The NSW Government has confirmed that RSL NSW President Mick Bainbridge and directors Paul James, Phillip Chin, and Dr Charles New OAM resigned from the state board on Thursday, 9 October leaving the organisation temporarily without a quorum.

Media reports suggest that the resignations were precipitated by a crisis meeting that was to consider removing Mick Bainbridge and Paul-Raymond James over alleged breaches of code of conduct and conflict of interest rules.

Both were reportedly under scrutiny for their dual roles as RSL NSW directors and legal representatives for a party involved in a dispute with the organisation.

While the resignations have prompted government inquiries into how the board will continue operating, local sub-branches say their day-to-day activities will remain unaffected.

In a media statement, NSW Minister for Veterans, David Harris noted that Mr Bainbridge, Mr James and Dr New had served on the board since 2023, while Mr Chin had been a director since 2017.

All four are veterans, and the Minister for Veterans thanked them for their service.

Little impact felt at branch level

In Cobar, RSL sub-branch secretary Colleen Boucher said the news had been discussed briefly at their Sunday meeting, but members were unconcerned.

“It really doesn’t affect us,” she said.

“We’re just a small branch, and this sort of thing has been happening at the top for quite a few years – different people getting out of it and new ones coming in."

Ms Boucher emphasised that the focus at the local level remains firmly on supporting veterans and their families.

“I don’t get involved in politics,” she said.

“We’re here to support the vets in Cobar – that’s what we do.”

The Cobar RSL sub-branch currently has around 14 members, meeting regularly at the Cobar Memorial Services Club.

The club serves as the town’s community venue, with private function areas, a restaurant and lounge area used for gatherings and remembrance events.

Youth connection through Army Cadets

Beyond traditional Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services, Ms Boucher plays a major role in engaging local youth through the Australian Army Cadets.

She runs the Cobar unit every Sunday, giving teenagers aged 13 to 18 a structured, hands-on experience of leadership, teamwork and community service.

“We’ve been running the Army Cadets here for about 30 years,” she said.

Cobar RSL sub-branch secretary, Colleen Boucher, was recognised in the King's Honour Award in 2024 for her service to the Cobar community.

“My husband actually opened the unit, and I’ve been involved for 27 or 28 years, it just becomes part of your life.”

The unit recently returned from a week-long training camp at Singleton Army Base, where 15 cadets spent seven days in the field learning navigation, survival skills and teamwork.

“It gives them a military experience and they love it,” Ms Boucher said.

She noted that the cadets’ involvement strengthens the bond between younger generations and the town’s veterans.

“We’ve had three daughters go through, and now our granddaughter too," Ms Boucher said.

"It keeps that connection going and shows the kids why remembering and service still matter.”

Grassroots strength

For many small-town branches, the latest RSL NSW resignations highlight the distance between state-level administration and local volunteer work.

But Ms Boucher believes the heart of the organisation has always been in the sub-branches that quietly serve their communities.

“We just get on with what we do,” she said.

“We look after our veterans, support the cadets, and make sure Cobar remembers.”

While questions remain over governance at the state level, in towns like Cobar the mission remains unchanged – a commitment to service, remembrance and the next generation who will carry those values forward.

Although RSL NSW operates independently of government, Minister Harris has written to the organisation seeking information and advice about the issues raised by the outgoing directors.

“The NSW Government stands with the almost 130,000 veterans and their families who call our state home,” Mr Harris said.

“RSL NSW is an important organisation supporting the wellbeing of veterans and their families, and the Government wants to see it operate with the highest standards of integrity and governance.”