By JESSE GRAHAM
DECADES of dedication to helping others have been rewarded again for Healesville’s Brian Luscombe, who was recently inducted into the Victorian RSL Hall of Fame.
Mr Luscombe, Healesville RSL president for the past four years and member since the 1960s, was inducted into the hall of fame on Saturday 21 November, at Melbourne’s Sofitel hotel.
Healesville RSL manager Gary Slater told the Mail that Brian was nominated for his “extensive” involvement with the branch, as well as his work in welfare, for which he drives members and social groups around the state on day-trips or to medical appointments.
“He takes them on day trips, overnight trips, he’ll visit nursing homes, RSL members, he’ll take them to their medical appointments,” he said.
“As an example, he’s picked them up, driven them to Shepparton to meet family members, because the lady was too elderly to get on a train.
Mr Slater said Mr Luscombe was “humbled” by the award, and that a group of about 20 people – including RSL staff and his grand-daughters – accompanied him to the awards night.
Mr Luscombe said being inducted into the Hall of Fame was an “honour”, and paid tribute to his wife, Anne, for her support.
“It’s indeed an honour, it really is,” he said.
“It’s not just for me – the staff are so good down there. Without Gary and Sue and the staff … you can’t do it without their backing, you can’t.
“And the main one I’ve got to thank is my dear wife for putting up with me never being home when I said I’m going to be – part of it belongs to her for putting up with me all these years.”
He said that he joined the RSL after getting out of the army, coming back to Healesville in the mid-1960s.
As for his work in welfare, his philosophy is simple: “I work on the theory that if someone needs a hand and I can do it, I just go ahead and do it”.
“I don’t look to be out in the forefront, I’ll put it like that,” he said.
Mr Luscombe was also named the Yarra Ranges Council 2015 Citizen of the Year at its annual Australia Day awards.
At a council meeting on Tuesday 24 November, councillors Fiona McAllister and Jim Child congratulated Mr Luscombe on his induction in speeches at the end of the night.
“It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person,” Cr McAllister said.
The councillors proposed sending a formal letter of congratulations on behalf of the council.
