Member for Riverina Michael McCormack presents the Australian national flag and other nationhood material to Junee RSL sub-branch president Greg Zakharoff last year.
While Anzac Day may draw the crowds and the national spotlight each year, Remembrance Day remains a quieter but equally significant occasion. In Junee, preparations are already underway for this year’s ceremony, with a focus on reflection, respect, and the ongoing support of veterans in the region.
President of Junee’s RSL sub-branch Greg Zakharoff says plans are in motion, though progress is currently waiting on a few formalities.
“We’ve got the traffic management plan in and we can’t do more until we get a few things back from council,” he said. “Everything is in motion.”
Unlike Anzac Day, Remembrance Day is not designed to be a large-scale public event. Instead, it offers amore intimate space for people to come together in solemn reflection.
“There are no plans for any big function,” Zakharoff explained. “Remembrance Day isn’t as big as Anzac Day. It’s not even designed to be that way. It’s mainly for the people of the Shire to come in and be around the war memorial and cenotaph and pay their respects.”
Behind the scenes, the Junee RSL is working steadily to ensure veterans in the community have access to the support they need. Two members have recently completed official training through RSL NSW to become welfare officers, a role Zakharoff sees as a vital part of local services.
“These officers are trained by RSL Sydney and their job is representing our sub-branch, helping members who maybe experiencing difficulties,” he said. “It’s nothing extraordinary, but it’s something that needs to be done. We’ve got two trained up, so that’s good.”
With an estimated 16,000 veterans in the broader South West district from as far back as the Korean and Vietnam wars, Zakharoff believes many are still not engaging with local RSL services.
“We don’t have many people calling on us for assistance,” he said. “Whether it’s the community or not, I’m not too sure. But if you look at the sub-branches, you’d be lucky to have 1,000 members across the region, even though the census says there are 16,000 ex-servicemen.”
The disparity, he believes, highlights the work still to be done.“There’s a lot of work to be done if everything goes pear-shaped,” Zakahroff said. “We try our best, and what we can’t handle here in Junee, we forward on to bigger areas such as Wagga.”
Zakahroff recently returned from a trip to Georgia, in Eastern Europe, where he was struck by the challenges faced by veterans there. Many of those who served during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan are now left without any form of recognition or support from either the Russian or Georgian governments.
“When they came back, they didn’t get anything from the Russian government, nor the Georgian government. Nothing. So they’re on their own,” he shared.
Reflecting on the contrast, Zakahroff believes Australia has much to be thankful for when it comes to how veterans are treated. “We try to look after our veterans as best we can, and I think that’s a good thing. We are very lucky in some situations in this country, that’s for sure.”
With trained welfare officers now in place and Remembrance Day around the corner, the Junee RSL sub-branch remains committed to its mission of support quietly, but with unwavering resolve. “We’ll handle the day-to-day stuff, and now that we’ve got trained-up officers, we’ll handle whatever comes our way,” Zakahroff said.
“If we can’t handle it, we advise Wagga or even seek further advice from our RSL headquarters in Sydney.”
While the cost of living and economic pressures affect everyone, Zakahroff remains optimistic about Australia’s support systems. “I think everybody is under the pinch at the moment,” he acknowledged. “But we’ve got one of the best health systems anywhere on the globe compared to Europe, Africa, and South Africa. No doubt about it.”
– Liam Stuart
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