Townsville bounces back from disaster

Townsville RSL had just completed stage seven of its major redevelopment in 2018 when the monsoonal weather hit early the following year.

General Manager Karla Malouf, who has worked at Townsville RSL for 25 years, says the damage was extensive.

“We had water coming through the roof from 30 January, well before the peak of the destruction, when the dam gates were opened on the night of 3 February,” Karla recalls.

“The result was one metre of water inundating the ground floor operation, as well as our welfare offices and veteran accommodation units.”

The damage forced the business to close for 106 days.

“This has left us really struggling as we are still battling with insurers, but we are grateful that our members and community continue to support us,” Karla says.

TOWNSVILLE HAS REBUILT BEFORE

It should have been a time for celebration, but Townsville RSL’s 100th year was one they would rather forget.

But it wasn’t the first time the organisation had rebuilt due to disasters. They knew they had the tenacity required to push through adversity and continue supporting Defence families, ex-service organisations and the wider community.

The top floor of Townsville RSL reopened in May, with one bar, a sports bar, one restaurant and 120 gaming machines. Complete repairs may take another 18 months.

The centenary on 1 September was celebrated with a public party at Jezzine Barracks. The RSL’s oldest member, Arnold Forrester – who had turned 100 himself the previous week – cut the centenary cake alongside Karla and RSL Club President Bill Whitburn OAM.

HISTORY OF THE RSL

Townsville RSL received its charter from the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA) on 1 September 1919. Its history began in March 1917, however, when a meeting was held to establish a Townsville Returned Soldiers Association.

The aim was to ease the transition of soldiers returning home by offering the same camaraderie and mateship shown among troops at war. The adjustment back into home life wasn’t easy for many, particularly those looking for jobs and needing to support their families.

Many who returned did not talk about their experience of war as it was too mentally challenging. In military service, soldiers depended on their mates, and there was an overwhelming desire to retain this camaraderie and ensure the memory of their fallen comrades would never fade.

EVOLUTION TO THE CURRENT BUILDING

In the early 1930s, a Memorial Hall was built on land previously purchased on Sturt Street.

A series of arson attacks throughout the city in 1965 resulted in the building burning down. Using funds made from selling their city sites to council and Woolworths, the Sub Branch purchased land on Charters Towers Road for $36,950. This is the location of the RSL today.

This was also the year the RSSILA changed its name to the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL).

The new Memorial Hall opened in 1965 and was home to the Townsville RSL until 1995, when the current premises opened in May that year. That old brick building is a distant memory, with many new redevelopments, refurbishments and expansions happening over the following years.

In 2003, the League and Club amalgamated to become the RSL of Australia (Queensland Branch) Townsville Sub Branch Inc, or Townsville RSL for short. Overseen by one committee, the amalgamation of the two entities ensures that profits are used primarily for the welfare of veterans and their families as per the RSL Queensland Objects.

Thanks to Dorothy M Gibson-Wilde for providing information about Townsville RSL’s history.