RSL Ambassadors
RSL Ambassadors represent the RSL at agreed forums and activities to promote the interest of veterans.
They work within communities to inspire and encourage younger members to join the league. They liaise with other ex-service organisations to identify opportunities to collaborate and gain a wider perspective on veterans’ issues. Once a month they provide an update and advice to the CEO of RSL Australia on issues pertaining to the welfare of veterans. They also provide an annual report to the RSL Australia Board.
Cherisa (CJ) Pearce
Cherisa commenced her Army career at the Royal Military College in July 1994 and graduated into the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, but later transferred to the Royal Australian Corps of Transport.
Cherisa’s postings have included 1st Recruit Training Battalion, 5th Aviation Regiment, HQ 9 Brigade, and 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion. She also conducted three operational deployments to East Timor in 1999, 2000 and 2006-07.
Cherisa recognises her posting to the 1st Recruit Training Battalion as a Platoon Commander and Officer Commanding as a highlight of her career as well as finishing her career where it started, at the Royal Military College as Second in Command.
Cherisa is no longer currently serving with the Australian Defence Force but she remains passionate about making a difference in the Veteran community. Being the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, along with having a current serving partner and being a mum to two independent teenage daughters, Cherisa has an excellent understanding of the issues facing the veteran community and their families.
Cherisa is now enjoying new opportunities at the southern end of the Gold Coast. She is a Board Member of the Currumbin Palm Beach Sub Branch. During her free time, Cherisa enjoys the beach for a surf and you can find her there during rain, hail or shine!
Pete Rudland
Pete Rudland joined the Australian Defence Force on 21 March 1989. He spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Infantry and served in 3RAR, 4RAR, The Parachute Training School, SASR and 2CDO Regiment.
Pete was lucky to deploy to Cambodia as part of UNTAC in 1993, the Iraq bombing campaign in 1997 with SASR, East Timor in 2001 as part of the 4RAR (CDO) deployment, Iraq in 2003 as part of an exchange with British forces, Timor Leste in 2006 with 4RAR (CDO) and Afghanistan in 2010 as part of ACOY 2CDO.
On 21 June 2010, three Australian Commandos and a US soldier were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Pete was wounded in the crash and received multiple muscle-skeletal injuries and a frontal lobe bleed. As a result of the injuries, Pete was discharged from Defence on 08 November 2017.
Since being wounded he started a company counselling soldiers, police and emergency services for PTS, depression and associated illnesses. He also offers Personal Training as part of a holistic rehabilitation process.
He competed in 3 Invictus Games Orlando Florida USA, Toronto Canada in which he was Co-Captain, and Sydney. Pete is a huge supporter of the Defence and RSL adaptive sports program.
RSL Ambassador portrait photos were kindly taken courtesy of Craig McCarthy of CMAC Photography.