Gosford RSL Sub-Branch President Greg Mawson was in for quite a surprise at a recent meeting.
In what he has described as his “greatest honour yet”, the hard-working Mawson was awarded Life Membership of the Returned Services League of Australia by close friend and Gosford RSL Sub Branch Vice President (Derek Crawford).
He now holds five life memberships for his volunteer work.
He also holds life memberships with Woy Woy JRLFC, Central Coast District JRL, Gosford City Sub Branch of the National Servicemen’s Association and the NSW National Servicemen’s Association.
After being discharged from the Army almost 40 years ago, Mawson settled down on the Central Coast.
With a keen interest in rugby league, he began coaching and managing football teams with Woy Woy Junior Rugby League Club in 1985 and continued until 2010, helping to secure two premierships for the club (in 1987 and 1999).
In 1990 he was named Inaugural Club Person of the Year.
He also held various positions with the Central Coast Division of Junior Rugby League during this time.
His other great passion was the Gosford Sub-Branch of the National Servicemen’s Association, a voluntary charity of ex national servicemen who raise money for distribution to local charities, for which he held a variety of committee positions, including six years as president.
Under his presidency, the Sub Branch raised more than $90,000, with Gosford Hospital Children’s Ward andl Oncology Unit and the Shirley Shuttle major recipients.
He also served as the branch’s delegate to the National Servicemen’s Association of NSW State Conference on several occasions and was a state committee member of the NSW National Servicemen’s Association, being elected as President in 2022.
From 2010-2023 he was principal organiser of the annual Easter Egg Parade at Gosford Hospital where the Members of Gosford City Sub-Branch donate money to buy Easter eggs which are distributed to patients and staff.
He has been President of the Gosford RSL Sub-Branch since 2010, also serving as delegate to the Central Coast RSL District Council of RSL Sub Branches, serving as Vice President of that organisation from 2012-14 and as President since.
He has also been delegate to the NSW State Conference of RSL District Councils and Sub Branches since 2010.
From 2010-2014, Mawson was a member of the Committee working with the Central Coast Regional Group in the planning of The Landings Project, which will see the southern end of Gosford City transformed into a modern, more cosmopolitan region, including a more modern memorial park/cenotaph.
He is the RSL’s chief representative in the region, officiating at numerous services and events and was co-organiser of the Symposium of Hope, a two-year project to make the transition of military members easier when leaving the services.
He has been active with the Gosford city Sports Council in various positions, as well as with the Central Coast (NSW) Sports Federation.
He was Inaugural Chairperson of the Defence Force Family Fun Day and has received numerous community awards and accolades.
Terry Collins