Bankstown RSL Chair Retires After Five Decades

At the Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the evening of Wednesday, 26 March Tony Stewart — a former Minister who served in the NSW Government — was elected Chair.

The change in leadership is the end of an era for Bankstown RSL, with Bruce having first joined the Board on 26 March, 1974, exactly 51 years to the day.

“There were some very nice things said about me the past few weeks, I appreciate all the comments,” Bruce told those gathered at Wednesday’s AGM.

“Scott Dixon (Club CEO) and the Board have been very complimentary, and I appreciate it. I would particularly like to thank my wife for putting up with me for all those years.”

In accepting the role of Chair, Tony Stewart told the AGM that Bruce was being too modest and was in fact responsible for a remarkable legacy at a Club, including at one point pulling them back from the brink.

“You just saw Bruce before being the most understated, humble bloke considering the history of what he’s achieved at this great Club,” said Tony.

“The Club was in very dark days in the 2000s, at the time the Club was $8 million in deficit… it was a terrible, dire situation for the Club. Bruce brought the Board together and managed to get the Club in the right direction and focus on positivity.

“We now boast over $100 million in assets… the reality is he turned it around and look where we are now. Thank you, Bruce, for what you’ve achieved.”

Tony is no stranger to public office, having been elected to the NSW Parliament in the seat of Lakemba in 1995 and then Bankstown in 1999, a seat in which he served three terms.

He served in a range of ministerial portfolios during the Rees Government, including Small Business, and Science and Medical Research.

During his political career he was also Deputy Speaker between May 2007 and September 2008 and served on a number of parliamentary committees.

He was first appointed to the Bankstown RSL Board in April 2024. On becoming Chair, he said he was daunted but excited by the opportunity of leading the Club into its next chapter and wished Bruce well in retirement.

“Thank you, Bruce, for the privilege and the honour of being Chairman of this great Club, with over 100 years of history,” he said.

“I’m quite nervous about it, I haven’t been involved with this sort of stuff for a long time.

“If it wasn’t for Bruce, we wouldn’t have Scott Dickson here and we wouldn’t have the management team we’ve got that’s been so focused on making the Club a success.

“Enjoy your opportunity to spend more time with your children, your beautiful grandchildren — this is your time to shine now and be with them, but we also want you to spend some time with us as well, so don’t forget us.”