Governor officially opens ANZAC House Veteran Central – a new home for RSL WA

The Governor, as Patron of RSL WA, attended the official opening of the recently completed ANZAC House, joining the Hon Mark McGowan MLA – Premier, Government of Western Australia, Mr John McCourt – Chief Executive Officer, RSLWA and Mr Peter Aspinall AM – Chairman and State President, RSLWA.

Perth’s first ANZAC House opened in 1934 and RSLWA moved to the current site on St Georges Terrace in November 1981. The building was demolished in January 2018 to make way for the new facility that opened today.

Before the official unveiling of the plaque, the Last Post was sounded followed by a minute silence. Lest We Forget.

“It is an honour for me to be here today as Patron of RSLWA, to join in the official opening of ANZAC House Veteran Central. As I do so I contemplate the long and winding road that brought us here. The women’s, community and soldiers associations that preceded, some crossing over with the RSL. Their many distinguished but never adequate gathering points. And now this, which does the organisation and its membership proud.

This extraordinary facility is the first of its kind in Western Australia and will be central to effective service delivery to veterans and their families.”

The Governor

The new building also houses Veteran Central – a hub focused on health, housing and employment services for younger veterans.

ANZAC House is already supporting the veteran community. Last month it hosted a veteran employer networking function in co-operation with Defence West from the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

Thirty major WA employers gathered to hear why employing veterans makes good business sense and how they can get involved.

Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:

“This new building in the heart of the city represents a new era in the State Government’s engagement with the Western Australian veteran community.

Veteran Central is the face of veteran services and a new model for veterans seeking support.

“It combines the energy and good work done by so many ex-service organisations and service providers in one place.”

The Governor is proud to be patron of RSLWA.

 

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