Margaret Lewis sits on the bench her late husband, and former Benalla RSL president, Jeff, helped to fund with a donation in his will. The bench now also has a plaque recognising Jeff’s contribution below it. Photo: Matt Weaver.
Margaret Lewis sat proudly on one of the benches her late husband, former Benalla RSL president Jeff, helped fund on Wednesday, October 15, with a big smile on her face.
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Members of the Benalla RSL sub-branch had invited her along as they unveiled several new memorials near the cenotaph.
One of those was a newly updated memorial to all that have served in wars, since World War II.
That memorial had been a wooden cross, which Benalla RSL members have now had restored, prior to it being placed outside their rooms on Nunn St.
Benalla RSL president Paul Hartland and member Len ‘Tree’ Wilhelm in front of the new plaque, near the cenotaph, which honours those who have served in wars since World War II. Photo: Matt Weaver.
A new plaque has been made, and attached to a large stone, in keeping with other memorials at the site.
In addition to those, two new plaques have been placed beneath the two benches that were installed earlier in 2025.
One of those honours former RSL president Jeff Lewis, who left money in his will for the project.
The other honours the Benalla RSL Ladies Auxiliary, which also raised funds for its installation.
Mrs Lewis said Jeff would be extremely proud of the benches.
“He was very involved with RSL,” she said.
“And when he went, he said he wanted to put something towards the seats.
“Paul (Hartland, the current president) has taken it on from there and decided to put the plaque underneath, which is very nice.
This plaque in recognition of the Benalla RSL Ladies Auxiliary sits beneath one of the benches its fundraising helped pay for. Photo: Matt Weaver.
“Jeff would be over the moon to see it here today.
“Although I think he’d be very embarrassed because he preferred to do things quietly.”
Mrs Lewis said she was also pleased the ladies’ auxiliary was honoured.
“They’re a group of probably eight or 10 ladies, who, over the years, we’ve worked very hard for the RSL and done lots of dinners and fundraising,” she said.
This plaque, in honour of the late Jeff Lewis, former president of Benalla RSL, sits beneath one of the benches his donation helped fund. Photo: Matt Weaver.
Benalla RSL president Paul Hartland said the stone used for the other memorial was sourced from a quarry in Chesney Vale.
“That was arranged by Sputt Ellis, he’d got a property out there and a hill covered in these beautiful rocks,” he said.
“This one honours all those who fought in Malaya, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Borneo, the Gulf War, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq.”
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