Gosford RSL said it is “incredibly honoured and humbled” to receive the Spirit of ANZAC Award for the second consecutive year. The RSL & Services Clubs Association Spirit of Anzac Award recognises a club that has made an outstanding contribution throughout the year to its members and the local community.
The award epitomises the sacrifices of those who served in the defence of the nation and in the traditions of the ANZACs – courage, endurance, initiative, discipline, and mateship – values on which our RSL and services clubs were founded.
“The Board, Management and staff at Gosford RSL are incredibly honoured and humbled to receive the Spirit of ANZAC Award for 2022,” Gosford RSL Club CEO Russell Cooper said.
“Our community is at the heart of everything we do, we feel a deep obligation and passion for assisting those in our community who need support and are unable to find it from other sources.
“We are also committed to supporting those great local community organisations whose focus is helping vulnerable people on the Central Coast. To be recognised with the Spirit of ANZAC Award, for doing something we are passionate about, means so much to the whole Gosford RSL family,” he concluded.
Gosford RSL supports the Gosford RSL Sub Branch which celebrated its 103rd anniversary in late 2021 and “is very proud of the work that is done to support Diggers past and present and the heritage and history connected to this wonderful institution”.
In addition to the support of the local community through ClubGrants, Gosford RSL raised $50,000 through raffles, $25,000 raised for Disaster Relief Australia’s Northern River Appeal, a Christmas Raffle which raised $15,000 for Beyond Blue, and $10,000 raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities Family Room Gosford.
In addition, CEO Cooper raised $88,500 through his participation in the 7th Coast Shelter Sleepout while COO Matt Lister took on the @CancerCouncilTheLongestDay golf challenge for people impacted by cancer, with his team raising $4570.
On Anzac Day this year, services were relocated to Kibble Park Gosford due to the major storms making the Cenotaph unsafe for the public. Gosford RSL Club funded and assisted in the Dawn Service, the Anzac Day breakfast and the Main March with management cooking and serving breakfast to more than 600 veterans and service personnel.
Club members also attended the services, handed out programs, assisted attendees and provided transport to the services. Lunch was also provided by the club to Sub Branch members, the Defence Force, and Cadets who participated in the march.
On Remembrance Day Gosford RSL club provided seating, sound equipment and transport to the Cenotaph for the Service, followed by a light lunch and refreshments for Sub Branch members back at the Club.
The club also supports local charities Soul Soup, Mary Mac’s Place, and the Central Coast Disaster Relief through the We’re Here & We Care initiative.
