RSL Victoria congratulates Darebin RSL President Robert Cross on receiving Life Membership with Gold Badge.

Bob, as he is known, became a Service Member at the-then Preston RSL in 1975 and two years later was elected to the Committee of Management.

In 1979, Bob was elected to the role of Junior Vice President, and then to Assistant Secretary.

Bob was employed as the Preston RSL Secretary/Manager in 1981, a position he held until 2000. That was followed by two more years of service as Manager until he retired in 2002.

His retirement was short lived though because in 2004 he was elected as President of the Preston RSL, which then became the Darebin RSL after it merged with the Preston Club in 2005.

He is credited with guiding the Darebin RSL through further amalgamations with Northcote RSL in 2008, and Fairfield/Alphington RSL in 2011.

The Darebin Sub-Branch now has a membership of over 4,000.

“Only through his support and guidance was the Sub-Branch able to come through initial periods of significant financial loss to be a now profitable entity,” says RSL Victoria President Dr Robert Webster OAM.

Bob is described as an “unexhaustive asset” to the Darebin RSL following his 21 years of experience as a Sub-Branch Manager and 42 years of experience at Committee level.

The hands-on, proactive Sub-Branch President is across all areas of Sub-Branch operations and personally oversees the ANZAC and Poppy Appeals, as well as co-ordinates hospital visitations, care packages, DVA applications, donations and sponsorships.

It’s not uncommon for the 80 year old to attend the Sub-Branch daily, and he continues to be well-known and respected by members and employees.

Bob was presented with Life Membership of the League in 2002, and Dr Webster says he is now deserving of Life Membership with Gold Badge.

“Robert Cross has tirelessly served the Preston, now Darebin RSL, for a period of 45 years. He is an outstanding member of his generation and a true example of the RSL motto ‘Serving Still.’”