Nelson Bay RSL Sub-Branch

12/04/2026

Keep an eye out around town leading up to ANZAC day for our dedicated badge and memorabilia sellers ! Today at Bunnings “Dudley” the Chihuahua earned a couple of Australian flags in his harness 🇦🇺

11/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1570416187777590&set=a.649160589903159&type=3

Rats Of Tobruk Victoria Cross Recipients - Lest We Forget

EDIT - I made this poster years ago. The reason i wrote "Recipients" as your right. its earned. not won.

11/04/2026

April 10th, 2026, marks the 85th anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk, Australia’s first major battle of the Second World War.

Today we reflect on not only a historic battle of the Second World War, but the character of Australian soldiers who endured it.

From April to December 1941, Australian soldiers endured a relentless siege from a German-Italian army commanded by General Erwin Rommel. The ordeal was marked by constant artillery fire, aerial bombardment, and the unyielding desert climate.

Reflecting on the Siege of Tobruk reminds us that it was more than a battle; it was a powerful demonstration of how community can be forged in the most challenging circumstances, and a lasting reminder that, above all, we must look out for one another.

Read more about the 'Rats of Tobruk' here: https://www.melbournelegacy.com.au/85-years-on-remembering-the-spirit-of-the-rats-of-tobruk

11/04/2026

Come on down to Bunnings at Taylor’s Beach tomorrow from 0930-1430 and catch up with Phil Howell and I and buy a badge for ANZAC day ! All the proceeds go towards the Veteran’s in our town !!! Lest We Forget

10/04/2026

04/04/2026

🌺𝐒𝐢𝐱 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡! 🌺

We are incredibly proud to share the completed poppy blankets that will be on display at our Nelson Bay War Memorial this ANZAC Day, created by the dedicated and talented ladies of the Nelson Bay RSL Auxiliary.

For the past six years, these amazing women have knitted and crocheted hundreds of poppies in their own time, all in honour of our fallen veterans. Each poppy takes approximately 25 minutes to make — that's an extraordinary 367 hours of knitting and crocheting across 10 dedicated workers. The result is nothing short of breathtaking. 🔴💜

A huge thank you also goes to BJC Covers for their incredible sewing skills in preparing the backing panels — your contribution helped bring this vision to life!

This is what community looks like. We are so proud of each and every one of you. 🙏

03/04/2026

🐣 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐒𝐋 𝐒𝐮𝐛-𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡! 🐰
This week, our Easter Bunny hopped around the Port Stephens region spreading joy and Easter cheer to our wonderful veterans and residents at Harbourside Haven (Les Johnson House), Regis Aged Care, and Uniting Aged Care.

It was an absolute privilege to visit these incredible people, share some smiles, and hand out a few chocolate eggs — because everyone deserves to feel celebrated at Easter! 🍫

A huge thank you to the amazing staff at all three facilities for welcoming us with open arms. The smiles on everyone's faces made it all worthwhile. 💛

Wishing our veterans, their families, and the wider community a very Happy Easter! 🌸

01/04/2026

𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐑𝐒𝐋 𝐬𝐮𝐛-𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 — 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 "𝐁𝐞𝐭" 𝐆𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞 (𝐧𝐞́𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧), 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟔 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲.

Bet's story is one of quiet courage. In November 1942, at just 16 years old, she enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) — putting her age up by two years to meet the minimum enlistment age of 18. She completed her initial training at Ingleburn before being posted as a signaller to the 18th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery at Fort Scratchley in her home city of Newcastle.

Bet went on to serve at Fort Wallace in Stockton,
the Newcastle Coastal Artillery Headquarters, and later at Headquarters 12 Line of Communications Signals in Sydney.
She was undertaking a signals course at Bonegilla when the war ended in August 1945, and served on until her honourable discharge in March 1946 — as Signalman NF443382.

After the war, Bet worked at a jeweller in Newcastle, played first-grade hockey, and in 1950 married Roy Goudge — a fellow veteran of the 2/7th Infantry Battalion. They shared 58 happy years together. In her later years, Bet remained characteristically active, never having driven a car in her life and walking everywhere instead. She credited her longevity simply: stay active, stay social.

She is survived by her children Neil and Stephanie, their partners Linda and Kurt, grandchildren Luke, Kirt and Rickie, and great-grandchild Remy.

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝑰 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆." — 𝑩𝒆𝒕 𝑮𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒆

In keeping with Bet's wishes, a private family funeral service will take place. Funerals by France Family Funerals.

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑙𝑑, 𝑎𝑠 𝑤𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑙𝑑;
𝐴𝑔𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚, 𝑛𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑚𝑛.
𝐴𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔,
𝑊𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚.

𝑳𝙚𝒔𝙩 𝙒𝒆 𝑭𝙤𝒓𝙜𝒆𝙩.

31/03/2026

On ANZAC Day, Australians and New Zealanders come together to recognise all who have served – whether in wars, conflicts, peacekeeping or other operations.

It’s a heartfelt reminder of the sacrifices made for our way of life, and of the values that shaped and unite our communities.

Every person who takes part in ANZAC Day helps to carry the ANZAC legacy forward – hand to hand, heart to heart.

Let’s show the ANZAC spirit lives here.

Subscribe to our channel - https://rslqld.social/YoutubeSubscribe