Medal follows colossal contribution to veterans and their families

Every year for more than a quarter of a century, Keith Pitman has devoted hours of his life to selling RSL badges for the Anzac Day Appeal and poppies on Remembrance Day.

The result is more than $1 million raised for the RSL and Legacy in his 90-year lifetime that, as of this weekend, also includes being named among the King’s Birthday Honours recipients.

The long-serving Ballarat RSL member and former army national serviceman has received a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans and their families.

“It was a bit of a shock,” Pitman said.

“It’s a great honour. There’s no question about that.

“Yes, it would be in excess of $1 million that I have raised over more than 25 years. I did have a couple of chaps helping me from time to time.”

The grandfather of seven and retired businessman previously resided in Skipton where he ran the local post office and served as RSL Skipton president for two years and secretary for six.

He was made a life member of the Victorian Branch of the RSL in 2005, partly in recognition of his useful suggestion of instituting Friends of the RSL in response to seeing RSL numbers begin to dwindle in small towns.

Pitman is also a founding member and a life member of the Ballarat Aero Club that formed in 1962, and a member of the Royal Australian Air Force Association since 1993.

He has helped to conserve Ballarat’s heritage at the city’s No. 1 Wireless Air Gunners School Officers Mess Hut 48, with his interest in aviation also reflected in the fact that he previously held a private pilot’s licence and enjoyed flying light aircraft.

He also served as a community investor representative, helping small private investors receive some justice during a protracted class action proceeding following the Banksia Securities Liquidation in 2012.

After turning 90 earlier this year, Pitman may now have retired from trudging the streets, or spending many hours sitting in supermarkets to sell badges and poppies, but his achievements on this front are a source of personal pride.

“It’s just for the satisfaction,” he said.

“When you retire you’ve got to do something.”