Inside an RSL branch’s informal home care operations

Inside a RSL Branch’s informal home care operations

The government is splashing billions of dollars on care to ageing and disabled Australians in their homes. This expenditure is, however, dwarfed, by unpaid contributions from carers and volunteers, like our hard working Returned Solders League (RSL) branch offices.

Ever wondered what happens to the money donated to the RSL for veterans?

100% goes back to veterans … with no management fees!

We interviewed the Vice-President of the Mornington RSL Alan McDonald OAM.

Alan’s main job is to look after all fund raising and payments for veterans in need. The funds are raised for the families of veterans passed away and the veterans themselves. He helps veterans with simple jobs that are extremely hard for the elderly.

The Mornington RSL’s main way of raising money is by badge selling around the town and receiving donations from those willing. Alan also organises appeals like the ANZAC day ceremony each year.

• The people that help raise the money are all volunteers who sell badges and collect money in a tin.
• The tin is taken back to Allen’s home where his wife counts it and logs it in a book.
• The cash is then deposited to the Mornington National Australia Bank.
• Last November it was recorded that $30,000 was raised from the badge selling and donations.

The money is spent by Alan on the Veterans that are in need of financial support are helped out with small jobs like cleaning windows, cutting lawns, cleaning gutters and organising company for lonely veterans. The process is as follows:

• To help determine where money is spent, Veterans are asked informally what they need help with, and Alan organises it.
• The service providers for these jobs are found in the paper and called up and asked to do the work.
• After the work is done, invoices are mailed to Alan, and cheques are mailed back for payment a few weeks later.
• No computers are used in the whole process.

The veterans in need are given and certain budget each year and if it has not all been spent then 50% of the money goes back to the RSL Branch.

Alan does this job to make the people who have served the country happy and give them the support and assistance that they deserve to say thank you.

Oliver McDonald, 15years, Melbourne Grammar