July and August have been some of the busiest months I can remember, and it's given me a lot to reflect on.

I spent the back half of July in Victoria attending the 111th RSL Victoria State Annual Conference, where I had the privilege of presenting Betty Crittenden with the 2026 Anzac of the Year Award for Victoria. Betty's story, which encompasses 45 years of service to one Sub-Branch, is exactly why I do this job, and I've told more of it below. I also attended the RSL Veterans Ball, hosted by the Hawthorn RSL Sub-Branch, which was a great way to end the formal proceedings and for the veteran community to come together and celebrate.

At the same time, the Australian Defence Force went through one of its most significant leadership changes. We saw new Chiefs appointed to Army, Navy, Joint Capabilities, and the Defence Force itself. It's a genuine changing of the guard, and I want to acknowledge both those stepping up and those stepping back.

On policy, there's real movement, some of it encouraging, some of it requiring us to keep our foot firmly on the ground. The Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency now has its inaugural CEO in Brendan Cox in place, and I'm looking forward to working with him and the Agency.

Work continues on establishing an Ex-Services Organisation (ESO) Peak Body, as recommended by the Royal Commission. And our fight against the $5,000 allied health cap moves into a new phase, with sector-wide consultations taking place from August.

We're also continuing to back communities fighting to protect significant Defence sites from divestment, and looking ahead to October, when the nation will mark 25 years since Australian service in Afghanistan began.

There's a lot in this edition, as always. Have a read, have your say in our survey below, and as always, thank you for everything you do for the RSL.

Cheers,

Pete

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There are a few things to update you on in this space:

Allied Health Services Cap

RSL Australia’s opposition to the proposed $5,000 annual cap on allied health services hasn't softened, and we’ve now formalised that position. Together with nine other national veteran service organisation, we sent a joint open letter to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, outlining our position and seeking to work together on an alternative approach. I truly believe the Government's energy is better spent on targeting the small number of allied health service providers who are overservicing, not on the 25,000+ veterans who are already managing enough. This isn't what the Royal Commission intended when it recommended on removing barriers to care. Sector-wide consultations begin in August, and I'll be pushing hard for that alternative. Read the open letter.

ESO Peak Body

Work continues on establishing a national ESO Peak Body, a key Royal Commission recommendation (Recommendation 89), backed by the Minister and DVA. RSL Australia, alongside a small group of fellow ESOs, developed the implementation pathway that has shaped DVA's consultations with the sector over the past six months. I support the principles guiding this work: transparency, fairness and inclusiveness, and will keep working with our sector partners to build a genuine mechanism for ESOs to advocate together for veterans and families of veterans.

Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency

I'm pleased to welcome Brendan Cox as the inaugural CEO of the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency. Sitting within DVA, the Agency is designed to give veterans and families a clearer, more coordinated "no wrong door" pathway into support, including for those with more complex needs. I, together with RSL Australia, will be working closely with Brendan and his team, drawing on our established network of State and Sub-Branches and Wellbeing Hubs. It reinforces something I've said for a long time: not every veteran is broken, and the League already has a ready-made network standing by to help.

Defence Estate Divestment

The Senate inquiry into the management of Defence estate assets continues, with its reporting date now extended to 15 September 2026. RSL Australia lodged a submission and I appeared before the Committee as a witness, while State Branches contributed detail on individual sites and their own advocacy. We're supporting local communities organising to protect sites that matter to them, including in Tasmania and around Victoria Barracks in Sydney. Defence's community information sessions are rolling out nationally, so check defence.gov.au for one near you. I'd ask every member to think about the sites that matter to you and get involved in campaigns to protect them from divestment.

Institute of Veterans' Advocacy (IVA)

In the last few weeks, we’ve had significant discussions with the IVA. We’ve taken some positive steps to ensure we are aligned in delivering improved training and pathways for advocates.

We support the aim of the IVA to better support our advocates. I'll keep you posted as membership conversations continue.

Victoria’s 2026 State Conference

Congress season continued during July with Victoria's turn, and it was a genuine highlight of my year so far.

The 111th RSL Victoria State Annual Conference was held on Saturday 25 July, bringing together 149 delegates and observers from 117 Sub-Branches, plus more than 60 joining online. In my address, I spoke about honouring the League's history while building a better, more focused organisation, one where the care and wellness of the veteran community sits at the centre of everything we do.

