Mackay RSL reveals new community facility at Illawong Beach

After years of searching a North Queensland RSL has found a new home for its members while also hoping to bring younger vets and their families into the fold via their new community centre.

The Mackay Memorial Services and Community Wellness centre is open for business, providing a home for our heroes and new community facilities. Photo: Fergus Gregg

A beachside sports and recreation venue will be reopening as a community centre and new home for the Mackay RSL.

The Mackay RSL sub-branch lost its base on Sydney St in 2006 due to a number of financial factors, but has since been able to recover and, thanks in part to a campaign led by the Daily Mercury, now has a new home.

The beach volleyball courts have already been opened up to school students. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Citibeach Volleyball at Illawong in East Mackay will be leased by the RSL club and opened to veterans of all ages, as well as community members who purchase RSL membership.

RSL Mackay sub-branch president Ken Higgins said what drew him to the new location was the location and the site’s sporting facilities.

“I instantly thought of our younger veterans with kids,” Mr Higgins said.

“We’re currently focusing on attracting the East Timor, Afghan and Somalia veterans.

“Now they have somewhere to bring their family.”

The put put course and laser tag arena will be revenue generators and will be available for reservation at a later date. Photo: Fergus Gregg

The new RSL headquarters, named the Mackay Memorial Services and Community Wellness centre, comes with beach volleyball courts, a pool, minigolf and laser tag arena, all of which will be accessible by the broader community.

“We just wanna serve the community,” he said.

“We love them to come here and have a coffee or a sandwich.”

The pool is one of the crown jewels of the new site and a centrepiece in the plan to attract young veterans and their families. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Although the new facility has already hosted groups of school students for beach volleyball, the process of reopening all of the venues facilities and redeveloping the site will be a slow one.

“Our focus is going to be on sustainability and service,” Mr Higgins said, asking for patience.

“We know we’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we have got a wonderful beginning.”

The club is aiming to be out of their offices on River St and moved into the Illawong Beach location before Christmas, with the possibility of hosting Dawn Services next year.

“At long last we have a home, and we are going to focus on having a facility that veterans and the community will be happy to come and support for all the right reasons.”