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 26th March 2026 – Present is:
President: July 2023 – Present
Senior Vice President: May 2021 – June 2023
Secretary: April 2018 – May 2021
Sub Branch Committee Member: April 2015 – April 2018
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.
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 also 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: May 2025 – Present
Committee Member: February 2018 – May 2025
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.
Vice President: March 2026 – Present
Committee Member: November 2023 – March 2026
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.
Secretary: March 2026 – Present
Committee Member: November 2023 – March 2026
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: 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.
Committee Member: May 2025 – Present
Robert enlisted on 12 Feb 1980, into 15 Tpt Sqn in Bendigo, trained as a driver, and then was posted to OCTU, (the Reserve Officer training Unit). He served as an officer in 2 RVR, in Mildura, 15 Tpt Sqn Bendigo, 8/7 RVR in Mildura and onto then Ballarat. He moved through the ranks and, as a LtCol, was the Chief Instructor for other ranks training in Victoria 1998-99 and Commanding Officer of the Regional Battalion 8/7 RVR, Aug 1999 to Dec 2003.
He continued with active service until March 2005, final disengagement Dec 15, 2016
He worked as a registered Occupational Therapist, for over 44 years, and was registered with DVA working with veterans from World War One to veterans up to and including recently deployed service personnel.
He has been involved with Rotary for over 18 years and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow Ruby for his services.
Committee Member: March 2026 – Present
Secretary: November 2023 – March 2026
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.
Committee Member: March 2026 – Present
Cam enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 2001 and served 15 years as a Musician and Audio Technician with Central Band (now Air Force Band) located at RAAF Base Williams in Laverton, Victoria.
In 2004 he was deployed to the Middle Eastern Area of Operations (MEAO) including Operational Service in Iraq, with Forces Entertainment as Audio Technician.
Further short deployments included East Timor and the Solomon Islands.
Cam is a member of the Bendigo District RSL Central Victorian Veterans and Commemorative Activities Sub-Committees, and hopes to bring opportunities for veterans to explore therapeutic activities through music, as well as social interactions.
Committee Member: March 2026 – Present
Stafford was born and spent his early years growing up on the family farm in Inglewood and later in Bendigo attending secondary school at Golden Square High School. Post High School he completed his apprenticeship and qualification as a Carpenter and Joiner. During the latter part of this time (1979) he joined the Australian Army Reserve and qualified as Driver in 15 TPT SQN in Bendigo.
In 1981 he transferred to the Australian Regular Army and served for 36 years, rising through the ranks to a senior Warrant Officer Class One, retiring in December 2017 at compulsory retiring age.
Stafford served in many units and diverse portfolios throughout his career including Chief Driving Instructor to Defence, Career Manager for Army Warrant Officer Class Ones’ at the Soldier Career Management Agency, and project management roles in both the equipment and personnel environment.
He has had the unique opportunity to lead and mentor many soldiers and young officers to reach significant milestones in their own careers. He is a strong believer of the ethic “Lead by Example” and developing empathy and deeper understanding of soldiers and their issues.
One of the most significant roles he was assigned to (and still rates as one of the most challenging but at the same time gratifying roles) was the appointment as the Member Support Co-ordinator for Army’s Seriously Wounded Injured and Ill Programme for North Queensland leading a specialist team caring for soldiers in North Queensland.
This programme provided direct support to seriously wounded and injured soldiers (both service and combat related), their families and the chain of command. Many of the soldiers included in the programme had significant mental injuries, amputations, and a variety of other complex welfare situations.
On discharge Stafford returned to Bendigo and resumed his boyhood role as a beekeeper in a commercial apiary environment. Stafford is the current Chair of the Bendigo Branch of the Victorian Apiarist Association and is also a Board Member of the Victorian Apiarist Association.
Stafford has been awarded the
