The Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch compromises of many service, ex-service and social members that volunteer their time to each committee.
Following the AGM, the committee from 27th March 2023 – Present is:
Mr Glenn Ludeman was born in Bendigo and was brought up on the family farm in Kamarooka, north of Bendigo.
He joined the Australian Army in 1991. His operational service includes Bougainville, Papua New Guinea in 2000, East Timor in 2001 with the United Nations, Timor Leste in 2007, and Afghanistan in 2009 – 2010 and 2012 – 2013. He has also served on Operation Bush Fires Assist in 2020, Operation COVID 19 Assist in 2020 and 2022, and Operation Flood Assist 22-2 in 2022.
His current position is the Company Sergeant Major for Charlie Company, 8th / 7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment.
Glenn Ludeman has been awarded a Commanding Officer Commendation, a Soldiers Medallion for Exemplary Service, an Australia Day Medallion, and multiple commendations for his Australian Defence Force service. He is a secondary school teacher and also operates a small business in Bendigo.
Glenn is a Past Senior Vice President and Past Secretary of the Bendigo District RSL Sub-Branch Inc., a Past President of the Post 1975 Veterans Central Victoria, a Past President and Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary Club of Kangaroo Flat, a member of the Bendigo City Lodge and a JP (Justice of the Peace).
Senior Vice President
Senior Vice President: November 2023 – Present
Committee Member: September 2023 – November 2023
Jeff was born in Murwillumbah NSW and grew up on the family farm.
He joined the School Cadets in 1960 until 1964, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He joined the CMF, 42nd Battalion RNSWR in 1964 until 1966, attaining the rank of Corporal. He enlisted in the regular Army in 1966. Throughout his career, Jeff served in Victoria Barracks Sydey as part of Headquarters Eastern command, was posted to 9RAR in April 1968 as part of the advance party to form the newest Batallion in the RAR, He went on to serve with “B”Coy 9RAR in Vietnam from October 1968 until December 1969, having the distinction of serving under, now, Sir Peter Cosgrove. Having attained the rank of Sergeant, and on returning from Vietnam and Jeff was poster to 5RAR, In 1972 Jeff was posted to 176 Air Dispatch at Wallgrove NSW as WO2, until electing his discharge in 1976.
Jeff has been a member of the RSL since 1970, and has held various positions in RSL NSW and Vic over those 54 years.
Jeff has served 11 years as President of Elmore RSL until it closed in 2023, he then came to Bendigo District RSL, where he continues his mission to support all veterans and their families through welfare, health and wellbeing, and advocacy for better support from all agencies and Government, enabling all those who served to be better acknowledged for their service to their country.
Vice President
Vice President: November 2023 – Present
Secretary: September 2023 – November 2023
Committee Member: September 2023 – November 2023
Secretary: November 2023 – Present
Committee Member: September 2023 – November 2023
Mr Dale Hannaford is a current serving member in the Australian Army with over 21 years of service.
Throughout his career, Dale has served in the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps as a Clerk. He has worked at all unit levels of the Army including Land Command, Training Command, Career Management and 1st Division and Army Reserve Units. His operational service consists of OP Slipper (Afghanistan 2011).
Dale has been involved with the BDRSL Commemorative Activities since 2012 where he proudly led the first Cavalcade guard for older veterans and despite being posted away from his family in Bendigo, he has always returned to be involved in the Bendigo Anzac Ceremony. He joined the SBC in early 2023 and due to his extensive administrative knowledge and skills has been moved into the role of Secretary.
His personal aim is to achieve the BDRSL key goal of supporting current serving, ex-serving personnel and their immediate family through welfare, health and wellbeing programmes to enable all who have served in the Australian Armed Forces be acknowledged and have a meaningful and healthier life. As well as facilitating the imparting of Military history to younger generations.
Treasurer: Present
Mr Shane Robinson CPA, GAICD is an active community member, volunteering in many roles across a diverse range of community organisations.
Developed across a 12 year financial compliance and financial management employment history across many diverse industries, Shane brings a broad range of skills and experience working in government and commercial finance roles.
Shane does not have any service history, but has family who have served and an active interest in Australian and World military history.
Immediate Past President:
Mr Peter Swandale is a current serving reservist in the Australian Army with over 35 years of service.
Throughout the years, Peter has served in the Royal Australian Corps of Transport as a driver, the Royal Australian Corps of Survey as a Lithographic Printer and the Royal Australian Corps of Signals as an IT Engineer. His operational service consists of OP Bel Isi (Bougainville) 2001, OP UNTAET (East Timor) 2002 and OP Catalyst (IRAQ) 2006.
