By Tyler Wright
The Upwey-Belgrave RSL has had an influx of support after announcing its potential closure by Anzac Day this year, providing a glimmer of hope for the community.
When the RSL made the announcement in late December 2022 that the venue was scheduled to close its doors by April due to financial issues, it was shared across social media with concerned reactions from locals; and around 70 people have offered to lend a hand, according to RSL president Anthony Stewart.
“From the responses we’ve received through Facebook, people are saying ‘we don’t want to see anything else there,'” RSL president Anthony Stewart said.
“Somebody’s even reached out on Facebook and said ‘Dan Andrews, help them out…there really is support out there for the place.”
After Covid lockdowns, Mr Stewart said he was expecting business for the RSL to pick up.
However, he said this was not the case despite multiple bookings over the Christmas period; and the tasks to keep the RSL running require more than the current core group of volunteers.
“The situation that was happening at that time, that was quite feasible, quite possible [to close by ANZAC Day]…with the outreach that we’re getting from community, I believe it’ll be longer than that. Because when you write these things, you don’t know what sort of response you’re going to get,” Mr Stewart said.
One of the problems, he said, comes with not knowing if the uptake of volunteers will last in the long term.
“Until we create a list of people ,where they can be, what they can do, [It’s] rather difficult to know moving forward how long it will go for.”
According to Mr Stewart, the RSL has been offered bookkeeping assistance, and six people with a Responsible Serving of Alcohol (RSA) certificate have offered to man the bar.
“It’s been quite amazing. I’ve had Aaron Violi who’s the local member for Casey on the phone to me,” he said.
“We’re looking for front of house people, we’re looking for gardeners, we’ve had three bus drivers put their hands out say ‘yes, we’ll drive the courtesy bus at the RSL.'”
Mr Stewart said there are 14 groups including the local Labor party, fishing clubs, darts clubs and football clubs that use the Upwey-Belgrave RSL premises.
“I’d like to thank you everyone in the community for their support, because we don’t know longevity wise what’s going to happen…people can keep volunteering or putting their hand up…we’re very appreciative.”
If you’re looking to volunteer at Upwey-Belgrave RSL, you can contact belgraversl@gmail.com, or Upwey-Belgrave RSL treasurer Mark Addison at mark@upwey.net
