Diggers Bar at Tewantin Noosa RSL Club set to close amid lease dramas

A disagreement over lease negotiations has blown up and resulted in the looming closure of a popular RSL bar at Noosa, leaving war veterans devastated.

The Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub Branch are at loggerheads with Tewantin Noosa RSL Club management over the looming closure of the Diggers Bar. Picture: Facebook

A disagreement over lease negotiations has resulted in the looming closure of a popular RSL bar at Noosa, leaving war veterans devastated.

The Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub Branch has been advised that the Diggers Bar will be closed from Sunday March 3 due to the non-renewal of the lease.

As a result of the decision, sub branch members will soon no longer be able to meet at the bar within the Tewantin Noosa RSL Club, at 1 Memorial Ave, Tewantin, while plans for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day commemorations have been thrown into disarray.

Tewantin Noosa RSL.

Outgoing RSL Queensland Sunshine Coast and regional district president Ian Hall said that sub branch members have been left devastated by the decision to close the bar.

“They’re upset about it, they’re not happy about the manner in which it’s been done and the way it’s gone about,” Mr Hall said.

“Sub branch members who used to go in there for camaraderie and fellowship have had to relocate and find other premises to conduct their business and meet up.”

The Diggers Bar is principally owned by the sub branch and it leases it to the services club, which operates as a separate entity.

It is understood that the lease of the venue gave the club until January 26 to take up an option to renew for a further three years.

ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day plans are up in the air following the decision.

Correspondence sent out by Tewantin Noosa RSL general manager Michael Sue See claims that the club sent two letters to the Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub Branch president Clinton Ware, requesting the proposed new rent by January 25, highlighting that the renewal option would lapse after January 26.

The Tewantin Noosa RSL Club. Picture: Supplied

Mr Sue See claimed that no response was received by the deadline, leading to the current predicament.

“Following no response from the sub-branch president, the club hand-delivered a letter expressing disappointment that the club was not provided these details denying the opportunity to renew the lease,” the correspondence read.

“On January 31, the club sent a message to members advising of the coming closure of the Diggers Bar.

“The club and its board have always expressed its interest in continuing a positive and productive relationship with the sub branch, and our commitment to support veterans remains unwavering.”

Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub Branch deputy president Michael Byrne hit back claiming that he had only seen one letter that was hand-delivered to them, a day before a decision was required.

Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub Branch Deputy President Michael Byrne outside the Tewantin Noosa RSL Club.

“We got a letter hand-delivered around lunchtime on January 24 from the club saying that the lease was due to be re-negotiated,” Mr Byrne said.

“There was no way that we could even contact our board members and get their offer back to them by the next day.

“That is just, well you know what it is, it’s just bull.”

Mr Byrne added that the door remained open for negotiations between the sub branch and the services club.

“We are always ready to negotiate and we have been this whole time,” he said.

“We just want to look after the welfare of our veterans.”

It comes during a tense period at the Tewantin Noosa RSL Club, following a decision to remove annual membership from sub branch members and grant them honorary membership at the club from December.

According to a membership renewal notice obtained by this publication, “the club has previously granted an annual membership to sub branch members without payment of the annual subscription”.

In a statement, a Tewantin Noosa RSL Club spokeswoman said that membership of both organisations were separate.

“This renewal period sub branch members were advised that they had been granted honorary membership for the coming year, which has no membership fee but provides the benefit of discounts, member promotions and entertainment activities at no charge,” the spokeswoman said.

“In addition, an offer has been made for any sub branch member who wishes to be a full member of the club, they can do so for a cost of only $5.50.”

In the meantime, Noosa and Tewantin war veterans have been allowed to use a bar within the Royal Mail Hotel, to meet up and hold their weekly raffles.