Our new house wine "The Hut" Shiraz has arrived

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome, you don't need to be a member. ---- 

Thanks to the efforts of a few volunteers who habitually and invariably contribute, we now have a 2021 Gomersal Shiraz that we can proudly call our own - introducing "The Hut" shiraz.

It was launched Friday night at our monthly major dinner and everyone who tried it said that it was a very pleasant drop. Your editor agrees, he tried a glass and enjoyed it too.

The Hut Shiraz

It's competitively priced at around $16 per 750 ml bottle if you buy a carton. A glass will set you back the usual $6 and of course you can by any quantity from one until we run out.

The wine comes from popular winemaker Gomersal Wines and the label front and back is a superb design. The blue background and white text are part of the RSL's National Australia Style Guide requirements and what better name to have given it than that of our meeting place - "The Hut", established in 1946 as you can see on the banner above.

Below our logo is a photograph of The Hut taken after it had been transported to it's present location. On the rear label is the story of the Hut.

The Hut wine makes a perfect gift for visitors and for birthday, Christmas, and other celebrations. But it doesn't have to be a gift, you can keep a few bottles in your wine rack (you do have a wine rack don't you?) and have a glass with your dinner.

When next you visit the Hut, have a taste of The Hut shiraz and let us know what you think. Better still, invest in a carton. 

2025-2026 Federal Budget Delivers Funds for DVA Veteran Services

---- When did you last visit the Hut? Visit us most Fridays after 5 pm for our Happy Hours. ---- The Australian Government handed down the 2025-26 Federal Budget on 25 March 2025. 

The 2025–26 Budget builds on previous investments that have seen the demand for the Department’s services increase. 

$47.6 million in 2025–26 has been provided to increase resourcing in key service delivery areas of the Department. This includes funding for up to 120 service delivery staff in the following areas: 

1. the Veteran Access Network
2. Veteran Support Officers
3. Complex Case Management teams
4. Information Access teams, and 
5. mental health support teams. 

 A further $11.9 million in 2025-26 has been provided to support continued access to key health and support programs for veterans and families, including:  

1. extension of the Military and Veteran Psychiatry Training Program
2. extension of the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Pilot Program
3. supporting the delivery of the Veteran Employment Program
4. extension of the Veterans – volunteer training in suicide recognition and intervention program
5. supporting Invictus Australia 
6. supporting Kookaburra Kids. 

This additional funding builds on significant investments into the Department via the 2024–25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) process, which included $34.9 million to provide DVA with additional resourcing as well as funding to support the Department’s implementation of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.  

To find out more about the 2025–26 Budget measures, please visit the 2025–26 Budget page on the DVA website.

Your Editor uses one of these notebooks every day!

The Daring Legacy of the Australian Light Horse Brigade

---- Come and join us on Fridays from 5 pm. You'll enjoy good company and affordable happy hours. ---- The story of the Australian Light Horse Brigade during World War I is one of bravery, ingenuity, and triumph against the odds.

An Australian Soldier with Waler Horse

These mounted infantry units, originally formed in the late 19th century for home defence, became legendary for their skill, resilience, and determination. 

Although their role in Gallipoli saw them fighting dismounted, the brigade's shining moment came during the Battle of Beersheba on October 31, 1917. 

Facing Ottoman forces entrenched in the town of Beersheba, the brigade undertook a daring cavalry charge that changed the course of the war. The 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments, armed only with bayonets, galloped through open desert under heavy fire to capture the town. 

This bold manoeuvre secured vital wells and shattered the Ottoman defensive line, paving the way for Allied forces to advance in Palestine. What made their success even more remarkable was their use of Waler horses—a hardy breed uniquely suited to the harsh desert conditions. These horses, combined with the soldiers' adaptability and courage, allowed the brigade to overcome immense challenges.

The legacy of the Australian Light Horse Brigade is not just about military triumph, but also about the resilience and spirit of Australian soldiers. Their actions at Beersheba are celebrated as one of the last great cavalry charges in history, a testament to their exceptional bravery. 

Today, the story of the Light Horse Brigade continues to inspire Australians, reminding us of the indomitable spirit that defines our nation.

Buy your souvenir now

 

Good Better Best Men Program Commencing Soon

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome, you don't need to be a member. ---- Lutheran Care is offering a free Good Better Best Men program for those who feel they could benefit from the nine week program. This program has been offered in numerous other regions with an excellent response.

We are pleased to say that the program will run out of our Hut in the Tanunda Recreation Park on Tuesday evenings. An information session next Tuesday, 25 March 25 is open to everyone who might be interested in attending or learning about the program. 

Full details appear in the flyer image below and interested people are invited to register beforehand using the QR Code at the bottom of the image.

Click the image to zoom

We look forward to seeing this program benefit numbers of our local men. Everyone is welcome, it's not just for veterans. Will we see you there?

Issue 16 of "The Bugle" is Now Available

---- Drop in most Fridays from 5 pm. Our happy hours are good fun and open to everyone. ---- 

Issue 16 of our quarterly newsletter, The Bugle is available now and has some interesting content:

1. Remembering our Heroes,
2. The Veteran's Catalogue
3. Did You Know
4. No-one Was Coming - the Incredible Valor of Trooper Mark Donaldson VC
5. Military Humour
6. What the Sub-Branch Secretary Does
7. The Hut Beautified
8. How to Quickly Spot Email Scams, and
9. an article about Retired Combat Assault Dog Manic.

To read it online or to download a copy as a Portable Document File (PDF), click on the Newsletter tab above. 

Write a comment and let us know what you think of The Bugle.