Phoenix from the ashes

Shoulders of giants 

Andrew ‘Coxy’ Cox and Peter Morris, Army veterans and new residents of the little beachside fishing village of 800 people, were each with their partners, walking dogs along the sand when they met. If they had been contemplating a quieter phase of life ahead – it was not to be.  

Coxy, now President of Seaforth RSL Sub Branch says, "nothing would be possible if we weren't standing on the shoulders of giants," when he speaks of the legacy that had been built at the Sub Branch. However, their first Remembrance Day in Seaforth was attended by only seven people, and Coxy and Pete knew the members, many in their 70s, who had held the line for so long needed help.

Seaforth RSL Sub Branch President Andrew ‘Coxy’ Cox helped save his Sub Branch from closing.

The situation for Seaforth RSL Sub Branch was confirmed when a member's daughter shared a letter on Facebook about the pending closure at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM). Her post read: ‘If anyone would like to join the RSL and save our local branch please show up for this important meeting this Sunday.’ 

At the special meeting on 24 October 2024, a handshake agreement was made with District representatives to do the AGM in February, with Coxy elected as President and Pete as Treasurer. Sue Morris stepped up as Secretary to complete the executive team, which took over eight weeks before ANZAC Day in 2025.  

That first ANZAC Day was a catalyst for change. They involved local businesses and talent, aligned with the local bowls club, harnessed social media and promoted their event. With fresh thinking, experience and skills, alongside a catchment of smaller communities, the new Seaforth RSL Sub Branch team began redefining how civic services were delivered.

A local resident described ANZAC Day in 2025 as “The most amazing service I’ve ever seen here in 50 years.”

Turning Seaforth around 

One of the big issues they encountered while planning ANZAC Day was that the local memorial at ANZAC Park – in the middle of a roundabout, on a slope, an open drain at one end, no path and no lighting – was not a suitable site to commemorate with dignity and pride, or large enough to get the whole community involved.   

"Community integration is crucial to us – without community, we would just be eight guys with medals standing around a flagpole one day a year," Coxy says. 

Close by they found the perfect new location; on the same title, owned by council and overlooking the ocean. They connected with the Mackay Regional Council and Seaforth Progress Association and got the local council members and mayor on board.  

A local architect developed a design for the vision of the new memorial, which includes life-sized brass statues, a replica ANZAC Cove wall, new flagpoles, arrows pointing home from conflicts and an acknowledgment to the war animals who have served alongside Australian veterans.

A mock-up of the new cenotaph design concept.

A cenotaph for the community 

Making the new memorial a reality became the key driver for Seaforth Sub Branch. They ran an inaugural ‘Show of Force’ classic car and bike show, with 74 cars, 28 bikes and an estimated 1,000 spectators. 

This event launched alongside a new partnership with the Progress Association’s Mega Market raffle. With prizes sourced from across the Mackay region, the event not only generated revenue for the Sub Branch, but also boosted profits for the local businesses involved.  

Seaforth RSL Sub Branch launched a new partnership with the Progress Association’s Mega Market raffle, which raised funds for the Sub Branch.

Another new initiative this year was a War Animals Day Service attended by around 70 people from the district to honour animals in service, including Queensland Police Service working dogs and reenacted World War II cavalry horses.   

To date, $25,000 has been raised towards a new cenotaph for Seaforth, and the mission continues, with ongoing fundraising and grant applications in motion. Local businesses are already volunteering pro bono support. 

While funds grow to build the cenotaph, lack of a suitable memorial has not hindered growing commemorative events. ANZAC Day in 2026 was held with a makeshift memorial of boots, hats, sandbags and a replica .303 rifle. Three ANZAC Day AFL games provided the community with new events to bring them together. 

An AFL game organised as part of ANZAC Day in 2026 provided the community with another opportunity to come together.

Connections to the future 

While building a community footprint, members of Seaforth RSL Sub Branch have made it a priority to look to the future. They attend as many Mackay District cadet functions and parades as possible to foster connection and show the younger generation that the RSL is a vibrant, active community ready to support them when their time comes.  

A simple indicator of the impact to Seaforth RSL Sub Branch of what Coxy calls “fresh blood, new ideas and a tenacious appetite for the work,” was Remembrance Day in 2025. From seven veterans in 2022, the event grew to a record attendance of 70 in 2025.  

Coxy puts their success down to two words: "We did this by using RSL Queensland's guiding principles of ‘care, commemoration and camaraderie’ and adding two of our own: ‘community’ and ‘communication’."  

The new Seaforth RSL Sub Branch team won't have much time for dog walks on the beach, as they dedicate their 'horsepower' to achieving some lasting change in their new community and leaving the Sub Branch in a "better state for the next generation of service men and women."