Sub Branch History (from old site)
Chronology 1916-2007, Sherwood, Indooroopilly and Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branches.
This chronology is taken from The First Eighty Five Years 1919-2004 – A History of Sherwood Indooroopilly Sub-branch 1919-2004 which is available for sale at $10 per copy. It incorporates the following:
The First Sixty Years 1919-1979 by N R Anderson.
The Indooroopilly RSL Sub-branch 1947-1982 by M W Farmer.
The Next Twenty Five Years 1979-2004 by R Fones.
Events from 2005 onwards have been extracted from Annual Reports.
1916
Formation of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers, Imperial League of Australia.
1918
Armistice, Great War or World War I.
1919
10 September. Formation of the Sherwood RSL Sub-Branch. Maurice Little, foundation President until 1923. Enrolment eighty-eight members in first year. Following formation, general meetings of the Sub-branch held in Sherwood Shire Hall.
1920
Great War memorial unveiled at Oxley. Thought to have been erected by Oxley Progress Association. November. Lt. Maurice Little unveils Great War memorial in Graceville Memorial Park.
1921
War memorial unveiled in suburb of Indooroopilly, intersection Station and Westminster Roads. Sherwood Sub-Branch assists in formation of Sherwood Fire Brigade.
1926
George Allen elected President of Sherwood Sub-Branch for seven terms.
Sherwood Sub-branch enrolment shows eighty-eight members again.
First fete, a fund raising activity, held by Sherwood Sub-branch.
1927
Formation of Graceville-Chelmer Sub-branch.
First Diggers’ Ball held by Sherwood Sub-branch.
1929-1934
Sherwood Sub-branch active in relieving distress caused by Great Depression amongst ex-servicemen in the local area.
1930
Anzac Day services commence at the memorial, Graceville Memorial Park.
1930s-1962
Sherwood Sub-Branch donates a scholarship examination bursary for child of ex-serviceman or woman attending a local school; the bursary awarded for obtaining highest mark.
1932.
Brisbane Municipal Concert Band first appearance at local Anzac Day parade. Last record of Graceville-Chelmer Sub-branch.
1934
George Allen again elected President, Sherwood Sub-Branch for two more terms.
1935
South-Eastern District established. ‘November Drawing’, (Melbourne Cup Sweep) commences.
1936
Jack Mitchell elected President, Sherwood Sub-branch for ten terms
1939.
3rd September, commencement of World War II
1940
June. Sherwood Volunteer Defence Corps formed under the auspices of Sherwood Sub-Branch
1941
April. ‘B’ Company, Sherwood Volunteer Defence Corps, formed guard of honour at Anzac service at Graceville.
1942
Private Horace Summers, ‘B’ Company Sherwood Volunteer Defence Corps, assists in rescue of pilot from plane crash at Archerfield Aerodrome; first member of the VDC decorated for bravery.
1945
End of World War II. Sherwood Sub-Branch assists fundraising at local schools by providing a chocolate wheel for use at functions.
1947
June. Formation of the Indooroopilly RSL Sub-branch. First President, P. Taylor. Annual Diggers ball reinstituted at Sherwood Sub-Branch.
1948
Harry Gibbs elected President, Sherwood Sub-Branch.
1950
25 June. Commencement of the Korean War.
1952-53
Sherwood Sub-Branch adds to its fundraising by sharing gate and refreshments income with speedway proprietors at races held at Johnson Park, Oxley.
1953
27 July. Signing cease fire agreement Korean War
1954
Sherwood Sub-branch inherits former home of Dr David Gifford Croll at Sherwood.
February. Sherwood Sub-branch Women’s Auxiliary formed with Mrs. Shadforth as first President
1955
The refurbished Croll home is used as Sub-branch headquarters and named The Croll Memorial Centre.
1957.
Indooroopilly Sub-branch acquire their own home at Riverview Terrace, Indooroopilly.
1962
First issue of The Orbit, Indoorooplly RSL News.
1963
June. Location of Croll Memorial Centre deemed unsuitable. Sherwood Sub-branch building committee’s recommendation re new premises endorsed. Sub-Branch purchasing committee search for ideal piece of land on which to build.
Ken Allen elected as President of Sherwood Sub-branch, four terms. Along with the building committee, he played a prominent role in obtaining land and the subsequent construction of a new building at Corinda
1964
Queensland government allows places of entertainment to open from 1.30pm on Anzac Day.
1965
Following its supply of military advisers in 1963, Australia enters the Vietnam War as the Australian Government upgrades its commitment by sending 1 RAR to Vietnam. Sherwood Sub-branch and Indooroopilly Sub-branch assist in collecting donations for the Churchill Memorial Fund.
Indooroopilly Sub-branch forwards a donation to Darwin Sub-branch for its Darwin Memorial Wall Appeal.
1966
January. Tenders called for construction of new building corner Browne and Clewley streets, Corinda, to house the Sherwood Services Club and a meeting hall for the Sherwood Sub-branch.
December. Sherwood Services Club commences trading.
1967
January. Sherwood Sub-branch held first meeting in the newly erected Croll Memorial Hall at Corinda.
March. Sir Wilfred Kent Hughes opens the new building housing both the Sherwood Sub-Branch and Sherwood Services Club. The name Croll Memorial Centre transferred from demolished building at Sherwood to new building at Corinda.
Sherwood Sub-branch and Sherwood Services Club commence support for A Girl in a Million Quest.
1968
Stan Logan commences lengthy term as Secretary.
