Bar and wall start for service overhaul

THE primary RSL for the region’s south is seeing an overhaul in its home base, starting with the installation of a new bar fixture and memorial wall.

With a new bar in place since March and their wall updated for the first time in eight years, Inverleigh RSL Sub-Branch president Deema Johnston said both additions are bringing much-needed updates to their space.

“The old bar especially was just a hazard,” he said. “It was very flimsily made, to the stage where I lost balance and actually fell into it.

“Servicemen and police, we’ve always got our heads on a swivel because the majority of us have been in conflict zones and we’re forever vigilant. I don’t go to pubs for beers anymore.

“This bar would bring a shared, relaxed atmosphere you wouldn’t get at a regular pub.”

The bar was made by Inverleigh RSL Sub-Branch treasurer Andy Tepper and features corrugated iron panelling and ammunition crate replicas made from recycled pallets which are fixed into the structure.

The updated memorial wall features nearly 50 portraits of deceased Inverleigh servicemen and police flanked by two cardboard cut-outs of soldiers standing in the catafalque party’s ‘attention’ pose.

Mr Johnston said the new layout brings a greater clarity to the town’s service history.

“Before, everything was placed ad hoc,” he said. “This is to better represent the men. We’ve grouped brothers like the Wilsons and McDonalds together to achieve a uniform placement.

“It shows there’s still a direct connection to these men with this town. George Stewart on the wall for example, his daughter is still a member of this RSL, who comes every Anzac Day.”

The local branch previously operated out of the Inverleigh Public Hall before their current location, a former homestead, was donated to them by the Hutchins family on land from the McDonalds.

Mr Johnston said their recent renovations are about bringing new life back to their old building.

“We want to bring a lot of life back into the RSL,” he said. “We’ve got plans to have a table commemorating the Battle of Beersheba and a section for the nurses.

“I want to create a webpage for the history of this RSL for people to have a look at these deceased members. We’re going to be putting in a ramp entrance and doubling the space here as well.”

“There’s the inscription at the top that really seals it which says ‘this Sub-Branch will forever remain,’ which is true. We want to keep that alive so people don’t forget.”

The new bar and memorial wall will be launched as part of a public event on Sunday, 4 June.