OUR COMMITTEE

Mike Gretton joined the RAAF in London in 1965 and went on to enjoy a 20-year career with the Air Force. This included Vietnamese language training in 1967 at the RAAF School of Languages at Point Cook. 

This was followed by two tours of Vietnam as an interpreter, firstly with 2 Squadron and then at 1 Operational Support Unit. After being commissioned into the Intelligence branch at the end of 1971, Mike carried out intelligence duties in Canberra, Amberley, Malaysia, Canberra again, finally finishing his Air Force career as the Director of Studies at the RAAF School of Languages. 

He then spent another 21 years with Defence as a civilian as head of the Vietnamese Department at what became the ADF School of Languages.

Mike spent nearly 15 years as the Secretary of the Kyneton RSL. In 2021, he was made a Life Member of the League and was elected President of the Kyneton RSL in March 2024.

Bria Turley was called up for National Service in 1956 and completed 3 months' service as a signaller. He later served two years with the Citizen’s Military Forces and was chosen to establish and maintain Morse radio circuits in the Signals Regiment at Ivanhoe. Brian joined the Kyneton RSL as a Service member in 2016 and was elected Senior Vice President in March 2018. He also took on the role of Appeals Officer.

Rob Renton was born in Ivanhoe in Melbourne. He was conscripted into the Australian Army in1968 and served for two years including a year’s tour of duty in Vietnam with 9RAR and 6RAR from 1969 to 1970. Rob joined the Watsonia RSL in 1972 and later joined the Kyneton RSL in 1984. 

He joined the committee of the Kyneton RSL in around 1987 and has held various positions at the Kyneton RSL including Treasurer, Appeals Officer and a stint as President from 2009 to 2011. He has contributed a lot of time as Welfare and Pensions Officer. He was awarded Life Membership of the RSL in 2010.

Ian Jackson is Kyneton born and bred. He was educated in Kyneton and Melbourne. He qualified with a Diploma of Business Studies - Accountancy from RMIT. He gained further qualification as a Chartered Accountant. He returned to Kyneton in late 1997 to take care of aging parents in. He joined the Kyneton RSL as an Affiliate member in 2006. Ian joined the Committee of the Kyneton RSL in March 2016 and was elected Treasurer in 2017.

Natalie Gretton grew up in Bendigo and, after leaving Bendigo High School, worked in Bendigo for four years before joining the WRAAF. 

After a short career, she married Michael Gretton and is the mother of two sons, James and Stephen. They accompanied Michael on postings within Australia and Malaysia. 

The family settled in Werribee where Natalie studied for a Bachelor of Arts as a mature age student. Upon gaining the BA, she began writing novels and has had a Young Adult novel published. 

She now lives happily in Trentham with Michael and is enjoying retirement with him. 

She joined the committee of the Kyneton RSL in December 2022 and was appointed Secretary in May 2024.

Rebecca has been involved in the hospitality industry since she turned 18 and worked her way up to managing the Victoria Tavern in Gisborne. Following time out to start a family, Rebecca joined the Kyneton RSL as a casual in 2016 and was appointed Manager in July 2017. 

Since that time the Kyneton RSL has experienced unprecedented growth in patronage and membership and she is now the Manager of multi-award winning hospitality venue.

Elaine joined the WRAAF in Townsville in January 1977, going on to be trained as an EDPOP at Manuka in Canberra and later working at Headquarters Support Command in Melbourne. She left the RAAF in 1979 after starting a family. She later obtained a Chemistry degree and spent the next 33 years working for chemical companies in a range of roles including Health Safety and Environment Manager ANZ.

Elaine retired in May 2024, and joined the RSL Kyneton committee in December 2024. She is now enjoying cataloguing the collection of memorabilia, books and artwork for the Kyneton sub-branch.

Colin Arney joined the RAAF in Melbourne in 1975 and went on to be trained as a Telecommunications Technician, including electronics and repair of a range of equipment from teletype and electronic equipment including digital circuits. Having served his initial six years, he was sought after by a burgeoning computer industry to use his skills to repair a range of computers. 

After 27 years in the computer industry he returned to the Department of Defence as an APS to maintain computer systems associated with the RAAF located at Laverton, Victoria. There he spent 17 years until retiring. Colin has only recently joined the Kyneton RSL committee.

Greg is Kyneton born and bred and has worked most of his life as a shearer. He was called up National Service in the last intake before National Service was abolished in 1972 and was discharged before completing his service. Greg had a stint on the committee of the Kyneton RSL in the 1990s and re-joined the committee in 2024.