111th RSL Victoria State Annual Conference – wrap up
RSL Victoria held the 111th State Annual Conference today, Saturday July 25 2026, at RACV City Club Melbourne.
In attendance were 149 delegates and observers representing 117 RSL Victoria Sub-Branches, with more than 60 representing online.
National President’s Address and ANZAC of the Year
Following opening formalities, the State Annual Conference began with RSL Australia President, Peter Tinley AM, providing an address.
Mr. Tinley spoke of honouring the storied history of the RSL but working towards “a better, modern, thriving and more focused league,” where the care and wellness of the veteran community is of paramount importance in building a flourishing veteran community into the future.
“No one can reach deeper and further and wider than the League,” Mr. Tinley said, speaking on the importance and scope of the RSL’s work and the need for the modernisation of the organisation.
Mr. Tinley then presented Betty Crittendon with the ANZAC of the Year Award, for her tireless support of ex-service people, stating that Betty “is a quintessential role model,” having fundraised for the RSL for over four decades. The care and dedication she continues to show her Sub-Branch and local communities drew significant applause from the room.
RSL Victoria congratulates Betty on her award and sincerely thanks her for her long-standing service to the veteran community.
Guest Speakers
RSL’s national President was followed by Guest Speakers Victorian State Minister for Veterans’, The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Tim McCurdy MP.
Minster Suleyman discussed her government’s support of the veteran community, with $2.6 million provided in veteran grants in the last year, as well as the new State Government funding for ANZAC Day, with more than $600,000 allocated for this year and next year’s Dawn Service at the Shrine.
Minister Suleyman spoke of the importance of continuing to educate younger generations on military history and the sacrifices made by Australian service men and women and the success of the Spirit of the ANZAC prize, which has seen applications double in recent times.
Mr. McCurdy emphasised how pleased he is to have his role, his excitement to be advocating for veterans and the importance of showing respect for all who have served.
His admiration for the RSL was clear, describing Sub-Branches as “the eyes and ears” of the community, and the RSL as “the glue” keeping that community together.
Like Minister Suleyman, Mr. McCurdy stressed the vital need of community education so that understanding the sacrifices of veterans only increases over time.
State President’s Report
RSL Victoria State President Dr. Mark Schröffel’s State President’s Report presented his President’s Report covering the year 2025 and looking forward to the future of the organisation.
Thanking volunteers and advocates, Dr. Schröffel said the “scale and importance of our work is immense.”
Turning his attention to the future, Dr. Schröffel noted the challenges of Sub-Branch succession but emphasised that the clear plan RSL Victoria has put forward to modernise will ensure the survival of the organisation well into the future.
“The fundamental thing to agree on is our destination,” he said in a call for the RSL to stick to its core purpose of supporting veterans and families and putting that advocacy and wellbeing work first.
Simplification of governance is key, allowing Sub-Branches to focus on their work as is the need to remain unified.
RSL Victoria 2025 Annual Report endorsed
Celebrating the 110th anniversary of RSL Victoria as well as looking back at the work of the RSL with the ex-service community and covering all areas of organisational impact in the lives of the ex-service community, the 2025 RSL Victoria Annual Report was endorsed by those attending.
To read the RSL Victoria 2025 Annual Report, please click HERE.
Financial Reports – 2025 Treasurers Report and Financial Statements
RSL Victoria Honorary Treasurer Timothy Holden presented the Treasurers Report for 2025, with input from RSL Victoria Chief Financial Officer Jack Crawford.
Strong financial management was apparent, despite significant challenges and operating expenses.
The impressive result of the ANZAC and Poppy Appeals in 2025 were noted as the critical income driver providing funding for advocacy and veteran and family support, with more than $8,234,000 raised across both appeals during the year.
Discussion then turned to the 2025 Financial Statements, which were subsequently endorsed by those in attendance.
To read the 2025 Audited Financial Statements, please click HERE.
Mr. Holden then confirmed that Grant Thornton would continue to act as RSL Victoria’s independent auditor for the 2026 financial year.
CEO Report
RSL Victoria CEO Sue Cattermole provided her CEO Report, covering areas of State Branch operations during 2025.
Ms. Cattermole highlighted the increased focus on strengthening veteran support, with a focus firmly on support via advocacy, commemoration and more as the RSL’s core purpose.
With more than $63 million in veteran compensation secured by RSL advocates in 2025, Ms. Cattermole stressed that, despite this impressive result, “access to treatment and recognition of long-overdue service-related injuries” is the key result of the RSL’s work.
