THE region’s small RSL sub-branches face another six months without the ability to raise money, putting further pressure on the local organisations.
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The Barraba sub-branch has been hard hit by the fundraising embargo, which was first imposed in August, last year, after concerns were aired about the NSW RSL’s legality under the state’s charity laws.
The league put a new constitution to a members’ vote last week which was refused and left sub-branches in a fundraising limbo until May, next year.
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Barraba president Jim Simons said it had been a difficult period compounded by intense drought in the region.
He said members had continued to reach into their own pockets to keep it afloat.
Mr Simons said this extended to “paying rates, insurance, executor fees, power bills, things in need of repair”.
Despite the lean run, he believed the branch would survive past next Anzac Day and into the future.
“We’re resilient enough to do it, but it has been hard on the membership and those keeping it going,” he said.
“From what I understand, the constitution wasn’t voted against, it was a vote against the haste going into it.
“We have to be patient and we have got to get it right.”
Manilla sub-branch secretary Ian Bignall said his town’s club was in a better position than some of its neighbours and would be willing to help out, if necessary.
“We are keeping an eye on Barraba and if we have to we will help,” Mr Bignall said.
He said the main priority was to ensure it had enough in the coffers to run its Anzac Day ceremonies.
RSL NSW president James Brown said the state council would “think hard” on the feedback received through the constitution review and was confident it’d get passed in May.
“Despite having a good sense of your concerns about the haste of the constitutional review process, it was important to give you an opportunity to vote on this constitution,” Mr Brown said in a letter to members.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
