On their first visit to Tamworth as RSL top brass, the state president and CEO laid out a "professionalised" vision of the century-old veterans' organisation to local members.
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The RSL will even provide an employment service in Tamworth, for the benefit of veterans either moving here or returning home.
New CEO Jon Black told the Leader the institution's five-year strategic plan will see the RSL provide more immediate and local services to veterans across the country.
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He told Tamworth sub-branch members at a Tuesday evening meeting it would also resolve what he called an "inequity" within the service.
Metropolitan sub-branches tend to be better-funded by benefit of their sale of RSL clubs on higher-value land, often despite a lower number of local veterans needing help, he said.
"They've generated significant wealth," Mr Black said.
"We need to make sure that wealth is distributed evenly to support the veterans, because that's our purpose."
The service will disperse "skilled, trained" employees to geographical centres like Tamworth in order to provide welfare services, but also to help volunteers keep the books in order, he said.
He compared the new RSL model to the Defence Community Organisation, which helps current veterans who move, settle into a new city or region.
"There's no reason why Australia-wide the RSL can't be that organisation post-service," he said.
"So, when someone comes back to Tamworth, they're immediately connected and then we can make sure that family knows there's some network there."
Tamworth President Jayne McCarthy welcomed the new "one RSL" approach. She said the current approach meant sub-branches in poor areas got less money, which could mean some veterans got left behind.
"That has been the case for along time. Because of the association to sub branches and clubs. Now we need to disassociate.
"If we're going to have a common purpose we need to be able to do that. It does make sense to Unite the funds in some way to share that purpose.
"We're one organisation and it's veterans' money, so it should go to veterans, it doesn't matter where they're located."
State president Ray James said Tamworth has a "strong veteran community" and veterans are moving to regions like Tamworth.
The NSW RSL was rocked by scandal in 2015. Former president Don Rowe 2020 successfully appealed convictions of fraud in 2020. He was granted costs. He resigned from the top job in 2015.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
