41-560: Caloundra ( local pronunciation: [kəˈlaʊndrʌ] kə- LOWN -druh ) is a coastal town in the Sunshine Coast Region , Queensland , Australia. In the 2021 census , the town of Caloundra had a population of 96,305 people. Caloundra is 90 kilometres (55.9 mi) north of the Brisbane central business district . Caloundra is accessible from Landsborough railway station , 21 kilometres (13.0 mi) away, and
82-489: A diverse range of programs and initiatives to serve its current membership and the next generation of veterans and their families. In 2022, it reported: The influence of the League derives from its founding days organising rituals for ANZAC Day dawn services and marches, and Remembrance Day commemorations. In addition to pressing for benefits for veterans , the organisation entered other areas of political debate. The RSL
123-663: A founder of the Caloundra Branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association and the local branch of the Red Cross . During World War II , the area became key to Australian defence due to defensive positions along the beaches. Radar stations and machine gun pits were mounted, and Australian and US armed forces came to the area. From the early 1950s onwards, Caloundra experienced a boom in development and population, and by 1968, it had come to dominate
164-628: A group of returned servicemen established RSL Ex-Servicemen's Cabs & Co-Operative Members Limited to provide taxi services to Sydney . By the 1950s, the co-operative had expanded to more than 60 drivers. As of 2021 it operated on a commercial basis in which drivers were not required to be members of the League. Commenced in Queensland in 1956, the RSL Art Union is a lottery that raises funds to provide welfare services to ex-service men and women, their dependents and to other members of
205-743: A number of heritage-listed sites, including: Caloundra is not strictly defined, but the boundary used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for census purposes and the urban zone defined by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (formerly the Caloundra City Council ) almost exactly coincide. This region is bounded roughly by Currimundi Creek, Rainforest Drive and the Mooloolah River to the north, Beerwah State Forest and Bruce Highway to
246-590: A retired major of the Australian Army Reserve , received a share in nearly $ 1 million of consulting fees paid by an arm of the League, RSL LifeCare, and failed to disclose conflicts of interest. Mr White denied any wrongdoing and was quoted as saying, when questioned by an ABC News reporter: "I believe I have personally fulfilled my obligations legally and ethically and I'm just absolutely surprised at your questioning of my integrity in that regard". In October 2016, legal advice commissioned by
287-482: A symbol of readiness at all times to render service to the country and to former comrades. No wealth or influence can purchase the RSL badge which may be worn only by those who are members. The shield is symbolic of the protection which the RSL gives to its members, their dependents, and widows/widowers and orphans of those who paid the supreme sacrifice. At the top of the badge is a crown , signifying allegiance to
328-587: A variety of beaches , providing amenity to the local residents and tourists. The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a public library at 8 Omrah Avenue. The Caloundra branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 17 Kalinga Street. St Andrew's Anglican Church is at 46 Upper Gay Terrace, Kings Beach ( 26°48′12″S 153°08′17″E / 26.8032°S 153.1381°E / -26.8032; 153.1381 ( St Andrew's Anglican Church ) ). Caloundra has won
369-539: Is The Returned & Services League of Australia Limited – a public company limited by guarantee registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and endorsed to access GST and income tax concessions. The company is governed by a board comprising the national president and deputy national president, chairman, a director from each of the seven state/territory branches, and three independent non-member directors. The League conducts
410-859: Is also located at Caloundra. Caloundra's suburbs are served by Kinetic Group , who operate the Caloundra bus station in Cooma Terrace. Bus routes 600, 602, 603, 605, 607, 609 connect Caloundra to Kawana Waters , Maroochydore , Buderim and Landsborough . Of residents aged 15 and over, 0.5% report using public transport to commute to work. Landsborough railway station on the Sunshine Coast line has regular services to Roma Street railway station in Brisbane, operated by Queensland Rail . There are several bus companies providing coach services from Caloundra to Brisbane Airport . Caloundra has
