The notes of ANZAC spirit: Like father like daughter

If you pause outside the Rosewood Memorial Hall, you might just catch the soft notes of a piano drifting through the air as the local RSL Sub Branch gathers.  

The musician behind the melody is none other than 13-year-old Taylor Heit, one of RSL Queensland’s youngest members. She joined Rosewood RSL Sub Branch as a Citizen’s Auxiliary Junior member in December 2025, following in the footsteps of her father, Navy veteran Joel Heit. 

A life of service at sea 

Joel joined the Royal Australian Navy in 2003 at the age of 20, deploying to the Middle East aboard HMAS Melbourne soon after completing his training. 

He later served as a Navy Damage Control and Firefighting Instructor at HMAS Cerberus, before moving to Darwin in 2005 to work on Border Force patrol boats. 

In 2010, Joel transitioned to the Navy Reserve and returned to the town he grew up in – Rosewood.  

“We could move back to my hometown, and I could still do the job that I loved, which was the Navy,” Joel says. 

The fly‑in, fly‑out Reserves role offered varied work – from border protection to illegal fishing monitoring – while also giving Joel valuable time with family and friends, until the pandemic hit and then his contract ran out. 

"There are difficult memories that have stayed with me,” he reflects.  

“But the way that I look at it, there were far more good days than bad. It’s not a bad trade.”  

After years at sea, Joel has maintained a deep connection to the ocean. 

“We live here [in Rosewood] where there's no ocean in sight, but there's something special watching the sun rise and set over the water in the same day,” he says.  

“When I die, I want my ashes spread at sea.” 

How ANZAC Day lives on in Rosewood 

Over time, Joel’s understanding of ANZAC Day has deepened. 

“As a kid, it was about acknowledging those who served,” he remembers. 

“Now, it’s about the sacrifices made by veterans – whether that was the ultimate sacrifice, or the trauma veterans live with long after service.”  

When the Last Post sounds, Joel doesn’t only think of those lost in battle. 

“I think of friends who’ve taken their own lives,” he says.  

“ANZAC Day is a time to remember them and their sacrifice too.” 

Each year, Rosewood marks the day together, with around 1,000 people attending the Dawn Service. 

“No matter how hard it is to get out of bed at 4:30am or stand in the rain,” Joel says, “it pales in comparison to what others endured.” 

For Taylor, ANZAC Day is more personal. 

“It makes me think of my dad,” she shares. “When he went away in the Navy, I always hoped he would come back, and I’m really happy that he did.” 

When generations come together 

As both father and music teacher, Joel encouraged Taylor to play piano for the Sub Branch, helping her build confidence while connecting with older generations. 

“At first I was really shy,” Taylor admits. “But each time I came back, I felt more confident talking to people.” 

Her favourite piece to play is Interstellar, though Sub Branch members are especially fond of The Entertainer. 

“It makes me feel proud and happy that I know that people are listening to my music and enjoying it,” Taylor shares. 

Beyond the piano, Taylor lends a hand wherever she can at Sub Branch events and meetings – from cooking sausages on the barbecue to helping pack up chairs. 

“Usually, I ask how they're going, and then sometimes they talk about how long they've been with the Sub Branch for, or their service. I like listening to their stories; some of them are really cool,” she says. 

It was this willingness to be part of the community alongside her dad that saw Taylor become one of the youngest RSL Queensland members at only 13 years old.  

In the future, Taylor hopes to continue to develop her friendships at the Sub Branch and even has her sights set on the top job – Sub Branch President. 

“I'm very proud of the young lady that she is becoming,” Joel says. 

“Her drive to support veterans and the community makes me a very proud dad.” 

The strength of Sub Branch connection 

This year marks Joel’s third ANZAC Day with the Rosewood RSL Sub Branch, having joined more than a decade after returning home. 

“It took a while for the timing to feel right,” he says.  

“But this Sub Branch plays such an important role in the community, especially for veterans who don’t have strong support networks elsewhere.” 

“This is the family they’re looking for,” he adds. “Having people to talk to keeps you grounded.” 

It’s this connection to one another, no matter your age or where you served, that resonates with Joel the most. 

“I had an uncle who was an engineer in the Vietnam War. My mum said the only time she ever heard him speak about the war and the things that happened over there was with me. So, I think people feel more comfortable sharing here because they feel more understood," Joel remembers. 

“It's nice to be able to talk to other veterans with lived experience. It might be in a different era, but it's still the same experience.”  

It’s this sense of belonging that drew Taylor in too. 

“We’ve got a really strong Sub Branch,” Joel says. “Everyone is welcoming and that’s why Taylor wanted to be part of it.”