Celebrating sub branch’s centenary with one final fling
SATURDAY night will mark a massive milestone for the Toowoomba United RSL Sub Branch, in more ways than one.
As well as celebrating a century since the founding of the sub branch, it will serve as the last official function to be held in the hall before it is expected to close for renovations in April or May next year.
Research has identified that returned soldiers from World War I were meeting at the Soldiers’ Rest Rooms in Margaret St to share camaraderie as early as 1916.
But it was not until September 1, 1919 that the Toowoomba Sub Branch of the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia was officially chartered.
That original charter will be one of a number of bits of memorabilia on display at the Toowoomba Soldiers Memorial Hall for the anniversary dinner on Saturday night.
Former sub branch president Lindsay Morrison said the evening was both about celebrating the past and future of the sub branch.
“There are lots of people who served their time and came back and continued to look after the troops, as civilians,” Mr Morrison said.
“And that’s what we’ll be doing into the future.”
The sub branch currently has 18 people who visit veterans in hospital, and another group who provides poppy services at veterans’ funerals.
Current president Roland Thompson said that with the coming renovations, the sub branch had united with the Harlaxton RSL Sub Branch and signed an MoU with the Glenholme Sports and Community Hub to establish a social base at the proposed multi-purpose complex at Glenholme Park.
The memorial hall is expected to remain the home of the sub branch’s administration and historical library.