Honouring the past, building the future: Cloncurry RSL Sub Branch’s new chapter

Two years ago, Army veteran Kane Burgess was working in Mount Isa. Today he’s the President of Cloncurry RSL Sub Branch.

“Liz, the Sub Branch Secretary, actually got in touch with me when I was working in Mount Isa,” Kane says.

“They needed a President but there aren’t many ex-Defence people here, so I spoke to my wife because it’s not something I want to see die, especially in a small town like Cloncurry.”

Kane spent eight years in the Australian Army, serving as a gun number in Townsville before a posting to Wagga Wagga as a recruit instructor. He now lives in Cloncurry with his young family.

After Cloncurry’s old RSL building was torn down in 2019, Kane’s main aspiration is to get the new building built and establish a renewed RSL community within the Shire of Cloncurry. 

Building a community

As Kane is the only service member in the branch, it’s incredibly important to him to have the support of social and non-League members.

“It means it’s not dying – that people are still interested and want things to happen,” he explains.

“It gives me motivation to make sure things do happen. And if I can make something happen, I will.”

Cloncurry RSL Sub Branch President Kane Burgess and Sub Branch Secretary Liz Robertson

It’s also very important to non-League members like Graeme McDonald and Sub Branch Secretary Liz Robertson – who recruited Kane. 

“We had three members and one was going to leave,” Graeme says.

“So, I said, ‘I’ll join’. You have to. You’ve got to keep these things going.”

“Volunteers are so important, especially in small towns like ours,” Liz says. 

“I’m very passionate about this town and the people in it.” 

While Graeme and Liz are both non-League members, they have a deep connection to Defence. Graeme's father served in the Middle East in the Light Anti-Aircraft Battalion and his uncle served during World War I, while Liz’s grandfather was a Naval Officer on HMAS Australia during World War II and her father was drafted into the Citizen Military Forces.

“We must never forget what our soldiers did. We owe them a huge debt and being part of this Sub Branch is part of that,” Graeme explains. 

Liz agrees.

“I’ve always had the utmost respect for our military, past and present, and that’s why I wanted to join the RSL,” she says. 

“To me, my membership means respect for our soldiers, and I do get quite emotional on ANZAC Day.” 

Enduring spirit 

That community spirit goes beyond Liz, Graeme and Kane, however, with the Sub Branch and the community coming together to keep the legacy of service alive for younger generations.

In Cloncurry, the ANZAC Day Dawn Service is followed by a gunfire breakfast, and the march is attended by community groups from across the Shire, as well as the local school and emergency personnel. The local Country Women’s Association provides morning tea and there’s also a mid-morning service and two-up.  
“We go to the schools for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, and the young people are always interested. It’s imperative that we attend so the younger generation know the history and importance of those days,” Kane says.

A place to call home 

As a keen gardener, Kane can’t wait for the construction of the new building to finish so they can involve the community in establishing a remembrance garden. It will be yet another way in which the Sub Branch is grounded in the community they all love.

“I think it’ll also be a good place to do sausage sizzles and fundraisers,” Kane explains.

“That’s the plan – to have those community get-togethers. Nothing too big, just keep it local and fun. 

“This Sub Branch means a lot to me. They fought to have something here and it’s my duty to step up to the plate and get the job done. That’s part of being an ex-serviceman and I think it’s my way of finishing that part of my duty as a soldier.”