing is outlined at http://www.today.co...