Desperate bid to save town’s RSL
INNISFAIL RSL treasurer Allan Scott has warned his community their town will lose its spiritual home of the Anzacs unless more people come through the door.
He has been reprimanded for issuing a flyer without subbranch authority revealing the RSL club’s financial stress.
The 89-year-old Royal Australian Air Force veteran said it was a “use it or lose it” situation but he would do everything in his power to keep the club open for future generations.
Clubs Queensland financial experts have been called in to help co-ordinate the situation.
INNISFAIL RSL treasurer Allan Scott has launched a rogue campaign to save his beloved club from shutting down.
The Royal Australian Air Force veteran has taken it upon himself to distribute flyers around town outlining the club’s dire financial struggles.
“We are very close to having to pay off all of our staff and locking the doors,” the ex-pilot revealed.
“If you would like the RSL to stay open, you can help by coming along with your friends and enjoying their company in pleasant surroundings.
“This is a sad state of affairs – but the truth is the truth.”
Mr Scott handed out the flyers without the RSL subbranch’s approval and was reprimanded for his troubles.
He told the Cairns Post he was beyond caring.
At 89 years old, he said he just wanted to ensure the club survived for the next generation.
“The two big issues are electricity and wages,” he said.
“The unions have done a great job getting staff members good wages and conditions.
“But they’ve gone too far.
“If those staff end up out of work, they will be losing.”
Mr Scott said it was a useit-or-lose-it situation for residents of the town.
He was optimistic the club could make it but its future relied on getting punters through the door.
“Clubs Queensland are sending their financial expert up in a couple of weeks to go through the books and systems and see where we’re falling down,” Mr Scott said.
News of the club’s financial difficulties came as the town’s famous Imperial Tavern closed its doors indefinitely yesterday with management citing an upcoming lease expiry.
Cassowary Coast Regional councillor Mark Nolan said the RSL was an integral part of Innisfail’s social fabric and could not be allowed to fold.
“I’m speaking as a citizen, not a councillor,” he said.
“I was born in the shadow of Bartle Frere and I will die in the shadow of Bartle Frere.
“We can’t allow this to happen.
“I don’t want my grandkids and great-grandkids to attend an Anzac Day parade without being able to go to the spiritual home, the RSL building.”