RECENTLY retired Victorian RSL president, Major General David McLachlan, leaves his post with the organisation in good shape.
There are 65,000 service and affiliate members and 120,000 community and social members across 280 sub-branches statewide. Eight of those sub-branches are run by women.
“The fundamentals haven’t changed in 100 years,” General McLachlan said. “It’s always been about looking after mates so you know there’s always someone there to help you.
“But the RSL is more inclusive now, and one of its main challenges is that it has to continue to remain relevant to veterans and the wider community.”
He said the organisation has always been committed to good governance and is inherently transparent, meaning it is well-structured to meet future challenges.
During his 15-year term General McLachlan saw many changes, including the rise in popularity of Anzac Day.
“In 2002 there were a couple of hundred people at the Anzac Day Shrine service,” he said.
“In 2003, it was brought on to the steps of the Shrine. Last year 67,000 people attended the dawn service.
“The respect the Victorian people pay is immense.”
General McLachlan’s career in the army began when he was 21. He had spent time in the cadets at school and was keen to go to Duntroon, but his mother, widowed when her son was 14, was reluctant to let him go.
He was called up for National Service in 1956, and at age 21 applied for Portsea’s Officer CadetSchool, graduating from there in 1959 and embarking on a long and distinguished career.
He served “all over” Australia, spent time as the only Aussie in a British unit in Malaysia, was involved in aerial supply delivery to Commonwealth forces in Borneo, then a couple of Vietnam postings where he was underground in Saigon and travelled within the country during operations.
He also spent time in Germany with British and US units.
“I’ve had a very diverse career,” he said.
“I’ve been a very lucky officer, having had the opportunity to command most ranks – one of many Australian people who’ve had great opportunities in serving the nation.
“The highlight for me has been all the men and women who serve and the work they do.
“Vietnam split the community, but since then, the work that was done in Timor Leste, the first gulf war, service in Iraq and Afghanistan – these are tremendous feathers in the cap and show how great our men and women are.”
As for life post-RSL presidency, General McLachlan is a trustee of the Shrine of Remembrance and will continue some involvement with the RSL here and interstate.
But he’ll be taking on some other assignments too, such as painting around the house, enjoying cups of tea with his wife and attending the birthdays of two young grandchildren.