Commemoration continues to be an enduring and important area of the RSL’s work, with over 50,000 attending the ANZAC Day Dawn Service in 2025 demonstrating the wider public’s commitment to supporting the ex-service community, with the public’s generosity evident via more than $13 million in donations, grants and sponsorships.
Growth in membership was noted, with over 2000,000 Victorians now choosing to be RSL members, reflecting the continuing relevance of the RSL in communities around the state.
Ms Cattermole closed by thanking the Sub-Branch network for its support and ongoing commitment to the RSL’s work.
2026 ANZAC Day and ANZAC Appeal Ambassadors recognised
RSL Victoria’s 2026 ANZAC Day and ANZAC Appeal ambassadors were recognised and thanked for their efforts in championing the ANZAC Spirit, their commitment to the ex-service community and telling their personal stories of personal sacrifice publicly.
RSL Victoria thanks our 2026 ANZAC Day and ANZAC Appeal Ambassadors:
- Rebekah Herron
- Sherez Ahmadi
- Ricky Morris
- Suzy Wilson
- Helen Ward
- Jennifer Ward
- Marcus McEwen
Guest Speakers – Alison Frame Secretary of the Department for Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and Andrew Kefford Deputy Secretary Policy & Programs
The State Conference’s final guest speaker was Ms. Alison Frame, Secretary of the Department for Veterans’ Affairs.
Ms. Frame focused on the $5,000 threshold on allied health care for veterans, stressing that the implementation of this threshold does not include expenditure on a range of medical care.
She said that faster decision-making and increased responsiveness to veteran care is a feature of the simplified and streamlined legislation. She spoke of the importance of RSL’s free advocacy services and acknowledged the efforts of the RSL in stepping up and providing trusted services free-of-charge to veterans.
Ms. Frame also praised the proposed governance changes put forward by RSL Victoria as part of the Transformation Project that would increase transparency and oversight.
Mr. Andrew Kefford joined Ms. Frame to reply to questions from attendees, particularly in legislative areas and forthcoming changes, data safety and information sharing and to stress the importance of ongoing discussions with stakeholders in the ex-service sector, of which the RSL is a major part.
RSL Victoria Transformation Project – update and discussion
Proceedings closed with a lengthy afternoon session on RSL Victoria’s Transformation Project, with discussion focused on the following key areas:
- Transformation Project – background and vision
- State Branch governance reform
- Sub-Branch governance and statewide service model
- Financial stability
- The importance of collaboration and commitment to work together.
RSL State President Dr. Mark Schröffel said that “bold and decisive steps forward” were required for the organisation to thrive, emphasising the vital role Sub-Branches play in the transformative process.
Dr. Schröffel said that the transition to a company limited by guarantee would provide a new foundation for RSL’s governance. Joined by Andrew Donovan of Thoughtpost Governance, an improved, cohesive statewide structure, stronger leadership, greater transparency and capability and ongoing relevance for all veterans were listed as essential elements of the transformative journey, while maintaining the RSL as a “veteran-focused and veteran-led” organisation being a key to the future.
RSL Victoria CEO Sue Cattermole spoke on the need to update the rules and By-laws of the RSL and said that proposed governance changes would allow volunteers and Sub-Branches to focus “on what they do best” – serving and supporting the ex-service community unburdened by the complexities of the current structure.
Ms. Cattermole said that better outcomes for veterans and families is the key purpose of RSL Victoria’s Transformation Project as well as protecting local Sub-Branches and enabling them to thrive.
Examples of transformative collaboration were presented, with the merger of the RSL Sunraysia Sub-Branches and the Surf Coast Geelong Service Model featured as glimpses of a potential future state of the RSL.
RSL Victoria CFO Jack Crawford spoke about securing the RSL’s financial future, stressing the “complex financial environment” the RSL is currently operating under, pointing the way to a need for diversification of revenue streams and other measures to build improved overall financial capability, with financial resilience as the ultimate goal.
Attendees were provided the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback on all aspects of the Transformation Project. Questions on voting for a proposed membership council, Sub-Branch sustainability and other topics were covered during this session.
As the RSL works towards securing a stable and sustainable future, alleviating pressures on Sub-Branches and continuing to support veterans and their families, the State Annual Conference closed with Dr. Schröffel reiterating the importance of the RSL’s collaborative efforts, with veterans and families at the center of every decision made and action taken.
RSL Victoria thanks all Sub-Branch delegates and observers for joining us at the 111th State Annual Conference as we plan for the future and strive to continue providing the best possible support and advocacy for Victorian veterans and their families.
