Sub-Branch Committee
President
Appointed to fill Casual Vacancy
Confirmed at General Meeting 12h March 2026
Executive Member
A resident of Beersheba, Geoff first came to the Village in 2017, lived here for a year then returned to Mudgee to help with family. He came back to Narrabeen in 2023, rejoined the sub-Branch and has settled well-and-truly into life in the Village.
Geoff lived in the Mudgee/Gulgong area as a child; his family had lived there for generations. He was educated in nearby Coolah.
He enlisted in Coolah, serving first from 1972 to 1975. He worked on a property in Gunnedah for five years, but the Forces called again and he re-enlisted in 1980, serving until 2010. In total Geoff spent 38 years in the Royal Australian Engineers.
After base training in Moorebank Geoff was posted to Townsville for five years, then back to Holsworthy.
In 1989 Geoff was in Namibia as part of Australia’s contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Force. That was followed by service in Iraq.
The School of Military Engineering, Holsworthy, kept Geoff busy for sixteen years, before he left the full-time Army in the Olympic year, 2000. He worked as a truck driver while continuing to serve in the Army Reserve, still at the School of Engineering but now as a civil servant.
He joined the RSL in Ingleburn on his return and became actively involved; he was later Secretary of the Mudgee Vietnam Veteran’s Association.
Geoff says: “The RSL has been good to me, so I want to give something back.”
John Sowden
Vice President
Served as Secretary from 12th March 2020 until 12th March 2026
Elected as VicePresident 12th March 2026.
Born in Sydney 23 April 1941 and lived at Northwood on Sydney’s lower North Shore.
Dad was in the RAAF.
At age 10, moved to Brisbane and enjoyed the rest of my primary schooling at ‘Churchie’. Back to Sydney in 1956. Completed secondary schooling at Barker College, Hornsby. Following the Leaving Certificate, deferred University and accepted the offer to enter RMC Duntroon with 75 other aspiring young men in January 1960.
Had the ambition to graduate as an Army Officer with a university degree (UNSW). The link between the University of NSW and RMC collapsed in 1961. Requesting discharge in February 1962, when taking up the deferred university opportunity, working and studying part time, graduating in 1967 with Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University. Married to Elizabeth in 1966.
Work commenced as a market research officer with Colgate-Palmolive before joining the transport company that did all of Colgate’s product distribution across Australia. Attempting to gain further experience in the transport industry, leave of absence was granted before emigrating to Canada in June 1968, living in Vancouver before returning to Australia via Europe in December 1969. Two children – daughter 1970, son 1972.
In 1972 bought a newsagency at Abbotsford Point. Built up the business before selling in 1976 and moving to the Blue Mountains.
Worked with a bulk haulage company at Lidsdale (west of Lithgow) from 1977. Established own company, 5 years later, a bulk haulage and storage company called “Mountain Bulk Haulage” with its office in Leura.
Elected to the board of Blue Mountains Grammar School in 1989, was Chairman 1991-2006.
In 2006 we visited Uganda and have since been involved as volunteers with a primary school and health centre in a poor peasant village called Ibulanku. It has 240 students with 50 children sponsored and we also sponsor achievers into secondary school as boarders.
Left Leura residence in August 2014 and downsized to the Dardanelles, at War Vets RSL LifeCare Village.
Joined RSL NSW – War Veterans Village (Narrabeen) RSL sub-Branch on 12th May 2016. Served as Vice President, Trustee, Congress Delegate and now Secretary.
Peter Cole
Treasurer (filled Casual Vacancy January 2021)
Elected at AGM 2023 – Reelected AGM 2026
Website Coordinator
Executive Member
Born in England, Peter is the son of a decorated Royal Navy NCO Submariner who brought his family to Australia in 1958 shortly before he retired from the service in 1961.
Educated at Manly Boys High until 1964 Peter had various jobs until he was called up for National Service in 1967. Following recruit training at Puckapunyal in Victoria, he served the remainder of his two years at Headquarters – Eastern Command at Paddington.
Leaving the Army in 1969 he joined the ANZ Bank where he worked in various branches until 1981 when he left to take up a position with a local Credit Union from where he retired in 2007.
He married Helen in 1969 – they have two daughters and three grandchildren.
He was a member of a local Apex Club for several years and has been a Justice of the Peace since the early 70’s.
Peter enjoys lawn bowls at Seaforth BC where he has been a member since 1992, cycling, kayaking and has recently started a small vegetable garden
Ralph Clark
Secretary
Elected 12th March 2026
Particulars to come.
TBA
TBA
Reserved for new Committee Member
Committee Member
John Sowden
Trustee – Perpetual appointment continued 12th March 2020
Replaced by RSL Custodian Pty Ltd 10th August 2023
Ian Masters
(Deceased 24th July 2024)
Trustee – Perpetual appointment
Replaced by RSL Custodian Pty Ltd 10th August 2023
John Hillard
Trustee – Perpetual appointment continued 12th March 2020
Replaced by RSL Custodian Pty Ltd 10th August 2023