Mr Edmonds was voted in at a recent sub-branch meeting when Kevin Kerr stood down after 13 years in the ex-service organisation’s top post.

“As Kevin was standing down and there was no-one else standing for it with experience as a vice-president I thought I would throw my hat in the ring,” Mr Edmonds said.

The 86-year-old said his age was not a problem for the demanding job.

“The members obviously don’t think so, either, they voted me in,” Mr Edmonds said.

“I can do the job, there are no problems with that.”

Mr Edmonds believes one of his strengths is the ability to get on with all sub-branch members.

He said his goals included continuing the growth in sub-branch membership and to develop involvement of younger members in activities.

“As we get older, they are the future of the sub-branch,” Mr Edmonds said.

Mr Edmonds enlisted for military service as a teenager in Wagga and spent two years in Japan with occupational forces before entering the Korean conflict in September, 1951.

He served as an infantryman in Korea for about a year and was involved in several major firefights in that time, including the Battle of Kapyong.

He joined the RSL in the 1960s at Albion Park, let his membership lapse for a couple of years after moving back to Wagga in the 1980s but signed up again and has been a sub-branch member ever since.

Mr Edmonds has been a vice-president for four years.

David Gill and Richard Salcole are the new vice-presidents, while Ken May continues as secretary and Brian Watts continues as treasurer.

Mr Kerr will serve the sub-branch as a committee member.

“It (the presidency) was a job I liked, but I thought it was time  to pass the baton on and give someone else a go,” Mr Kerr said.

Mr Kerr listed relocating the sub-branch, selling the Remembrance Village aged care facility, supporting the Kangaroo March re-enactment and improving facilities for members among highlights of his term.