Phillip Island RSL past president Greg Mead was presented with the prestigious RSL Meritorious Service Medal, by RSL State President Dr Robert Webster, at a ceremony at the RSL last week.
The Meritorious Service Medal is the RSL’s highest honour, and to be eligible, a nominee must be a life member of the League and have given outstanding service within the RSL over a long period of time.
Dr Webster commented that the award is made on a very restricted basis, to preserve its prestige.
He paid tribute to Greg’s long involvement in the League, describing him as an outstanding Vietnam veteran, and a living example of the RSL motto “Serving Still.”
Greg joined the Dandenong RSL in 1970, and became immediately involved with the issues and concerns experienced at the time by Vietnam veterans in the community. He later transferred to the Waverley sub branch where he served on the committee from 1987 to 2004, as the welfare and pensions officer.
On moving to Phillip Island, Greg served on the RSL committee here from 2005 to 2020, with 11 years as president.
Dr Webster described his work with Vietnam Veterans Association (VVAA) over that entire period as outstanding.
During the 70s and 80s he sat on the VVAA committee (Melbourne branch) serving as secretary and president.
He was a major contributor to the success of the Vietnam Veterans Welome Home Parade in Sydney in 1987, and he was part of the fundraising efforts for the National Vietnam Memorial.
Dr Webster made mention of Greg’s work with the Agent Orange Trust Board, and acknowledged his achievements as the founding secretary of the magnificent National Vietnam Veterans Museum and service on that board for 20 years.
At state level, Greg was employed as state membership and recruiting officer, and administration officer and led the relocation of ANZAC House in 2001 as it underwent a major renovation.
Dr Webster said that Greg’s involvement at the Phillip Island RSL had been an intrinsic part of the growth of the sub-branch, with leadership and experience seeing it debt free and financially sound.
Greg was made a Life Member of the RSL in 2003, inducted into the RSL Hall of Fame in 2013, and honoured with a Medal in the order of Australia in 2015.
At community level, Greg is a Bendigo Bank Board member, part of the Phillip Island Medical and Action Hospital Action Group, and committee member of the Phillip Island Progress Association.