Southport RSL bitter row flares as memorial club removes sub-branch’s belongings from building

The bitter internal feuding at a Gold Coast RSL club has flared up again with threats of police action after a sub-branch was kicked out with little warning.

THE bitter internal feuding at a Gold Coast RSL club has flared up again with threats of police action after a sub-branch was kicked out with little warning.

The Southport RSL Memorial Club last month removed all the belongings of the Southport RSL Sub-branch and placed them in storage, claiming it was in breach of its lease.

The memorial club claims it did not evict the sub-branch but rather “asked them to vacate”.

The sub-branch has threatened legal action, including criminal complaints.

Tensions have flared at the Southport RSL again with the memorial club removing the sub-branch’s belongings. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

The RSL’s Scarborough St building was sold by the sub-branch in December last year. Millionaire businessman Evan Ryan, of Ryan Global, took over the club hoping to keep it a RSL.

Mr Ryan told the Bulletin yesterday he wanted to stay out of the feud as he had leased the building to the memorial club.

“I had no issues with the sub-branch staying,” he said.

The latest round of tensions date back to at least December 2018. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The fighting needs to stop – it’s no good for anyone.”

The latest feud between the memorial club and sub-branch dates back to December 2018.

The memorial club can only operate as an RSL if attached to a sub-branch.

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In letters obtained by the Bulletin, on March 20 the memorial club gave the sub-branch an April 30 deadline to remove its belongings.

“The memorial club board has plans to renovate, refurbish and modernise the interior of the old building including the foyer area, and it will require all available space,” the letter said.

When nothing happened the deadline to move was extended to May 8.

The sub-branch fired back on May 7: “You may not remove any property belonging to this sub-branch or the RSL without the express written permission or a court order.

The sub-branch has threatened legal action for removing the belongings. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Should you do so, you will be committing an illegal act that we would be entitled to seek civil remedy before the courts.”

The sub-branch also threatened to go to police if anything was removed.

Despite the threat, the memorial club removed the sub-branch belongings on May 12.

Sub-branch president John Riebeling yesterday said the group was looking to fight the club’s removal of its belongings.

“They have now put all our belongings in storage,” he said.

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He said the sub-branch understood from Mr Ryan there was no issue with it remaining at the club.

Mr Riebeling said the sub-branch would need office space but hoped to continue to operate from the Scarborough St site.

In the meantime, the sub-branch will operate without an office.

Memorial club secretary Trevor Brock said having the sub-branch remain on-site was in breach of its lease.

The memorial club claims the sub-branch was not evicted but “asked to vacate”. Picture: Jerad Williams

“They were not evicted, they were just asked to vacate,” he said.

Mr Brock said the club needed the office space.

The club and the sub-branch are also involved in a Supreme Court legal battle over unpaid debts. It is understood the removal of all the belongings was is not related to the court action.