451-510: Is of a sandstone nature, undulating and ridgy, heavily timbered with Gum, Bloodwood, Tea-tree and Oak'. A 1907 map shows several sections from George Street to Ernest St advertised for auction on 7 January 1907 by the Government Land Office. With its proximity to beaches, the area became popular with tourists and a number of hotels and guest houses were set up to accommodate them. In 1917, Bulcock's son, Robert Bulcock Jr, who
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#1732780793274492-765: The Australian Tidy Town Award in 2012. The Queensland Tourism Industry Council named Caloundra the 2023 Queensland Top Tourism Town. Sunshine Coast Region Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 211246234 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 07:59:53 GMT Returned and Services League of Australia The Returned and Services League of Australia , also known as RSL , RSL Australia and
533-750: The Caloundra bus station . Bribie Island is located across the Pumicestone Passage to the south. Caloundra marks the coastal northern extent of the Moreton Bay Marine Park . Caloundra lies within the Aboriginal Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi, Cabbee, Carbi, Gabi Gabi) language region. The name Caloundra is from the Gubbi Gubbi language Cullowundoor with Kal Owen meaning 'beech tree' ( Gmelina leichhardtii ) and Dha meaning 'place'. Caloundra Head
574-448: The Ode of Remembrance is read, followed by one minute's silence to honour those who died serving their country. RSL NSW and its sub-Branches do not own or operate any registered clubs, nor do they own or operate poker machines. The first RSL home for ex-servicemen was established in 1938. The affiliated organisation, which became RSL Care, had 26 facilities in 2011. Following a merger with
615-473: The Queensland Country Women's Association was established in July 1937. St Andrew's Anglican Church was dedicated on Sunday 22 January 1939 by Archbishop William Wand . The construction of the church had been strongly encouraged by Wand who holidayed at Caloundra with his friend Queensland Governor Leslie Wilson . The Governor also attended the church's dedication. On 10 December 1966 the foundation stone of
656-660: The RSLA , is an independent support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force . The League was formed in 1916 in response to the lack of a unified approach with Australian repatriation facilities and medical services for those returning from World War I . On 6 June 1916, a meeting of representatives from New South Wales , Queensland , South Australia and Victoria resolved to form The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA). Their intention
697-698: The inter-war period 1919 to 1939, the RSSILA was recognised as the appropriate body to represent the interests of returned Australian service personnel in exchange for extending political cooperation to the Nationalist Party of Prime Minister Stanley Bruce . The RSSILA was noted for its right-wing politics, in 1919 drawing on its membership to form a 2,000-strong paramilitary force called the "Army to fight Bolshevism", and permitting various right-wing Australian militia groups access to its membership lists to convince returned servicemen to join them. In 1923,
738-491: The Crown . Below the crown are the national flowers of Australia, Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland: the wattle , leek , rose , thistle , and shamrock . In the centre of the badge are a sailor, soldier, airman and service woman marching with their arms linked, symbolising friendship and the unity of all services and all ranks in comradeship. The red of the badge symbolises the blood ties of war. The white background stands for
779-601: The League adopted the motto, "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance". After the Second World War , amidst widespread antisemitism in Australia , the League published antisemitic political cartoons encouraging the Australian government and Minister for Immigration Arthur Calwell to stem the flow of Jewish immigrants fleeing postwar violence. In 1948, World War I veteran and politician Fred Paterson
820-490: The League. On 7 November 2016, ABC News reported Mr White as being likely to stand down pending an investigation into the consultancy fee payments, and that new documents obtained by ABC revealed that the quantum of consultancy fees paid was "far greater than originally thought – totalling more than $ 2 million since 2007". On Remembrance Day 2016, ABC News reported that the New South Wales Branch of
861-401: The League. The focus of the RSL has been on the welfare of Australian men and women who have served in the armed forces . It has advocated for veterans ' entitlements and the protection of former battlefields. Usually RSL members ensure that those who have served their country are commemorated by notifying funeral information and handing out poppies at the funeral. The League's badge is
