By Taylah Eastwell
The Lilydale RSL has been rocked by the passing of their second sub-branch president within eight months.
President Paul Payne sadly passed away in December last year after a long battle with cancer.
Mr Payne, who was formerly vice president, took over the top role at the RSL after the passing of Mr Parsons on May 2 2020. The pair had led the RSL side-by-side over the previous six years.
Mr Payne told the Star Mail in June last year that his main focus as president was to uphold Mr Parson’s legacy and continue with the tasks he had set out to achieve. While the pair had similar goals, Mr Payne admitted his leadership style would be “slightly different”.
“If you’re trying to match up to someone else you’re going to fail so I’ll have to do it my way,” Mr Payne said.
“I’m middle of the road, I’ll push the limits but there is a time you have to go ‘right this is not doing us any good, we’re spending more time on this item then we need to’.
Mr Payne stepped up during a particularly tough period for the club, when Covid lockdown meant that many of the club’s activities and plans were curtailed.
Mr Payne grew up in Port Melbourne where his time with the Sea Cadets inspired him at a young age to join the Royal Australian Navy in 1969.
He trained as an EMWE (Electrical Mechanical Weapons Electronics) and then served on two patrol boats, HMAS Madang and HMAS Ardent, in both Pacific and Australian waters.
This was the start of a twenty year career in the Navy for Paul, serving in a number of roles in Australia and the USA.
During this time, Mr Payne married Josephine and they had a family of five children.
Upon leaving the Navy in 1989, he moved his family to Coldstream where he became involved in the community.
He had a long association with the Coldstream Football Club, serving as trainer with the juniors and then president. He also took on the roles of secretary and treasurer of the Coldstream Cricket Club.
Mr Payne was a committed volunteer, devoting his time to the Coldstream Social and Sporting Club, the Eastern District Football League and the Eastern Football Netball League.
In 1997, he joined the Lilydale RSL and served as the treasurer, vice president and then as president in his final year.
Secretary of the Lilydale RSL Chris Newell, said “Paul was a very enthusiastic and committed supporter of the RSL and the services it provides to the veteran community.”
“His contribution to the Lilydale RSL has been without question considerable and one of selfless service to fellow members, veterans and the Lilydale community,” he said.
Mr Payne leaves behind his wife Jo and children Bec, Vanessa, Matt, Chris and Kathryn as well as his grandchildren.
