RSL Home Hill Sub Branch Recognises Young Achievers

The RSL Home Hill Sub Branch held its biannual dinner at the Crown Hotel on Thursday, June 6 where President Richard Kelly presented two young achievers with certificates of appreciation.
Sophie Robertson was recognised for her efforts in being awarded the Premier’s Anzac Prize and her fundraising for Australian Defence Force Veterans Charity Mates4Mates, while Ethan Pengelly was recognised for his fundraising efforts for the Sub Branch through selling commemorative merchandise.
“We like to present something to those in the community for what they have done for our club and invite them and their families to our dinner,” Mr Kelly said.
Rocky Hema, Deputy District President for RSL North Queensland and Deputy President for the RSL Thuringowa Sub Branch, was also present to present the pair with medallions for recognition from a district and state level.
“What they’ve done has echoed throughout the districts of North Queensland and also at state level,” Mr Hema said.
“They’ve really set the benchmark for other young, aspiring people in our organisation to do exactly the same.”
Sophie Robertson of Ayr State High School was one of eight recipients of the 2024 Premier’s Anzac Prize, awarded by the Queensland Government, recognising the efforts and dedication of young Queenslanders and aiming to present students with opportunities to gain an in-depth understanding of the ANZAC legacy.
Sophie embarked on a 16-day international adventure touring France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom to explore the ANZAC legacy in April and regaled the dinner attendees with tales of her journey.
She said her interest in military history began when uncovering her family history and discovering an array of relatives who have served.
“I continued investigating and I uncovered all of these amazing stories about what my family members did, and it’s helped piece together a part of who I am which has been so incredibly worthwhile,” Sophie said.
“Especially when I was in the battlefields of Bullecourt where my great-great-uncle Garett Swanson fell, it was so emotional standing there and knowing he lays under those fields and being able to provide that closure for my family as the first one to go overseas and visit where he fell.
“I thank the RSL, the Queensland Department of Education and the Premier’s Anzac Prize for this opportunity because its helping young people like me remember our Anzacs and, moving forward, we will be the ones to carry on this legacy to our younger generations.”
Burdekin Catholic High School student Ethan Pengelly, meanwhile, has been showing his appreciation of the Anzacs by selling merchandise outside his family’s Ayr house for the past four years.
“I’ve always been so appreciative of our Anzacs, so one year I decided I wanted to do something about it,” Ethan said.
“I stood out the front of my house one year with a table and sold rosemary brooches for a dollar and ended up raising over $100 the first year.”
When the RSL Home Hill Sub Branch heard of Ethan’s efforts, they donated more memorabilia for him to sell, with Ethan donating his profits back to the club.
“They’ve looked after me so well, they heard what I’d been doing and they’ve given me a lot of stuff to sell, badges, poppies, a lot of memorabilia, it’s been really good, I thank them a lot,” Ethan said.
“If it wasn’t for those people who went to war, we wouldn’t be standing where we are and having the freedom we have today.
“I feel good because I love to help out as much as I can for those veterans.”
Mr Kelly thanked Sophie and Ethan for their efforts.
“On behalf of the Home Hill RSL, we thank Sophie for what she has done, and I think she’ll do a lot more and go a long way,” Mr Kelly said.
“And we’re quite proud of Ethan for what he’s done for our club, and I hope he keeps it going, and I hope when he gets older, he will continue that type of work for any organisation,” he added.
Burdekin Life journalist Sam Gillespie was also presented with a certificate of appreciation for his involvement in sharing the stories and initiatives of the Sub Branch.

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L-R RSL Home Hill Sub Branch President Richard Kelly, Ethan Pengelly, Sophie Robertson and Deputy District President for RSL North Queensland and Deputy President for the RSL Thuringowa Sub Branch Rocky Hema

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