Meet The Locals: Ian “Drum” Drummond and Angela Hunt from Anglesea RSL

Ahead of Anzac Day, I met Anglesea RSL Vice-President, Ian “Drum” Drummond, and Secretary Angela Hunt, at the new Anglesea War Memorial in Cameron Park.

We spoke about how they each got involved in the RSL, the new War Memorial, and what Anzac Day means to them.

Hi Drum and Angie, thank you both for taking some time out of your day to chat with me. I know you’re both hard workers for the RSL and long-term locals but have you always lived in Anglesea?

Angela: I used to live and work in Melbourne but I had a holiday house in Anglesea. Almost 20 years ago, I decided to take a sabbatical and moved here permanently.
After a year off work, I felt I needed to do something and started a cleaning business called Coastal Angels with a friend. It was successful and we had a good reputation but after ten years we decided to retire.

Drum: I was born in Melbourne and lived in the country in Gippsland as a small child. My dad had served in World War Two, and we moved around a lot as he changed jobs – from cutting timber in the country to selling real estate, and running a milk bar and other businesses in Melbourne. I spent a lot of time in and around Reservoir and later on Burwood and King Lake while I was growing up, finishing up in Reservoir.

My girlfriend’s father got me a management traineeship at Woolworths on Bourke Street, which was cut short when I was called up for National Service around 1967. I was keen to do it and completed my training at Puckapunyal. I was assigned to a unit in Sydney, before returning to Melbourne and marrying my fiance. We actually drove the Great Ocean Road on our honeymoon. During my core training, I had stepped forward when we were asked if anyone was prepared to go to Vietnam – contrary to popular belief many of us actually stepped forward.  I then went to a unit in Sydney but didn’t think I would be going overseas as my Sister Unit was already there.  I was called up as replacement personnel for Unit 161 Recce Flight.  Our nickname was “The Possums of Nui Dat” and we were involved with forward air control – known as FAC. I was there for 11 months.

On my return, we bought a house in Greensborough, had two kids, and I started selling shirts in a store in Northland. I was in charge of menswear originally, then I was asked to go into head office to be an assistant to the menswear buyer. Then I took on that role and went on to work as a menswear controller, merchandise manager and ultimately general manager of the company.

We had a holiday house in Anglesea. I was in my mid-50s and I thought I was alright, but really I wasn’t. It was suggested that I talk to the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service – now called Open Arms – and I got counselling. I thought it would be good to get away from city life. So it was around 20-odd years ago that I retired early due to PTSD,  and my wife and I decided to move to our holiday house in Anglesea permanently.

I believe you have both worked for the Anglesea RSL for many years now – how did each of you end up getting involved in our local RSL?

Angela: I’m a social person. I used to pop into the RSL and have a chat and found out the secretary was leaving. So around 12 years ago I filled in at the RSL as secretary. It was meant to be for three months but I’ve been here ever since. I am very passionate about our RSL and our Veterans.

Drum: When my wife and I moved here, the RSL made us extremely welcome. It’s a quaint little RSL and we’ve steadily made improvements over many years – it’s now got one of the largest beer gardens on the coast. It stands on land donated by the men from World War Two. They found a little old house in Ballarat, originally, and transported it here.

I stand out because my unit had a pale blue beret, plus I’m glittered up like a Christmas tree because I always march with my own medals and my father’s medals from World War Two. I started out by selling badges for the RSL and then became the Appeals Officer. I’ve been actively involved ever since. I was a barman, and Master of Ceremonies, and have made speeches on Anzac Day. Now I’m Vice President.

After huge fundraising and planning, the new Anglesea War Memorial was opened earlier this year – what does the Anglesea War Memorial mean to you both?

Angela: The new War Memorial opening was on 27 February this year but it took three years to get it done due to COVID. We actually put in an application six years ago to get one built. I guess it’s really taken over 100 years to get one built but the reception has been great. People in the community and our veterans love it.

Lots of locals put in ‘labour in kind’ and we were grateful for a heap of donations. The Anglesea Bowling Club helped us do it plus we got a small grant but it was 86% district donations that got it built. It’s a beautiful place for reflection – it’s very special. The Anzac Day traditional commemorative service will still be held at our sub-branch at 30 Murray Street, but the memorial will be used for Remembrance Day. And the main thing is that our veterans will always be remembered.

Drum: The memorial is magnificent. It’s for all the people who have served along the coast, a spot where people can sit and reflect on things. I’ve been holding my fathers’ ashes for many years, not knowing where to put them, but I’ve now decided where they’ll go. My name’s on the memorial, and it’s nice that my grandkids, great-grandkids and those in the future will see it. My wife’s family were living here before we moved here and both her mother and father were World War Two RAF veterans, so their names are on the same plaque.

As long-term locals, what do you both like about Anglesea?

Angela: I feel very lucky to live in Anglesea, it’s a great spot, beautiful, community-minded, friendly, safe, and the sea changers moving from Melbourne are lovely and want to get involved with the community.

Drum: I love this town, it’s treated me very well. The new War Memorial exemplifies how nice this town is. The people down here are just different and it’s a wonderful place. It’s changed a lot over the years, but the people are still very welcoming and generous. That’s why my wife and I are still living here in the holiday home we bought all those years ago.

What does Anzac Day mean to you?

Angela: We need to express our history and never let our young ones forget what our forefathers did for them. We also need to support the younger generation of servicemen and women coming through – the ones in training, or recently served, to show them our support. I hope they get the support they deserve, unlike the Vietnam Veterans, who received a rough time. I would hate them to be forgotten. That’s what Anzac Day means to me. I love to see the faces of the kids and parents at the parade and I always cry at the Last Post. Our Defence Force does an amazing job and they don’t get enough recognition.

Drum: Holding an Anzac Parade puts a focus on what’s happened in the past and gets the next generation involved because the kids attend school. I think it’s important to keep the Anzac Spirit alive and the RSL does do a lot for the community. These days it’s slightly different because wars are fought with fewer people and more tech. But we still have servicemen and women who need support and recognition. I recently helped judge an art competition, where the kids had to draw a flowering gum. That’s because originally there was an avenue of honour of flowering gums in Anglesea after the First World War, but now there’s only one left. We might work to change that too.

Thank you for your service to our community, Drum and Angela, and for your endless support of our local Anglesea RSL and veterans.