By Jesse Graham
HEALESVILLE RSL now has two members featured in the Victorian RSL Hall of Fame, with commemorations officer Bob Gannaway receiving an award on Saturday, 26 November.
Mr Gannaway was inducted into the hall of fame at the end of November during an event at the Melbourne Convention Centre, to celebrate the centenary of Victoria’s RSLs.
Speaking to the Mail on Wednesday, 30 November, Mr Gannaway said he was “flattened” when his name was called out, and that he didn’t expect to be inducted.
“You hear all the stories over the years, of what people have done, and you think, ‘No way, it’s not going to happen – it’d be nice, but it’s not going to happen’,” he said.
“I nearly fell over.”
After joining the Healesville RSL in 1993, Mr Gannaway worked as secretary and commemorations officer, working to run funerals and to organise events, such as Anzac Day, Remembrance Day, and services for Vietnam veterans.
He also uses his background in computer work to create newsletters, flyers and banners for events, as well as helping with communications.
He said joining came after a long family involvement with RSLs, with his father being the president of the Boronia RSL in 1955.
“He would have been very young at that time, and as a World War II veteran, it was quite an achievement,” Mr Gannaway said.
“We grew up as kids surrounded by the RSL, so there was that history and we were always attending services and we were always attending the march.
“It’s been a bit of a rocky road at times – you have your ups and downs – but it’s been very fulfilling, a very fulfilling role.”
Much of Mr Gannaway’s work at the RSL in recent years has been focusing on the centenary of Anzac and World War I.
Weeks after the Remembrance Day service, he said all eyes were on next year’s Anzac Day, and planning for the centenary of the armistice on Remembrance Day, 2018.
“In 2018, it just so happens that it also falls on a Sunday – as of this year, and most years, it’s a week day, it’s a work day … they can’t attend like they can on Anzac Day, but that’ll change in 2018, so we’re expecting a very big day.”
Mr Gannaway joins Brian Luscombe in the Hall of Fame, with Mr Luscombe being inducted in November 2015.
