Sub-Branch Committee
President
Appointed to fill Casual Vacancy
Confirmed at General Meeting 11th July 2024
Executive Member
Born at Hoylake, Cheshire in 1939 and emigrated with family to Blayney near Bathurst in 1951.
Accepted into the Royal Australian Naval College in January 1955 and learned to fly training aircraft at Royal Victorian Aero Club eventually obtaining a private pilot’s license.
After graduating from RANC went to sea on HMAS Swan and later spent 15 months at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK.
After returning to Australia in 1958 my ear problems ruled me out of flying and I joined HMAS Warrego in the hydrographic service until I left the RAN as an acting sub-Lieutenant in 1960.
After a graduating from a cadetship in Quantity Surveying, I continued with The Commonwealth Department of Works in Sydney for a further two years.
Later joining Hooker Corporation’s Development divisions I advised on numerous aspects of construction throughout Australia from unit blocks to shopping complexes.
Following my term with Hooker I became involved in the court system, producing expert witness reports for contract disputes and private arbitrations.
In the early 1980’s I joined Multiplex as a Commercial Manager and in 1985 became Administration Manager on the Burswood Resort project in Perth eventually assuming the role of Company Representative.
Headhunted by Holland Stolte, Brisbane in 1988 I worked as Gold Coast Manager and later Queensland Manager.
After returning to Sydney in 1992 I rejoined a consultancy firm and finally retired in 2017.
John Sowden
Secretary
Elected 12th March 2020
Executive Member
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
Vice-President
Appointed to fill Casual Vacancy
Confirmed at General Meeting 11th July 2024
Treasurer
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
Leigh Haines
Fundraising Coordinator
Leigh was born in Balgowlah in 1940 and lived most of his life in Avalon Beach. He was educated at Newport Public School and Manly Boys’ High School, then undertook tertiary education in business management with Hemmingway Roberson. Leigh worked in the family retail business in Avalon Beach and a large company in London UK.
He was conscripted into National Service in 1959 and on completion of basic training was posted to the air defence regiment in Dee Why. Working through the ranks, he became a gun sergeant in 1962 and was commissioned in 1963 with a posting to Recruit Training Officer.
Leigh was transferred to the Officer Training Group, Eastern Command in 1968 and in 1974, was discharged from the Army Reserve after close to 15 years’ service.
Leigh Married Tricia in 1967. They have 3 sons and six grandchildren. During the years from 1959 to 1984, the family business prospered and diversified into two businesses. Tricia and Leigh bought one of the businesses.
In 1984, Leigh felt the need for a new challenge, so Tricia took over the business and Leigh became a business counsellor with the NSW Government’s commerce portfolio. He held various roles within the government including ministerial policy advisor and between 1993 and 2000 held the position of general manager of the small business branch.
In 1999, Tricia sold the business and in 2000 after working on the Olympic Business Program, Leigh retired from full-time employment. Over the next few years, Tricia and Leigh ran a business, consulting to government and small businesses.
In 2020, Tricia and Leigh sold the family home of some 50 years and moved to ANZAC Village.
TBA
Visitation Officer
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