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On Saturday 20th October 1984 a very successful ex RN - RM - WRNS Reunion took place
in Sydney, N.S.W. where approximately 375 people attended the Reunion Ball.   Guests of Honour were Admiral Sir Gordon Tait KCB RN Second Sea Lord and Lady Tait.  The Reunion was held in the Round House, University of N.S.W.
The Royal marines Association and The Association of WRENS had long been established in N.S.W.   Hardly anyone had heard of the Royal Naval Association.   Soon after the reunion an advertisement was placed in the R.S.L. official newspaper "Reveille" seeking any ex RN - RM - WRNS personnel who were interested in forming a Royal Naval Association branch in N.S.W.   60 people attended the inaugural meeting held on Sunday 24th February 1985 at the British Ex-Services Club, Kent Street, City.   Captain Brian Turner RN (SNOAUST) was the Commissioning Officer.   A Committee was elected.   These were:
Captain Tim Duchesne RAN Rtd. - President: Mike Railton - Vice President: Jim McGurgan - Chairman: Beryl Jackson - Hon.Secretary: Dave Bedford - Hon. Treasurer: Jim Seager and Joan Evans - Committee men.
A Royal Naval Association Standard was ordered in the U.K. and brought back to Australia by one of our members who had holidays there.   In September 1985 members met in the Senior Sailors Mess, HMAS Platypus (Submarine Depot) where the Rev. Roger Bush conducted a Service of Dedication of the Branch Standard.
Membership of the N.S.W. Branch remained stable for a few years.   Around 35-40 members only attending meetings.
In 1988 the British Ex-Services (BEX) Club moved to the corner of York and Market Streets in the City.   Most British ex Service Associations held their meetings in the BEX Club.   Although the Club was smaller then the previous premises the memorabilia of the RNA was put up in the Mountbatten bar and we made ourselves at home.
On the 26th April 1994 Receivers moved into the BEX Club and closed it down.   The owners of the building put the rent up to $220,000 a year.   This would have been an impossibility for any club to pay.   They just wanted the Club closed.   The BEX Club was situated in the basement of the building.   The space is now rented to Australia Post.
After collecting our memorabilia and with a lot of phoning and letter writing, we managed to get meeting accommodation in the Kirribilli Ex-Services Club,  Cliff Street, Milsons Point (just across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, North Side).   Unfortunately we are not allowed to put up our memorabilia.   This is now in the Custody of the Branch Chairman - S/M Jim Seager.
Since 1992 membership has escalated, an average of 80 members attending meetings.   In February 1997 an advertisement was placed in the R.S.L. newspaper "Reveille" seeking more members.   Our membership extends over a wide area of N.S.W. Some of our members make a round trip of 200 miles to attend meetings.   We accept members 'In Absentia' because of the distance they live from Sydney.   We feel we cannot leave these ex RN'ers out in the cold and  contact is kept through the Branch newsletter.   Those members who live in 'The Sticks' and seldom come to a meeting usually make an effort to get to Sydney for the ANZAC DAY MARCH on the 25th April.   Over the past four or fives years we had around 70 marching behind the Branch Standard.   In 1997 there were 120 ex RN'ers marching, some were not even members of the RNA.   We try to get a Royal Navy Officer to head our contingent, there are quite a few in Australia on exchange duties.    Being Navy, we are 'Up Front' in the march and we are usually back in the Kirribilli Ex-Services Club by 1030.
The N.S.W. Branch attend several Commemorative Services during the year.   Most of these are held at the Cenotaph, Martin Plaza, Sydney.   The Battle of the Java Sea and V.J. Day are just two.   We have our own Trafalgar Day Commemorative Service in October each year.   This is held at the GARRISON CHURCH, Millers Point.   These are conducted by the Rev. Brian Seers. Dip.Theo. (The Branch Padre).   A Trafalgar Day luncheon usually follows the service at a local club.   Whenever possible, members of the RNA - N.S.W. Branch support functions of the Naval Association of Australia.