Welfare still key for Caboolture RSL after almost 100 years

A vital community organisation north of Brisbane is preparing to celebrate a major milestone.

Caboolture Morayfield RSL Sub Branch secretary Bruce Fraser, president Bruce Miller and advocate Peter Carey. PICTURE: AAP/Richard Walker

CABOOLTURE Morayfield and District RSL Sub Branch will be 100 years old next Thursday.

President Bruce Miller said it was the only surviving sub branch of those formed in the Caboolture area after World War I.

Members will celebrate the landmark with a three-course dinner and dance at the RSL on Beerburrum Rd on June 29.

It was following a meeting at the Royal Hotel, King St that the Caboolture Sub Branch of the Returned Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmans Imperial League of Australia was formed on June 27, 1919. Morayfield was added to the name in 2000.

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The sub branch held meetings in the Templars Hall before the Memorial School of Arts hall become its home between the wars.

After World War II the sub branch bought land on the corner of what was then the Bruce Hwy and East St and in 1949 the dismantled former Twin View RSL building at Elimbah was rebuilt and became the Caboolture RSL club in the mid 1950s.

This served until the existing building was dedicated in 1996. The sub-branch now has a membership of 316.

“The RSL has always been a welfare thing, looking after the soldiers,” Mr Miller said. “The welfare problem is not getting less, if anything it’s increasing. Old soldiers are not ones to complain but we need to help them.

Caboolture RSL during the 1980s.

“But we rely on the public to tell us if they know about a soldier who needs help. If you are an ex-service person and in need of help, we are here to help you, of any age.”

Mr Millar said his aim was to “keep the RSL name up front’’.

“We support local schools with prizes and I do a regular talk on the local radio to get to people, to keep them aware of the plight of ex-service people,” he said.

Caboolture RSL Club in 1996 - just after it had been built.

“We are looking at getting some Lighthorse images on Caboolture water tower and working with council to have the Caboolture-Wamuran Rail Trail become a Memorial Walk for all the Caboolture people who died in wars,” Mr Miller said.

He said the future of the RSL depended on the young veterans. “We are trying to get younger people on the board,” he said, “if they are not willing to take it on, it will wither.

“These days we are looking at a different type of soldier with different experiences. Many don’t want to come to the RSL. If they don’t want to come here, we will go to them.”