Life membership honour

Fred Doust has been awarded an RSL life membership for his contributions to the Boyup Brook and Bassendean sub-branches.

Having retired from the armed services in 1974 after 23 years in the Army, Mr Doust moved to Boyup Brook in 1991.

For 19 years of his 29 as part of the Boyup Brook RSL, Mr Doust served as president and was responsible for organising its Anzac Day ceremonies.

Boyup Brook RSL president Colin Hales paid tribute to Mr Doust.

“It’s quite a significant achievement and there’s only five or so per year from each State given that award.

“Fred’s a very humble man and he was taken aback a fair bit when we announced he was being given life membership.”

Mr Hales said Mr Doust had run the Boyup Brook RSL almost single-handedly during the 1990s.

“In the early 1990s a lot of the veterans in the Boyup Brook sub-branch either left the area or passed away ... so Fred really ran it single-handedly for a long time,” he said.

Mr Doust said he had been told the RSL would have folded if he had not managed to keep it going.

He said receiving a life membership was surprising and gratifying.

“I guess it was a bit of surprise when it came up on Anzac Day,” he said.

“I feel gratified in so much as it’s recognising the years of service that I’ve done, probably in the armed forces and with the RSL.”

Mr Doust’s life membership was presented to him on Anzac Day by Mr Hales.