It was my genuine pleasure to present Betty Crittenden with the 2026 Anzac of the Year Award for Victoria, recognising over four decades of service to the Mount Evelyn Sub-Branch. More on Betty below.

We also heard from Victorian State Minister Natalie Suleyman MP, Shadow Minister Tim McCurdy MP, and DVA Secretary, Alison Frame and DVA Deputy Secretary Policy & Programs, Andrew Kefford.

RSL Victoria State President, Dr Mark Schröffel, spoke to the importance of governance reform alongside our core purpose of advocacy and wellbeing.

The RSL Veterans Ball, hosted by Hawthorn Sub-Branch, was the perfect way to end proceedings. Congratulations to Victoria on a strong Conference, and thank you to everyone who made the trip.

New South Wales hosts its Congress in October, and I'll bring you a wrap up then.

Some people build organisations. Betty Crittenden built a community.

At 98 years old, Betty has been a fixture of the Mount Evelyn RSL Sub-Branch in Victoria for 45 years, and this month I was proud to recognise that with the 2026 RSL Australia Anzac of the Year Award for Victoria.

Betty and her late husband John Urand, an Air Force veteran, moved to Mount Evelyn in 1981 and threw themselves into Sub-Branch life. While John took on the Secretary, Treasurer and eventually President roles, Betty built the Women's Auxiliary from scratch, running dinner dances and twice-weekly bingo nights that kept the Sub-Branch afloat. When it outgrew its meeting room, it was Betty who pushed the local Shire for a proper clubroom. As she puts it, "You can't say no to things."

She presided over the Auxiliary for 22 years, still sells Anzac badges and Remembrance poppies each year, and is proudest of transforming Mount Evelyn's Memorial Gardens from a neglected corner block into what she calls "my baby." Betty was also awarded the RSL National Certificate of Merit with Gold Badge in 2013 and remains a life member of the Women's Auxiliary.

Betty, on behalf of every veteran your work has supported: Thank You.

Do you know a veteran or family members of veterans contributing in ways that never make the news?

Betty’s story is one of thousands. RSL Australia's #StillServing campaign exists to find and tell them. NOMINATE A VETERAN

Afghanistan War Anniversary

Sunday 11 October 2026, DVA will deliver the national commemorative service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, marking 25 years since the start Australia's involvement in the Afghanistan war.

More than 40,000 Australians served in Afghanistan and across the wider Middle East over two decades, and the service will honour them, their families and the coalition partners they served beside.

Registration is open now to attend the service, and DVA is inviting the public to contribute to its Wall of Remembrance. The ’Wall’ is an evolving, community-led tribute where all Australians can share a contemplation or memory of a loved one connected to the ADF.

I'd encourage every Sub-Branch to start thinking about how you'll mark this anniversary locally.

The service will be broadcast live on ABC iView for those who can't be there in person.

Visit dva.gov.au/Afghanistan-anniversary to register your attendance to the National Commemorative Service in Canberra.

July saw one of the most significant leadership handovers in the ADF's recent history, with four senior appointments changing hands within days.

Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley became Chief of Navy, succeeding Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, who was promoted to Chief of the Defence Force.

Air Marshal Glen Braz took over as Chief of Joint Capabilities from Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, who was appointed the 42nd Chief of Army, the first woman to hold the role, taking over from Lieutenant General Simon Stuart.

Warrant Officer Brad Doyle also became Army's 13th Regimental Sergeant Major, succeeding Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham.

I want to thank each of the outgoing leaders for their service; and congratulate all the new appointees. It's a genuine changing of the guard, and I look forward to working with the new leadership team.

I want to hear from you.

Last month I included a short survey and received a good number of responses, but I want to hear from more of you, so I'm putting the call out again.

It helps me understand what matters most to you, how you want to engage with RSL Australia, and where I and the League can do better.

1 July - Formation of Royal Australian Army Corps and Royal Australian Medical Corps (1902)

1 July - Formation of Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps (1903)

10 July - Commonwealth Naval Forces granted the title of Royal Australian Navy (1911)

19 July - Battle of Fromelles (1916)

23 July - Battle of Pozieres (1916)

27 July - Korean Veterans’ Day (1953)

28 July - Crash of the MRH-90 Taipan (2023)

31 July - End of Operations in Iraq (2009)