Eden Park hosts tiniest RSA
Veterans branch out with a sports vibe as East Coast Bays members prepare to leave their home since 1925
The country’s smallest RSA has opened in Eden Park — just as a group of East Coast Bays war veterans prepare to leave their premises. The Returned and Services Association branch at Browns Bay, faced with shrinking patronage and financial challenges, expects to move on from the building it has occupied since 1925. Today the East Coast Bays RSA hosts its last dawn service at its Browns Bay property.
The Eden Park club, on the other hand, is not a traditional RSA centre. It has been built for the younger generation of the Defence Force.
East Coast Bays RSA president Kerry Kay said selling its property was the best solution to the financial problems the branch had faced.
“Instead of folding we can give investment back into the community,” Kay said.
The Browns Bay Medical Centre hopes to buy the property, and building checks are underway as a final step in the sale process.
Kay said a merger with the Browns Bay Bowls Club was the logical step for the RSA branch and its 3000 or so members.
Without having to finance facilities such a bar and restaurant “we can invest more for returned service members”, he said.
The branch would continue to hold dawn services, and could even start future marches from outside the building which had been its home for more than 90 years.
Instead of folding we can give investment back into the community. Kerry Kay, president East Coast Bays RSA
As for the Eden Park venture, RSA patron Jason Pore, an SAS soldier who lost his left leg in 2002, believed something as simple and unique as being at the ground during a game would create comradeship between veterans. “Standing around here, share a few stories, no ranks in here.”
Pore said the innovation of being at Mt Eden would work in the new centre’s favour. “You have the opportunity with family and friends to watch the game together, and to me that’s so exciting.”
RSA vice-chairman Graham Gibson said the project was made possible by a great relationship with the Eden Park Trust, and the help of real estate company Barfoot & Thompson.
“Auckland RSA has been wanting to freshen the whole way we do business, so this is an ideal fit for us.
“I really don’t want the young ones to feel the way we felt when we came back from Vietnam. It wasn’t good.
“I want the young ones to be proud that they’ve served.”