Lilydale RSL

13/09/2026

Lilydale RSL Sub-Branch Poppy Appeal
Remembrance Day is fast approaching, and it is a time for us all to pause, reflect, and remember those who served in conflicts around the world. We honour those who never returned, and those who came home forever changed by their service. Their courage, sacrifice, and suffering must never be forgotten.
Volunteers from the Lilydale RSL Sub-Branch will be selling poppy badges at our usual locations from 2nd November to 10th November.
You will find our volunteers at:
• Chirnside Park Shopping Centre, outside Target
• Lilydale Marketplace, at the top of the escalator
• Lilydale Village, outside Coles
• Bunnings Lilydale, John St entrance
The appeal will run each day from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Please come and visit our volunteers and purchase a badge in support of the appeal.
All money raised will go towards veterans’ welfare. All of our volunteers are unpaid and generously give their time to support this important appeal.

01/09/2026

With the help of local film maker Danny Field, we have been able to open a YouTube channel where we can store and host films.

On here are our films of -

* The launch of our book - 'Asian Encounters - Vol 5 of the Shire of Lillydale & its Military Heritage'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNX2EZttkOA
* The Launch of our book - 'Vietnam - Long Hard Years Not Forgotten' Vol 6 of the Shire of Lillydale & its Military Heritage'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo58Cjs1I24&t=29s

However not only do we have these recent events, we also have extraordinary, rare footage stored here of some of this district's local military history events. Most of these date back in the 1990s.

These include -

* Nov 1994 - The Unveiling of the Coldstream/Yering War Memorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYUCCE8XZM
* April 1995 - The Unveiling of the Anglo-Boer War & WWI plaque on the Coldstream/Yering War Memorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WO60NmDJXs
* May 1995 - The UK Settlers Club - VE Day Ball at the Kilsyth Memorial Hall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9U9deamRSk
* 1995 - The Australia Remembers 1945-1995 Exhibition at Mont de Lancey, Wandin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSWcicJb-xs
* 1995 - Launch of the Lilydale Historical Society's Home Front Exhibition as part of Australia Remembers 1945-1995.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l0LIJx4SNc&t=116s
* August 1995 - The unveiling of the Mt Evelyn Honour Board.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvnkSeUDCew&t=145s
* November 1995 - The unveiling of the Monbulk War Memorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOqsYnehvl0&t=180s
* November 1996 - The unveiling of the Shire of Lillydale World War Two Honour Board by Sir John Gorton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKpXac5KDzY
* April 1997 - The unveiling of the Mooroolbark War Memorial.
Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0DByy0HLJ4&t=234s
Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARGg7iTtOfM&t=69s
Part 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3YhMC99vvQ&t=151s
* November 1998 - The unveiling of the Wonga Park WW2/Vietnam Honour Board by Bud Tingwell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuCQihLBnPw&t=259s
* April 2016 - Unveiling of the Silvan War Memorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0GZ4AWC3a8
* August 2026 - Unveiling of the Vietnam names of the Kilsyth Honour Board.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln_z9C-AOQE

01/09/2026

Thank you Community Bank Wandin-Seville - your support is appreciated.

29/08/2026

Look at how spectacular our club rooms now look of a nighttime.

29/08/2026

Apart from a few minor cosmetic adjustments, the Lilydale RSL's new front garden and memorial is now completed, and we are very proud of how it has turned out.
Notice also our new special memorial seating.
The sub-branch membership extends its deep appreciation to the Community Bank Wandin-Seville for their support & part sponsorship of the project.
It certainly gives a beautiful lift to our clubrooms and a lift to wonderful Anderson Street.

26/08/2026

We have had some great support from American Vietnam veterans for our recent book on the district's story of the Vietnam War.
Check out below the post from Vietnam Veterans News in the USA.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N94CUtelTqk

For those interested - the book is able to be purchased through eBay - just key in 'Vietnam - Long Hard Years Not Forgotten' into the search engine.

https://vietnamveterannews.com/episode-3348/The Vietnam War was f...

26/08/2026

Important message for all ex-Service people - whether you are an RSL Member or not.

The Lilydale RSL will be hosting an information afternoon with representatives from Vasey RSL Care.

This is open to all service people and their partners to learn more about what is available to support them.

The presentation will be focused on the following (in no particular order):

* Aged Care and Veteran supports services and the eligibility criteria.
* The link between accessing these services concurrently
* Which services that can be accessed.
* The assessment process and approval outcomes
* Funding levels and amounts available
* Following the presentation there will be time to talk to David and his team.

Event details…….

Lilydale RSL Clubrooms,
52 Anderson St,
Lilydale

Sunday 27th September, 2026.
Arrive 12.30 for a 1pm start - Afternoon tea provided.

Parking at the Coles carpark opposite.

For more information - [email protected]

24/08/2026

For those who couldn't make it to the club's special event on Sunday August 16th at Japara House in Kilsyth, where we launched the Sub-branch's latest book - 'Vietnam - Long Hard Years - Not Forgotten', - we organized for the event to be filmed.

The book details the history of this district during the Vietnam War - both at home and from the perspective of those locals who served there.

Below is the link to film of the book launch - produced by excellent local film maker Danny Field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEZ6hEsm1Ow

Copies of the book are still available.

You can buy copies -
From the club of a Friday night (from 7.00pm onwards)
From eBay - just key in 'Vietnam - Long Hard Years Not Forgotten' in the search area - to find a copy to buy.

Book Launch: Vietnam – Long Hard Years Not ForgottenOn 16 August ...

22/08/2026

Our new front garden showcase is coming along really well.
Not only will it include a new memorial, but plantings of special plants with a military connection.
Stay tuned, once it is all complete, we will have a special opening and talk by the landscapers.

21/08/2026

https://lilydale.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2026/08/21/lilydale-rsl-dismayed-after-first-wwi-volunteers-gravestone-destroyed/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawT0_vpwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAGJyaWQRMUtDUFFnaFp6RWFxZjB2MklzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeSmQXiGmj-8XniavsnfVEXfqh6XhlUPfETzOWlm7UjedDv7Z5u8XnFjJLTYo_aem_gnfZ3X-VUCq1Mx4Qf3Pp0A =1787297499

Lilydale’s first soldier to volunteer his service in World War I no longer has a physical grave after it came to light in the British media earlier this month that headstones from Basra War Cemetery were destroyed. A freedom of information (FoI) request submitted by Ben Soppitt, a descendant of a ...