Peter originally joined the BDRSL Post 1975 Veterans Central Victoria in 2014 to support other veterans and since then has served as Vice President of the Post 1975 Veterans Central Victoria, Chair and member of the Commemorative Activities Sub-Committee, Senior Vice President and since April 2018, President of the Bendigo District RSL.
His personal aim is to achieve the BDRSL key goal of supporting current service men and women and ex-serving personnel and their immediate family through welfare, health and wellbeing programmes to enable all who have served in the Australian Armed Forces be acknowledged and have a meaningful and healthier life.
Committee Member: March 2018- Present
Mr Carl Chirgwin joined the Australian Regular Army (ARA) in January 1979 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant from OCS, Portsea in December 1979. Carl served for 21 years in the ARA and for 6 years in the Ares with Royal Australian Engineers.
During Carl’s service he served in Papua New Guinea for 3 years during the period of December 1991 to December 1994.
He also served with Australian Contingents to the United Nations in Pakistan/Afghanistan (Jul – Dec 1989) with United Nations Mine Clearance Training Team (UNMCTT) based in Peshawar (Operation Salaam) and then Mozambique (Jan – Aug 1997) with United Nations Accelerated Demining Programme (ADP) (Operation Coracle).
Carl came to be part of the Bendigo District RSL with the aim of assisting veterans and their families.
Committee Member: February 2018 – Present
Mr Bruce McClure was born in Castlemaine Victoria and graduated as a qualified Civil Engineer from the Bendigo Institute of Technology in 1972 after completing a Diploma of Civil Engineering. He completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) in 1979.
He joined the Army Reserve as a Sapper with 22 Construction Regiment Royal Australian Engineers in September 1976. He qualified as a Corporal in June 1977 and after a further twelve months started as a recruit in the Officer Training Scheme for Army Reserve Officers. He graduated as a Lieutenant in November 1980. Apart from brief periods spent undergoing training with other Units, he spent a further 22 years serving with 22 Construction Regiment undertaking training and construction activities around many parts of Australia. In 1997 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and become the Commanding Officer of 22 Construction Regiment until December 2000. He was then posted to the Land Warfare Development Centre at Puckapunyal (to Dec 2002), the Regional Training Centre (to Dec 2003) and the Land Warfare Centre Victoria (to Dec 2005). In 2006 Bruce retired from the Defence Forces after nearly 30 years of Service.
Bruce McClure has been awarded the Reserve Forces Decoration and is a Fellow of The Institute of Engineers Australia and Chartered Professional Engineer Retired. He is currently the Chairman of the Post 75 Veterans Central Victoria, a Past President (on two occasions) and Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary Club of Kangaroo Flat.
Committee Member: November 2023 – Present
Philip was born in Hamilton Vic, and grew up on his family farm south of Casterton.
He joined Australian Army Reserve in 1981 after moving back to Hamilton with State Electricity Commission.
Phil served in various positions in Hamilton, Warrnambool, Ballarat, and Bendigo, within 8/7 RVR until 2008, when he transferred to ARA. During this time he attained the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 and included full-time service in Sydney (Olympics), and Butterworth (Malaysia).
Phil was posted to School of Artillery 2009-2012, Pilbara Regiment 2013-2015 before returning to School of Transport, and electing discharge in 2017. He is still employed full time and is actively involved with Defence.
Phil was formerly a member of Hamilton, Port Hedland and Broadford RSL before returning to Bendigo. Since returning to Bendigo he has resumed his active community involvement in and is looking forward to spending more time with these after retirement.
Committee Member: November 2023 – Present
Mr. Jordan Wilkinson was born in Bendigo and has continued be a local Bendigonian his entire life.
He has devoted his professional and personal life to Youth development and Education and is the Current Commanding Officer of the 309 Army Cadet Unit in Bendigo. He has been an active participant in the Cadet program both as a Youth participant and an Adult Volunteer. He has held various Instructor and Officer of Cadet positions in his time with the Army Cadet program.
He also has invested interest in Bagpiping and has volunteered with Military Pipes and Drums units since he was sixteen and continues to do so today with the 5th/6th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment Association Pipes and Drums (5/6 RVR P&Ds).
He works for the Department of Education providing administrative and technical support while assisting Youth in employment, Vocational Education and Training and finding alternative learning opportunities for local Youth.
Committee Member (Social): August 2023 – Present
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
Active community member volunteering in many roles across Bendigo Cricket Club and Unite the North.
Life member at Bendigo Cricket Club.
Over 10 years Banking and Finance experience.
Over 10 years in Hospitality industry including management roles.
Bendigo District RSL 73–75 Havilah Road,
Bendigo VIC 3550
Phone: (03) 5442 2950
