A returned serviceman from Vietnam, Tony Bowden OAM has been President of the Box Hill RSL for 19 years and has lived in Nunawading for the past three decades. He served with the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment in Vietnam in 1968 and through that service he become involved with the RSL community.Tony told us how he "won" the National Service Ballot in 1966 but instead of waiting for the call-up, he enlisted for 3 years in the Army. He joined the SAS and embarked on parachuting, jungle warfare and medic training. He spent 12 months in Vietnam in 1968, operating out of “the hill” at Nui Dat.
On his return to Australia, he eventually joined Box Hill RSL and became President in 1998. At that time, the organisation was going broke and today it is now debt-free and the most profitable sub-branch in Victoria.