It was only December last year that Coledale RSL Club was calling last drinks at the bar after years of running at a loss.
But after club members unanimously voted in favour of selling off half of the club’s poker machine allocations and a valiant volunteer effort gave the space a facelift earlier this year, patrons have returned to the club in spades.
The triumphant return of the RSL Club was just one reason to celebrate on Saturday, July 29, as the Coledale RSL Sub-Branch observed its 75th anniversary. Close to 100 people attended the anniversary dinner on Saturday evening, including Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery, Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart, President of the RSL NSW branch Ray James OAM, State President RSL NSW Auxiliaries Pauline James OAM, MAJGEN Brian Howard AO MC, and many ex-servicemen affiliated with the Coledale RSL Sub-Branch.
“It went off [with] no hitches – just sensational,” Coledale RSL Club secretary Greg Todd said.
“The speeches were very appropriate and well received. Everybody had a very good time.
“It was lovely to see some faces we hadn't seen for some time.”
Greg moved to the area 32 years ago and, for him, Coledale RSL Club represents a place where lifelong friendships have been forged.
A board member from 2010 to 2016, Greg re-joined late last year to assist the club in its bid to keep the doors open. He has been one of a team of fresh faces who have overseen the revitalisation of the beloved institution.
Just last year, when the club was facing the likelihood of folding, hosting a celebration of this kind was almost inconceivable.
“[When] we were looking at going into receivership, at that point in time I'd have to say that we hadn’t fully recognised the fact that we had the 75th [anniversary] coming up,” Greg said.
“It wasn't until probably about three [or] four months ago, once we reopened, that we were looking at the history and realised that we were coming up to the 75th anniversary of the club.
“It was a very proud moment to have my fellow board members and myself be able to get the club back up on its feet and to have so many people come along and enjoy the night.
“[But our] thoughts weren’t about being able to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the club; the thought was always about making the club strong again, viable, and to get the community involved.”
Since it was built in 1948, Coledale RSL Club has been an exemplar of community spirit.
In the years before its official opening, it was the 18 founding members of the sub-branch who bought the land and crowdfunded building and transportation costs for an army hut brought from Lismore, largely constructing the building themselves.
Today the club is once again held up by the community, with more 70 people regularly volunteering their time to man the bar, clean the venue, provide their marketing knowhow or perform for free since its April reopening.
“If we didn't get the volunteers on board, [it] would not have been viable to even try and restart the club,” Greg said.
“It was totally about the volunteers – and personally, I've enjoyed meeting so many people from Coledale who I know by sight but didn't know by name. Now I know their names, and it's just wonderful.
“We've still got a lot to do… but with the volunteers that we have and the enthusiasm that we have within the volunteers, I believe that this model will be able to make the club stand up for the long term.
“It's been a great experience and a great honour to have been a part of it.”
Both volunteers and the wider community will also have a chance to celebrate the club’s anniversary, with a celebration date locked in for Saturday, September 2.