Maintaining camaraderie in Moranbah

As a fly in, fly out (FIFO) worker for more than 15 years, Moranbah RSL Sub Branch Treasurer Dave Law understands the challenges of the lifestyle and how important it is to maintain a sense of community despite the constant travel. 

While Dave is a non-League member, he is also the grandson of WWI, WWII and Korean War veterans, grew up around Vietnam veterans, and was always interested in the Australian Defence Force. From a young age, he was passionate about learning and preserving Australia’s war history. So, when he had the opportunity to join Moranbah RSL Sub Branch, Dave jumped at the chance.

“I was really inspired by the Moranbah RSL Sub Branch when I moved there for work, they truly embody the old school values of supporting all veterans. If there is a veteran in the community who needs assistance, member or not, we do any and everything to help – there’s a real strong focus on care here,” Dave says. 

Connecting with a younger membership 

One Sub Branch member who is also a fly in, fly out worker is Air Force veteran Margaret Stephenson.

“Moranbah is definitely a working-class town with a lot of younger veterans who either stop by for work or live here,” Margaret says.

“I’ve been working here for just over three years now and have ended up loving the community. 

“Six months ago, I finally decided to buy my own place and move the family up here from Brisbane. I just loved what the Sub Branch was doing for the veteran community.” 

Margaret Stephenson is a member of the Moranbah RSL Sub Branch

Margaret says that there are a lot of veterans who are also FIFO workers, but it can be difficult to engage or maintain ongoing memberships due to the demands of assigned rosters.

“You tend to see a few veterans in the mining industry as the lifestyle is comparable to Defence. Both careers deal with long hours, we’re used to being away from our families for periods at a time and both jobs are quite regimental,” she says. 

“Plus, most people who have been in the military are generally great workers. We are clean and tidy, punctual, have grit, know how to do what we’re told – why wouldn’t you want to hire us!

“Although there are many out there in the industry and working in Moranbah, many members have conflicting schedules so it’s difficult to be able to all get together at the same time. That’s not to say that they don’t reach out or contribute to the Sub Branch though, it’s just lots of our comms are done via emails or text messages to get things happening.”

Dave says a few of the mining companies have also implemented initiatives that provide veterans with additional support.  

“From simple things like coordinating buses into town so veterans can attend commemorations, to creating veteran pillar as a part of their own diversity inclusion policies, a few of the mining companies recognise that there is a large population of veterans in the region and the industry,” he says. 

“My company has also allowed me to take time off to develop displays for commemorations for the community because they see the value in supporting the sharing of veteran stories. 

“I’m known as ‘The Custodian’ around town as I love to collect ANZAC and Defence memorabilia to curate displays that honour the personal stories of our veterans.” 

Continued connection with the community 

To help in the preservation of this local history, the Sub Branch also regularly engages with local schools and kindergartens for ANZAC Day commemorations, and this year had its biggest crowd yet. 

“This year we had the local kindergarten kids make their own wreaths and lay them in honour for those that served, it was really sweet,” he says. 

“We also did another fun activity this year with some battery-operated candles we had left over from previous years: we engaged with one of the local primary schools and had the students decorate old milk cartons into lanterns with ANZAC-related scenes. They were then handed out through the crowds on the day of the service. It was heartwarming to look out to the sea of lanterns.” 

Sub Branch Treasurer Dave Law tries to bring Moranbah's veteran community together

The Sub Branch has also been involved in several fundraising initiatives. 

“We’ve held breakfasts and sausage sizzles for the community to raise donations which have been successful. The local bowls club has also been a great supporter of us, offering up their venue for our initiatives,” Margaret says. 

“We’re now looking to raise funds to renovate an old obelisk and make a proper garden. Dave has sourced a hibiscus called Long Tan so we’d love to make it a hibiscus garden in honour of the Vietnam War.” 

Both Margaret and Dave encourage veterans to reach out if they’re ever in town. 

“While the FIFO lifestyle makes our timetables challenging, it’s important for us to stay connected. The moment we signed that dotted line and began our Defence journey, we became family. And it’s important for us to keep that camaraderie, especially as the FIFO lifestyle can become quite isolating,” Margaret says.