At the group's annual general meeting in February 2022, Mr Berry will retire from the role after a seven year tenure as president.

Mr Berry was born in Natimuk and served in the Australian army for 20 years, from 1959 to 1979.

From 1969 to 1970, Mr Berry served at the Australian Field Hospital in Vung Tau, working in transport.

During his time there he commanded a crew which looked after the driving and maintenance of the army's vehicles.

Back in Australia Mr Berry served as a driving instructor, in Adelaide and Puckapunyal - where he spent the majority of his military career.

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"The only thing that I was disappointed with was that I did 20 years in the army, and 13 of them were in Puckapunyal," he said.

Eventually, Mr Berry voluntarily moved back down to the rank of Corporal and stopped teaching driving lessons in Puckapunyal.

He had been involved in a car accident from which he had lost a friend, and his desire to work as a driver.

He joined a survey regiment in Bendigo, where he spent the remainder of his army career.

Mr Berry became a member of the Nhill RSL in 1996 and became the group's secretary in 2000.

"The old gentleman they had as secretary wanted to hand it over, so I took it on in 2000," he said.

In 2016, Mr Berry became president of the sub-branch, during which he oversaw the refurbishment of the RSL building.

"The facilities of the RSL were in a bad state. We had no refrigerator, no stove, never had hot water - and had to have a completely new kitchen built," he said.

He remembered sharing leadership of the sub-branch with a great committee, including former treasurer Merv Snyder and secretary Rhys Webb.

"The one thing that sticks out for me was the help that I had from Merv Snyder. He used to be the treasurer for years and years," he said.

"The support that I got, I can't complain about, with Merv being the main one working with myself and Rhys."

Unlike many RSL sub-branches around regional Australia, the Nhill RSL has seen an increase in membership in the past decade.

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Mr Berry said it was due to a proactive committee and a supportive community.

"When I came time for ANZAC and poppy appeals, the support we got was just unbelievable," he said.

"We sell in two places, the bakery and IGA - I do the bakery and the vice-president does IGA. Nine times out of 10 people just walk out with their change and throw it in. We do well and the RSL is satisfied with the way we were running it."

At 85-years-old, Mr Berry has decided to pass on the role of RSL president, due to his age and health condition.

He said he was happy with the condition the sub branch would be in upon his departure - and that engaging youth would key to continuing the success of the RSL into the future.

"I think the RSL is something that has got to keep going. The more that the sub branches of the RSL can do to entice young people, the better," he said.

"We get students from the college to do part of our service every year. We had one this year with school children singing their favourite song 'Home among the gum trees'. It was great

"I can honestly say that I did enjoy my 21 years.

"I have been doing it for a long time. I have got somebody now that can take it on, so time for me to give it up."

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