Maryborough RSL and the sub-branch have officially split
After a tumultuous couple of years, the Maryborough RSL and the sub-branch have officially parted ways.
The Maryborough RSL Sub-branch has completed a historic split from the club’s commercial arm.
It comes after one of the most tumultuous periods in the Maryborough RSL’s history and amid ongoing concerns about its financial future.
Sub-branch president Paul Coleman confirmed the split this week, which he said had been completed after two years of trying to separate the two entities.
An announcement on Facebook said the Maryborough Services and Citizens’ Memorial Club had purchased the “club business” of the Maryborough RSL Sub-branch.
“As a club member you will notice little difference; all your favourite features and activities will remain,” it said.
“Over time, however, the club branding and logo will change to reflect our new name.
“We are confident that this change will ensure a bright long term and secure future for the sub-branch and the club.”
Mr Coleman said the new structure would allow the sub-branch to concentrate on the care and wellbeing of the servicemen and woman who belong to the club.
He said the board had previously been overwhelmed by the challenges of running a large club, which was now the concern of a commercial board.
Mr Coleman said the 400 members of the sub-branch had voted unanimously for the separation, and that it was the conclusion of two years of working towards this result.
“It’s a huge relief now it’s done,” he said.
The separation ends a difficult few years for the club.
Maryborough RSL Club general manager Craig Lenihan was exposed as a military impostor and convicted in February last year of falsely representing to be a returned soldier.
A major overhaul of the sub-branch committee also took place in February.
The RSL board was then tasked with “investigating the desirability and practicality of returning to the previous separate entities”.
The cost of the split was estimated to be between $30,000 to $40,000.
