RSA repairs get under way
The Bulls RSA has put a truck crashing into its clubrooms in the rear-view mirror as members prepare for their biggest day of the year.
A truck crashed into the RSA’s High St clubrooms at 8am on Friday, closing the road for most of the day.
The two people in the truck were uninjured, but the building’s front veranda was badly damaged.
The street outside the RSA was a mess, with debris scattered across a wide area and the veranda sagging a long way.
A demolition team set to work and had everything cleaned up and the veranda removed by Tuesday morning.
The only sign of damage was black plastic protecting the area where the veranda had been removed.
Bulls RSA treasurer Craig Stevens said the incident had not hampered the club’s plans for Anzac Day.
‘‘There is nothing wrong with the clubrooms, just the outside.
‘‘People will have to bring an umbrella if it’s raining, because we don’t have the veranda for them to stand under, but I’m sure it’ll be nice.’’
Attendees will gather at 5.30am, before the dawn service starts with a parade at 6am.
Those attending the service are then more than welcome to head back to the RSA for breakfast and a cuppa, Stevens said.
Air Force staff from Ohakea Air Force Base had said they were going to head along, he said.
However, the veranda area would need work to get back up to scratch.
Stevens told the Herald on Friday the club would find it hard to cover any shortfall if insurance did not cover the repair cost.
The club had been left in that position when other vehicles crashed into the building on previous occasions.
On Tuesday, he said they had submitted an insurance claim and assessors were set to have a look at the damage.
He was worried demolition work on the veranda would cause more damage to the building, but said it had been a smooth process so far.
‘‘[The demolition team] were champions.’’