The dedication of many decades to the local RSL sub-branch has been recognised through a lifetime RSL award presentation.
Brian Luscombe, who accomplished many milestones for the Healesville RSL while taking different leadership roles, received the life membership certificate on Monday 4 August.
“It’s a big honour,” Mr Luscombe said.
Mr Luscombe’s military journey kicked off locally, serving in the Australian Army’s Medical Corps based in Healesville.
He was a member of the Sergeants’ Mess in Healesville.
“I served in the Australian Army’s Medical Corps in Healesville for about three years in the early ‘60s,” he said.
“I did training for everything, but I ended up doing a lot of driving.
“When the army camp in Healesville was closed, I walked into (the Healesville RSL). I’ve been here on and off ever since.”
Summerleigh Lodge, a large guesthouse built in the ‘20s for travellers from Melbourne at 152 Albert Road, Healesville, was purchased as the new home for the Corps School in 1951 and became the Army School of Health.
In 1986, in a re-organisation of Army facilities, the minister of defence announced that the School of Army Health would be relocated to the former Officers Training Facility at Portsea.
Colette Shaw, the current Healesville RSL president, assumed the presidency in 2022, succeeding Mr Luscombe, who had held the role for 10 years.
“The Healesville RSL is what it is today, largely due to Brian’s presidency over the ten years prior to me. There were several issues prior to Brian taking on the presidency, and it’s fair to say that had Brian not stepped into the role, the Healesville RSL would not be the vibrant, community-based club that it is today, welcoming of everyone, whilst supporting our local veterans,” Ms Shaw said.
“Brian has become a great friend, confidant and someone whom I can go to for advice and support. It was Brian’s advice and confidence I sought out after Anzac Day 2022, when I was approached by our local Indigenous community to have their flag permanently installed in honour of local Indigenous veterans. With Brian and the committee’s support, we did install this at our 2023 Anzac Day Dawn Service.
“It is a legacy I remain forever proud of, and something that I’m not sure I could’ve achieved without Brian’s support and confidence. Brian’s lifetime RSL award is very much deserved for a man who puts others before himself time and again.”
Gary Slater, the former general manager of the Healesville RSL, worked together with Mr Luscombe for over 10 years until Mr Slater’s retirement in 2022.
Mr Slater said Brian came to the presidency with a long history of involvement at Healesville as a veteran member, RSL committee member, in various roles, and with an enormous public profile within the Healesville community.
“From general manager/driver of the local bus company, operator of the local cinema, president of the football club and on just about every committee involved with any community endeavour in Healesville over the past 30 years, Brian was connected and loved in the community,” he said.
“Brian and I rapidly developed a mutual respect and admiration for each other’s abilities and skills, and together we set forth on a mission to establish Healesville RSL sub-branch as the best for its size.
“Brian led from the front, developing strategic master planning to provide clear directions for the next 10, 20 and 50 years, infrastructure development to significantly upgrade the RSL facilities, enhancing and expanding veteran support services and instilling a positive community profile. On all of these issues, Brian would canvass opinion widely, listen with intent and act with integrity and openness.”
One of the many achievements by Mr Luscombe, Mr Slater pointed out, was changing the Healesville RSL to be more accessible to every community member, not just to veterans.
“The Healesville RSL profile in the community was pretty poor, with it being closed to everyone but veterans. It was pretty shabby inside and not a place to take your mum or kids,” the former general manager of the Healesville RSL said.
“Brian set about changing that perception by renovating the inside rooms, opening up the ‘Members Bar’ to a multipurpose function room, renovating the outside decking area to include children’s playground equipment and making quiet lounge areas outside of the gaming room and bars.
“Brian made it easier for community groups to join and come to the RSL, and he initiated programs within the RSL members and the community could participate in, and he ensured the RSL supported a wide range of community events.
“As a consequence, now Healesville supports U3A, Probus and other community group meetings and events, state primary and high school excursions and end of year celebrations, civic art display events, community charity fundraising events and has created its own scrabble, mahjong, day club, golf and billiards clubs open to members and community alike. The RSL now has a well-deserved good community citizen reputation thanks to Brian’s work.”
Looking back on his journey with the Healesville RSL, the award recipient could come up with many memories, from renovating the club, Anzac badge sales, to bus trips.
“Back in the old days, the community wasn’t allowed in, but over the years, we’ve put our hands out to the community, and they’ve come in,” Mr Luscombe said.
“I also started up bus trips for the RSL members about 10 years ago, and we still do it all over the place. We have at least one or two trips every month.
“You can’t do anything unless you’ve had a lot of people help you. We’ve got a good committee. The staff are terrific, and you’ve got that backup.”
