A revitalised Coledale RSL Club will reopen its doors this Thursday, April 6 after financial pressures forced the club to close its doors in December,
A new board, new vision and an enormous volunteer effort over the past four weeks from more than 60 people – not counting tradespeople – have all helped to revamp the seaside venue. Many people have also recently undertaken Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) training, volunteering for unpaid work over the Easter long weekend and beyond.
Newly appointed venue operations manager David Lynch describes the ambience around the club’s revitalisation as “a phoenix rising from the ashes”.
“The community feel and spirit here is just amazing,” David said.
“Everyone wants to chip in no matter how little it is.
“I've never felt this before. It's phenomenal.”
In February, club members unanimously voted in favour of selling off half of the club’s poker machine allocations to fund its reopening and revitalisation project, leaving six poker machines remaining. In their place, David says you’ll find fewer televisions and less gaming, and more space for families and events.
“We’re trying to bring back the families and so we've taken the pokies out of the main room. We're turning that into a family room and a little function room,” David said.
“One of the big things that the community wanted was less TVs [and] less gaming, so we've pushed the TAB and the gaming up in the back [and] we've taken down about 20 TVs.
“We've painted the entire inside, we’ve done the inside roof… we've painted the exterior. We've taken out one of the main [walls] right down the middle… so it's opened up the space.
“It's just amazing what they've been able to achieve in such a short time.”
While the volunteers have been essential to Coledale RSL Club’s reopening plan, David said the goal of opening the doors ahead of Easter would not have been possible without the determination of the club’s new board of directors.
“We’ve got a brand-new board – they're really experienced in all facets of the club and how to run a business.
“[We] couldn’t be happier with what we've got now – they're passionate and they've been here 24/7.”
Drinks will be served from 3pm at Thursday’s reopening, with 2 Smoking Barrels food truck catering to patrons and live entertainment continuing throughout the afternoon and evening. Mobile food vendors will soon be a staple of the new Coledale RSL Club, with an array of food trucks and caterers making use of the club’s kitchen and outdoor spaces each week during their new trading period of Thursday to Sunday.
“[It’s] a relaxed atmosphere that anyone could come to and have a cheeky beer or a wine as well as enjoy some really good food,” David said.
“That’s the beauty of food trucks – it ties up our space… and it mixes it up, so it's a perfect crime for us.”
When asked how many people he anticipated would visit the club this weekend, David said, with a laugh:
“I'm a bit scared.
“It's going to be massive; just from everyone saying, ‘We'll be there.’
“[It will be] more family orientated, professional and just a better vibe of a place… [where patrons] are going to have a real input to make them feel even more welcome."
For more information on Coledale RSL Club's reopening over the Easter long weekend and plans for ANZAC Day, visit their website.