Why Ross Edwards and Michael Borg have continued their service outside Defence
For these young veteran leaders, joining their local RSL sub-Branch offers a chance to embark on a new career supporting other young veterans.
By Caroline Riches
At a glance:
- Both Ross Edwards and Michael Borg feel they “grew up in Defence” and missed it desperately when they left.
- Determined to continue their service, they joined the Cronulla and Griffith RSL sub-Branches respectively, enabling them to foster meaningful connections and experience the camaraderie they’d been craving.
- “If our veterans need help, we do everything in our power to get them back on track,” says Borg.
- They believe sub-Branches should encourage more young and working veterans to join.
When transitioning out of Defence, Senior Vice-President of Cronulla RSL sub-Branch Ross Edwards considered himself “one of the lucky ones”.
He had quickly secured a new career and had the support of family and friends, but he still describes leaving the Army as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done”.
“It took me five years to really adjust,” he says. “It was a real mourning process – I lost part of my identity, purpose and connections to mates, who were like family. It proved challenging because the process happened so quickly.”
Edwards grew up in the Army, having joined the Royal Australian Artillery as a gunner at 18. After various postings, including the 4th Regiment in Townsville and ‘A’ Field Battery in Sydney, he left full-time service in 2014, aged 30.
His departure was his own choice. Ultimately, he felt done and in need of a change.
“We’d come off the back of a pretty busy time on operations,” he explains. “I deployed to Afghanistan twice. I was partly tired but partly curious about what I could do outside of Defence.”
Ross Edwards at the inaugural Middle East Area of Operations Commemoration in Sydney.
Craving connections
Edwards wasted no time in building a new life – moving to Sydney with girlfriend Emily, carving out a new career as an operations coordinator at the City of Sydney, getting married and starting a family.
But he still craved meaningful connections, especially with fellow veterans. As a result, he joined RSL NSW.
Edwards describes the move as a welcoming experience.
“Becoming a member and supporting the Cronulla RSL sub-Branch has allowed me to foster my sense of purpose and connection to my community, and continue service in a very small way,” he says. “The Vietnam veterans in particular have been really welcoming, friendly and supportive.”
“I’m really happy that the sub-Branch was so supportive of my becoming a senior member of their committee and representing other young veterans.”
The power of stories
Like Edwards, Griffith RSL sub-Branch President Michael Borg always wanted to be in the military. But unlike Edwards, he didn’t choose to leave.
“It was fantastic,” he says. “I loved the camaraderie, the mates you make. I’d be there tomorrow if I hadn’t been medically discharged.”
Borg became a combat engineer in the Royal Australian Engineers in 1995 aged 20, and worked as a Reservist at 5th Engineer Regiment in Penrith before joining the regular Army in 1998.
Assigned to the 17th Construction Squadron in Holsworthy, he was later deployed to East Timor. Then, after combat engineering in Townsville, he was discharged in 2001 due to a meniscus tear in his knee.
Being discharged felt “hurtful”, he says.
“It felt like my whole world had been taken away from me because that was basically all I’d known for six years.”
Michael Borg with General the Hon Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC (Retd) in June 2024.
Borg was fortunate to boast multiple skills that made him employable and he had the support of his fiance, but starting over was anything but easy.
“Going into a new town, having to find a new job, not knowing anyone – that was pretty hard,” he says.
Then he met some Vietnam veterans who persuaded him to join his local RSL sub-Branch in Cowra.
“I was the youngest veteran in town, but those veterans brought a supportive camaraderie,” he explains. “It was good sitting around and listening to their stories.”
Bringing people together
After moving to Griffith for work and then retiring at 48 due to mental health issues, RSL NSW continued to play a crucial role in Borg’s life, providing vital support and connections.
“Besides my wife and kids, it was my mates who kept me alive,” he says. “It’s important to know people have got your back.”
Now President of Griffith RSL sub-Branch, Borg relishes the blend of older and younger veterans working together and supporting each other.
“We’ve all worn the uniform and it doesn’t matter if it’s grey, green or blue. It’s about keeping that camaraderie going.”
Borg is determined that his sub-Branch will support everyone who requires it.
“If our veterans need help, we do everything in our power to get them back on track. It makes me really proud knowing that the people who need the support get it.”
Edwards agrees RSL sub-Branches fill a void for many transitioning out of Defence.
“Leaving everything that I knew and everything that I grew up in to try and start a new life outside of that was particularly tough,” he explains. “Veterans and their families find that sense of comradeship through the dinners, events, community activities, and health and wellbeing initiatives sub-Branches offer.
“It’s about bringing people together.”