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#1732780793274902-552: The RSL brand. RSL Australia is organised as a federation of its independent state branches, which in turn consist of 1107 sub-branches (as of 2022 ) delivering diverse services tailored to the priorities and needs of local veterans. The national office, in Canberra , shapes the national agenda on veterans' affairs on behalf of the state branches, provides national advocacy, and supports and coordinates national programs and activities. The corporate entity underpinning RSL Australia
943-477: The RSL was at risk of losing its charity status as a result of the payment scandal and that the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission had written to the RSL "outlining its concerns that the league may not be meeting its obligations as a charity" and warning, as a worst case, that "the commission may use its powers to revoke the league's charity status if it finds evidence that the rules have been broken". The RSL acting national president, Robert Dick,
984-470: The RSL's New South Wales Branch indicated RSL New South Wales councillors, including Mr White, may have broken the law by receiving a share in $ 1 million of consulting fees while holding a voluntary position in the veteran's group: "It is possible, but not certain, that in doing so they did not meet one or more of their duties and obligations, or contravened the law." Subsequently, calls were made for Mr White to step aside in order to rebuild public trust in
1025-574: The Royal District Nursing Service in Victoria, in 2016 it became RSL Care RDNS Limited, an Australian public company registered as a charity, trading as Bolton Clarke. With more than 28 retirement communities throughout Queensland and New South Wales and several others in development, it was one of Australia's largest providers of retirement living and aged care services. Operating under a co-operative structure, in 1946
1066-482: The Shire of Landsborough so completely that the council chambers were relocated to Caloundra. The Caloundra Library opened in 1986 with a major refurbishment in 2017. In the 1933 census , the locality of Caloundra had a population of 271 people. In the 2016 census , the suburb of Caloundra had a population of 3,917 people. In the 2021 census , the town of Caloundra had a population of 96,305 people. Caloundra has
1107-626: The auction shows the majority of blocks were on Albert Street between King Street and Kings Beach. Another undated map shows more blocks of this estate were advertised for auction on King Street towards Ernest Street. On Saturday 29 December 1934, Caloundra Methodist Church was opened and dedicated by the President of the Methodist State Conference, C. C. Truman. It was the first church in Caloundra. The Caloundra branch of
1148-485: The commercial entities generally called RSL Clubs . Ownership and operation of RSL and Services clubs differ from state to state. For example, RSL NSW and its sub-branches do not own or operate any registered clubs, nor do they own or operate poker machines; however, RSL Victoria sub-branches do. On 4 October 2016, the Sydney Morning Herald and ABC News reported that RSL national president Rod White,
1189-515: The league's inception are as follows: The objects of the League remain relatively unchanged from its first incorporation. The League expresses its vision as: Together, our vision is to help Australia’s veterans and Defence families enjoy better opportunities in all aspects of their lives. The League's mission is: To provide on behalf of Australia’s Veterans and Defence families national advocacy, supportive and coordinated national programs and activities, more funding and optimised management of
1230-628: The licensed clubs, totalling more than a million, differs significantly from membership of the Returned and Services League (RSL). Membership of the League does not automatically confer rights of entry or membership to a licensed club but in some jurisdictions clubs extend honorary membership to serving members of the ADF . Licensed clubs operating under the RSL name usually have bar and dining facilities for their members and guests, and sometimes have extensive gambling areas. Each evening at 6.00 pm
1271-458: The new church was laid Archbishop Philip Strong , who opened and dedicated the new church on 8 December 1967. The new church was consecrated in 1974. The first female councillor was Miriam Westaway, who represented Division 5 from 29 April 1961 to 30 March 1973. She was one of the first teachers at Caloundra State School. She was active in community groups such as the RSL Women's Auxiliary and
