AFTER nearly two decades in the Royal Australian Air Force, Matt Burgoyne has swapped, at least part-time, the precision of aircraft maintenance for something less mechanical but just as important: rebuilding connection among veterans.
As Secretary of the Greater Springfield RSL Sub-Branch, Mr Burgoyne represents a new generation of “contemporary veterans” stepping forward to help reshape what the RSL means in 2026.
He enlisted in 2007 as an aircraft technician, beginning a career that would take him across Australia and around the world.
After completing recruit training and trade qualifications in Wagga Wagga, he was posted to Townsville working on the Caribou aircraft before spending nearly a decade in Sydney maintaining the C-130 Hercules.
His role saw him deployed five times to the Middle East, including Iraq and Afghanistan. They were experiences that would shape both his military career and his understanding of life after service.
Since 2019, he has been based at RAAF Base Amberley, now working on the C-27J Spartan, one of the Air Force’s key assets for operations across Australia and the Southwest Pacific.
“It’s a high-tempo environment – there’s never a dull moment,” he said.
Despite his service, Mr Burgoyne admits he didn’t always see the value of the RSL.
“To be brutally honest, I didn’t have a lot of positive things to say about it at the start,” he said.
That perspective shifted when he became involved at a local level through the Greater Springfield sub-branch.
What he found was not just an organisation, but a community.
“For many veterans, it’s a stepping stone,” he said.
Now serving as Sub-Branch Secretary, Mr Burgoyne is part of a cohort pushing for change within the RSL – particularly to make it more relevant to younger veterans.
“A lot of RSL members are, unfortunately, ageing out,” he said.
“If we want it to be around in the future, we need to appeal to the younger demographic.”
Still an active-serving member of the Air Force, Mr Burgoyne continues to juggle military commitments with his role in the RSL as well as family commitments with partner, Stephanie Shipman.
“It’s about creating a positive culture – something people actually want to be part of.”
For Mr Burgoyne, the mission is simple: ensure the RSL remains relevant, inclusive and supportive for generations to come.
Whether supporting a 19-year-old transitioning out of service or a 90-year-old veteran reflecting on a lifetime of experience, he believes the organisation still has a vital role to play.
But only if it’s willing to change.
“We’ve got a chance to set a new standard,” he said.
“And if we get it right, this (Ipswich) could be one of the strongest veteran communities in the country.”
