A member of the RSL for about 25 years, Mr Chapple previously served as the president of the former Homebush Strathfield RSL sub-branch but admitted with a laugh that it was a much smaller group than Cumberland.
“I still have a lot of learning to do,” he said.
“It’s shaping up to be quite a busy job.”
Over the past year and throughout the pandemic, sub-branch volunteers have delivered food and grocery bags from the Salvation Army to about 40-50 isolated veterans and the committee will meet later this month to discuss whether to continue the service.
Mr Chapple says one of his aims is to encourage more contemporary service personnel to join the RSL, including anyone who served in Afghanistan or in the armed forces since 1975.
“The RSL really needs some younger people,” he said.
“I’m 73 and we only have a couple of other members of the sub-branch that are a bit younger than me.”
A national serviceman, he opted to serve in the Army Reserve and after completing his required six years, ended up staying for close to 30 years.
“It got me out of mischief for a while,” he said.
“It was quite enjoyable.”
Reaching the rank of staff sergeant, his one regret is staying in so long and says it probably wasn’t very fair to his wife and children.
For more information on joining the RSL, call 9646 3094.
RSL sub-branch chief dream
STEPPING into the role of Cumberland RSL sub-branch president last month, Allan Chapple says he is getting plenty of support from outgoing president Greg Read who has joined the NSW RSL board.