State Branch of the RSL has announced that it has formed a Partnership with Woolworths supermarkets and fuel outlets to now collect donations for Anzac and Poppy Badge Days by supplying badge and pen tokens for those making donations.  

The badges and pens are identical to those used by RSL Sub Branches for Anzac and Popy Days.

The support that Woolworths provides to the RSL and many other equally deserving charitable organisations is not disputed and Woolworths must be commended in their support of charitable organisations.

The problem relates to the approach of the RSL.

For many decades the Parkes RSL Sub Branch and its Women’s Auxiliary have been collecting donations on Anzac and Poppy Badge Days through street stalls, walking around the industrial and commercial areas of Parkes and visiting pubs and clubs.  

For each donation (i.e. badge), 50% is retained by the Parkes RSL Sub Branch to help run the Sub Branch and to support the Ex-service community of Parkes.  

The other 50% is returned to the United Returned Soldiers Fund at the State Branch in Sydney.  

The Parkes RSL Sub Branch cannot function properly in its support of the ex-service community of Parkes without these donations.

However now any donations made through Woolworths will go into coffers of the State RSL with nothing to the Parkes Sub Branch to help in its assistance to the ex-service community of Parkes.

The people of Parkes are urged to give their donations to Parkes RSL and Women’s Auxiliary collectors rather than through Woolworths so that at least 50% of their donation will stay within Parkes to support the local ex-service community.

The Parkes RSL Sub Branch has commissioned its own green token pen for the Centenary of Anzac and your support for local fundraising can be expressed by choosing this green pen as 100% of the donation stays in Parkes to be used in Parkes.

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