IT'S been 14 years since Richard Stone and John Wright established a local support and welfare centre and in that time they've helped hundreds of ex-servicemen and women.
The two men founded the centre with the purpose of being a place for veterans and ex-service people to come for camaraderie and support. No such centre existed in Queanbeyan back then which was enough reason for them to create one.
"John Wright was a man with a huge heart, he helped a heck of a lot of people," Mr Stone said.
"He saw the need first, the need for somewhere to meet for veterans for camaraderie and support and he asked whether I would help him."
Mr Stone has volunteered throughout the whole 14 years and said the satisfaction of helping others motivates him to continue his work.
"The Department of Veteran of Affairs expects ex-service organisations like this to do the initial interviews and paperwork necessary for claims for disability pensions and that sort of thing," he said.
"We are an interface between the veterans and the departments because some veterans are wounded physically, mentally or both and a lot of them don't have the capacity to face a monolithic organisation like the DVA. They come to us and we help them through the process."
The centre has achieved so much in its 14 years including instituting a day club for the elderly and was instrumental in obtaining improved dental and prostate cancer treatments for veterans.
And it isn't just there to provide assistance to older veterans but also younger ex-servicemen and women.
"There are many, many younger veterans that need the sort of support that we can give them. We can organise visits to medical specialist, some might need psychiatric help or to go to a clinic," Mr Stone said.
"We had a younger woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer, she needed our help to get her through the maze."
Mr Stone said many are unaware the service even exists. It is available to any ex-service person not just war veterans.
"Most who come to see us are very reluctant and feel embarrassed that they might be 'roarting' the system in some way. They're quite modest about it - they don't demand anything, they just need assistance, some help. That's what we do, that's what we're here for," he said.
"People are very grateful, sometimes we help people and never see them again ... but generally people are very grateful. It's very satisfying if you can help."
The centre was recently renamed the Ian Kenworthy Support and Welfare Centre in recognition of a local man who bequeathed his house to the RSL. The dedication honours his service and gifting.
The Ian Kenworthy Support and Welfare Centre is located at City of Queanbeyan RSL on Crawford Street. The centre is open every Wednesday from 9am to noon.