An RSL volunteer who served as a sergeant in the Army has been recognised for her long-standing commitment to local veterans.
Sherryl McVey has been awarded a 2023 District RSL Australia Day Medallion for her work as a wellbeing advocate for veterans and their families.
The Maroochy RSL volunteer said military service was in her DNA, with members of her family having been actively involved in numerous conflicts including Sandakan and Vietnam.
She was also a sergeant in the Army for three years before she was forced to resign prior to getting married in the late 1960s.
“My father was killed in Sandakan, leaving my mother a war widow. Being from a military family gave me insight into the issues and challenges military personnel and their families faced,” Mrs McVey said.
After a long career as a teacher’s aide and business manager within the Brisbane school system, Mrs McVey and her husband Bob retired to the Sunshine Coast in 2015 where they both began volunteering with the Maroochy RSL Veterans’ Hub.
“Bob said to me that retirement was a time in our life when we should be giving back and it’s great that we have been able to do it together,” she said.
“We are both part of the wellbeing advocacy team at the Maroochy RSL Veterans’ Hub and it’s been an honour and a pleasure for us to be able to support our veterans and their families who have given so much to our country.
“Maroochy RSL deserve a lot of credit for the abundant resources and tools they have in place to ensure myself and our other volunteers have the necessary training and skills to meet the various needs of our veterans.
“This can range from helping a veteran attain their military entitlements or their Gold Card to providing emotional support or arranging for their lawn to be mowed, house cleaned or shopping done.
“No two days are ever the same.”
Mrs McVey said that being an ex-service person helped her build trust and rapport, which meant I could fast-track changes to make a veteran’s life better.
“Volunteering with Maroochy RSL is very rewarding – if I knew what I know now I would have joined as a volunteer much earlier,” she said.
“I encourage all servicemen and women to make contact with the Maroochy RSL Veterans’ Hub so we can help improve the quality of their lives. There’s so much support we can offer and so many veterans don’t know what’s available to them.”
Maroochy RSL CEO Clare Paton said Mrs McVey was one of many volunteers who gave their time to support the local veteran community.
“We are proud of all our volunteers and Sherryl is one of our many shining lights who embraces our veteran services support,” she said.
“She is committed to learning the best ways to be a trustworthy leader in the veteran wellbeing space.
“Over the past seven years, Sherryl has also been an active wellbeing advocate at the Mudjimba and Coolum RSL sub-branches and she has been our wellbeing team leader since September 2022.
“Maroochy RSL congratulates Sherryl for this tremendous recognition.”