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1312-524: The protection and promotion of the ideals of the ANZAC spirit and heritage. The venues were established to provide hospitality for war veterans and a place for comradeship. Often they were located on land granted by the state government. Over time these commercial entities, known generally as RSL Clubs (but also called Ex-Services, Memorial, Legion or other similar names) generated profits and often donated to local community services. The membership base of
1353-460: The purity of motive and the rendering of service without personal gain. The blue is a symbol of willingness to render service to a comrade anywhere under the sky. Each state and territory has a branch of the League, with similar hierarchical structures. Within each branch is a series of districts and sub-branches that serve the interests of members in a particular geographic area. The naming of these branches and sub-branches can be confused with
1394-631: The use of Caloundra Head became dominant and the use of the name Point Wickham seems to have discontinued. In 1875, Robert Bulcock , an English immigrant who founded a Brisbane newspaper and later represented the Brisbane electorate of Enoggera in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1885 until 1888, bought 277 acres (1.12 km) of land in the region. A town was surveyed in the 1870s, and land sales commenced in 1883. The first allotments of land in Caloundra were advertised for public auction on 28 August 1883. The map states 'the land
1435-592: The west, the Pumicestone Passage (separating the area from Bribie Island ) and the ocean to the east, and Bells Creek to the south. The central business district (CBD) for the area is located on Bulcock Street, Caloundra . The Caloundra urban centre consists of the following suburbs: The region of the Sunshine Coast, including Caloundra, is serviced by the Sunshine Coast Airport , located at Marcoola . A smaller regional airport
1476-663: Was a councillor in the Shire of Landsborough , subdivided part of the land into 404 lots. This area became known as Bulcock Beach. 404 allotments of 'Bulcock Estate' were advertised for auction on 16 August 1917 by Isle, Love and Co, auctioneers, with an edge of the Estate mapped as adjacent to Tripcony's store and the Tramway terminus. In 1919, 29 subdivided allotments of 'Caloundra Heads Estate' were advertised to be auctioned on 20 December 1919 by Cameron Bros. in Brisbane. A map advertising
1517-734: Was expelled from the organisation for being a communist. In 1940, the name of the League changed to the Returned Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia (RSSAILA). It changed in 1965 to the Returned Services League of Australia (RSL) and in 1990 to the Returned & Services League of Australia. Before that time, those who defended Darwin from Japanese bombing in World War II were not eligible to join, as they had never left Australia and thus could not be "returned." National presidents since
1558-629: Was politically conservative , Anglophilic , and monarchist . In the 1970s and 1980s, many defence force personnel, including veterans of the Vietnam War , found the RSL – whose members had predominantly served in the Second World War – generally unwelcoming and disdaining of their service. Since the turn of the century, with the number of Second World War veterans in the RSL dwindling, Vietnam veterans and their contemporaries, along with ex-servicemen's wives, have become mainstays of
1599-507: Was previously known as Petrie Point and Point Wickham (or Wickham Point). Point Wickham takes its name from John Clements Wickham , who did a hydrographic survey of the northern section of Moreton Bay in 1846 and was later the Government Resident of Moreton Bay from 1853 to 1859. Point Wickham was in use by 1860, where it was noted on official maps. In an 1892 map it is named "Caloundra Head (Wickham Point)" and at some time later
1640-569: Was subsequently reported as saying the league would be working with "regulatory bodies to deliver an appropriate corporate governance structure to ensure there is no maladministration in the NSW Branch. We are determined to expose any wrongdoing". In March 2017, Mr White resigned as President of the RSL; he had held the position for eight months. Licensed clubs were formed as commercial activities to initially provide services by sub-branches to their members, including providing an environment for
1681-558: Was to lobby for better benefits, treatment and welfare of veterans and serving members of the Defence Force and to preserve the health, wellbeing and security of Australia and the Australian way of life. Before then, state Returned Service Associations had lobbied for better conditions for returned service people in their respective states. The League soon became, and remains, the nation’s largest ex-service organisation. During