THE Mundaring branch of the Retired Services League (RSL) is calling for new members to carry it into a new chapter.

Mundaring RSL President Eric Smith said the branch had a long history in the area of bringing community together in remembrance.

“The history stretched back decades in Mundaring, at least 30 years,” he said.

“We started out in Glen Forrest, then Mt Helena and we became the Eastern Hills RSL branch before it became the Mundaring RSL because we operated out of there.

“We started out initially with about  30 members and over the years, attrition and old age slowly diminished us down to about nine members now.

“I’ve been, for want of a better phrase, carrying the can now for probably 10 years and organised Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and anniversary services.

“We had about 5000 at the first Anzac Day service but that’s dwindled down to about 2000 this year.”

Mr Smith said new branches in the area meant membership had dropped slightly and they were unsuccessful in getting the word out through official channels which directed people to join the Perth main branch.

The Mundaring branch was left with only the support of the surrounding Mundaring community to rely on.

“Although we now have some more Vietnam veterans come forth and join, the resistance is still there, and I can understand that,” Mr Smith said.

“A lot of the soldiers that returned, at the time, caught a lot of flak for serving in Vietnam.

“The Mundaring RSL is accepting of all service members, who are serving now or have served in the past.

“We have some younger members involved but they’re also in the middle of studying and we can understand they can’t devote all their time to managing the RSL.

“There needs to be more members to keep the branch alive, and it’s very much been a source of camaraderie and remembrance over the years.

“Everybody’s welcome at the branch as far as I’m concerned.

“The point is remembrance and remembering so hopefully, it never happens again, but unfortunately, it keeps going on and on.”

Mundaring RSL members meet on the third Thursday of each month at 7.30pm at the CWA Centre in Sculpture Park, Jacoby Street, Mundaring.

Mundaring residents who served in the Australian Defence Force or meet the eligibility criteria for RSL WA membership may join the Mundaring RSL.

Interest may be registered by the preferred method of emailing eric218822@gmail.com or alternatively by ringing 0419 925 637.