RSL Queensland Annual Report 2020

Continued on next page 7 RSL Queensland Annual Report | 2020 Year In Review State President's Report ANZAC Day’s Light Up the Dawn commemoration was the most significant because it invited the wider community – every Australian – to participate in an alternative event that had such impact it will be carried on well beyond the pandemic years. People who would normally attend a Dawn Service or March will join with those who don’t, or can’t, to stand at the end of their driveways or on their verandas at 6am on every ANZAC Day to come, to not only complement the traditional commemorations, but to be part of them. Commemorations traditionally held by RSL Queensland for Remembrance Day and Indigenous Veterans’ Ceremony, and services held by Sub Branches for Vietnam Veterans’ Day and other significant days of commemoration were also adapted in line with the regulations at the time. But we still stood together – if not physically – to honour, reflect and pay our respects. We need to continue to recognise these days of commemoration, so that people, families and communities don’t forget what has been given for us; families have given their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts, who have all, at some stage in service, defended this country. It’s our duty to continue honouring that legacy. I reflect on the year 2020 with optimism. Despite being a year of significant challenges, it was also one of indispensable opportunities for RSL Queensland. Like so many others, our great organisation was forced to evaluate and adjust how we deliver our support and services. We not only stood up to the challenges, but we came out the other side better for it. I’m incredibly proud of our team, members and volunteers. This year has again seen a lot of changes, and not just those forced by a global health pandemic. Everyone has adapted well to the changes to enable us to continue serving the veteran community. Operating During a Pandemic Operating through a pandemic is a very different way of operating. The challenges presented by the changing restrictions around the pandemic provided opportunities for RSL Queensland to have more vision, find ways to adjust and improve our service delivery, and find different ways to connect. We all had to adapt to technology and to doing things in a different way, from delivering our support to veterans and their families, to coming together for meetings and social events. The changes to operational requirements enabled us to identify that we need to be more hands-on with our Sub Branches. We recognise the need for increased capability for our Sub Branches to be engaged and operate around challenges such as social isolation and seclusion in remote locations. Once the limitations in our capabilities were evident, we moved swiftly to put technology and support in place to better enable this connection. Virtual Commemorations Our key commemorations were also impacted by pandemic regulations. While we couldn’t hold the traditional, in-person events that are central to remembering those that have given for us, the virtual commemorations that were born of necessity have created an enduring legacy of their own. Tony Ferris State President, RSL Queensland / STATE PRESIDENT’S REPORT