Sub-committee, Indooroopilly Sub-branch investigates formation of a Services Club that was subsequently formed as a separate identity
1971
Sherwood Services Club extended, top floor of club completed.
1972
Australian troops withdrawn from Vietnam. Approval by Brisbane City Council for a war memorial to be erected in land bounded by Coonan Street, Belgrave Street and Underhill Road, Indooroopilly.
1973
Mezzanine floor of Sherwood Services Club completed. Sherwood Sub-branch hosts South-Eastern District Conference.
1974
January. The Croll Centre served as a clearing house for emergency cases during disastrous flood.
Sub-branch Treasurer, Alan Overell, plays a central role in organizing emergency headquarters at Graceville Methodist Church hall.
1975
End of Vietnam War.
1979
Sherwood Sub-branch celebrates Sixty Years.
1980
Service members (those not having seen active service), admitted to RSL.
1981
Club nights introduced by Sherwood Sub-branch and Sherwood Services Club as fund raising for war veterans’ homes.
1982
Sherwood and Indooroopilly Sub-branches combine as Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch.
National plebiscite allows all categories of service to become members of RSL.
Trevor Langtry elected first President Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-Branch, two year term.
1983
Thirty year anniversary of Women’s Auxiliary.
1986
Womens’ Auxiliary activities extended to Pinjarra Hills
1991
Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch holds service for Vietnam Veterans.
F.J. (Bill) Mulholland, former President of Indooroopilly Sub-branch elected President Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch.
1992
On the death Sub-branch President F.J. (Bill) Mulholland, Miles Farmer elected Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch President. He served in this role until the year 2000. Stan Logan receives Meritorious Service Medal.
1994
Unveiling and dedication of Harry Dalziel VC Honour Board.
Seventy-fifth Commemoration Annual Reunion. Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch annual donations policy formalised.
Remembrance Day. Practice of laying a single flower at the Kokoda Stone commenced.
1995
March. Rejection of first proposal by Sub-branch to sell Club buildings to the Sherwood Services Club.
Australia Remembers project: re-dedication plaques unveiled by Keiren Perkins, Dunlop Park Memorial Swimming Pool.
July. Australia Remembers celebrations at Graceville Memorial Park.
Commencement of Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch welfare programme and activities.
Computerisation of administration commences at Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch.
1996
Local primary schools enter RSL State Branch ‘Spirit of Australia’ competition. Graceville school winners.
1997
New lease of Croll Memorial Centre signed. Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch moves from Croll Memorial Hall to 2 Clewley Street.
Croll Memorial Precinct established
1998
Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch a member of the newly formed Brisbane North District.
April. Platoon participating in re-enactment of Dungarees recruiting march, 1915 arrives at Oxley State School.
Women’s Auxiliary disbands.
November. Presentation of Emily Schindler welfare report.
1999
July. Keeping in Touch newsletter introduced. First welfare Co-ordinator, Ed.Vandereit appointed.
November. Ron McElwaine elected as President of Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch
2000
Ron McElwaine commences first term as President of Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch
2001
January. Bill Wright, Jim Underdown recipients of Moreton Australia Day award.
June. Unveiling of refurbished Boer War memorial, St. Matthew’s cemetery, Sherwood; refurbishment part of Centenary of Federation of Australia project.
November. Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch incorporated.
Twenty local schools now involved in the sale of Anzac Day badges and Commemoration Day poppies.
Commencement of recording Sub-branch veterans’ World War II recollections by three local secondary schools.
Commencement of phone contact of sub-branch veterans over seventy-five years and introduction of Wednesday morning tea.
2002
August. Kokoda Memorial plaque commissioned by Sherwood-Indooroopilly for placing in Croll Memorial Precinct.
November. Partners attended Annual Reunion for first time.
Printing and distribution of Members Support News commenced.
Drop-in Day (Wednesday) introduced.
2003
January. Contract signed re sale of Sherwood Services Club building.
January. Providore Ross Garry receives Ryan Australia Day award.
March. Commencement of computer training for sub-branch members.
May. Sub-branch’s first Vietnam Veterans’ Day – luncheon for eighty veterans.
Centenary of Brisbane Municipal Concert Band. Inauguration by Sub-Branch of annual award to a member of the band.
Sub-branch volunteers commence driving Greenslopes Hospital’s bus three times weekly.
December. Brisbane City Council approves extensions to 2 Clewley Street.
2004
Western Suburbs Veterans Support Network commences, co-ordinating pensions and welfare work of Sherwood Indooroopilly, Kenmore Moggill and Centenary Suburbs sub-brances.
Eighty-fifth Annual Reunion. Launching of limited edition of Outline of Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-Branch History, 1979-2004.
Dennis Mosely, first graduate sub-branch computer training.
2005
October. Harry Dalziel V.C. Centre (building extensions) opened by Her Excellency, (Ms) Quentin Bryce, AC, Governor of Queensland
2006
August 6th. The Croll Memorial Precinct, including the Kokoda Stone etc, opened on sub-branch land by Major General John Pearn, AM, RFD, former Surgeon General to the Australian Defence Force; hall extensions completed.
The First Eighty Five Years 1919-2004 published.
2007
July. Women’s Auxiliary recommences; includes some members from the former auxiliary.
Vietnam veterans’ monthly happy hour commences.
Indooroopilly Hall sold, putting sub-branch finances, already sound, secure beyond doubt
Members’ needs survey conducted (to look for more ways to help).