Southport RSL: Civil war between memorial club and sub-branch after plans for sale

Bad blood has erupted between two rival factions within one of the Gold Coast biggest RSL clubs over shock plans to sell the site and redevelop it.

THE operator of the Southport RSL plans a “long-overdue” megabucks redevelopment – but first has to overcome bad blood with the site owner to buy it.

The Southport Memorial Club, which runs the Scarborough Street venue, yesterday admitted long-simmering tenions with the Southport RSL Sub-Branch, which is landlord and looks after veteran welfare.

In a shock move, the sub-branch’s 300 members recently endorsed plans to put the property on the market and relocate its offices elsewhere in the suburb.

The decision, according to sub-branch president John Riebeling, was “made primarily because the sub-branch can no longer afford to pay the current mortgage”.

Southport RSL Club. Picture: Jerad Williams

The memorial club, with almost 12,000 members and lease to run a bar, restaurant, pokies and live shows, submitted an offer “in line with valuation” to buy the site yesterday.

Memorial club president Mark Tull said it needed “a fairly significant refurbishment” and plans would likely include new restaurants and cafes but he lamented the club’s now strained relationship with the sub-branch.

Mr Tull said the relationship between the sub-branch and his memorial club soured in mid 2018 over “a large sum of money” which was spent upgrading the club’s lifts after the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

GOLD COAST WAR VETERAN’S INCREDIBLE MEMOIRS

Mark Tull.

“The club and the sub-branch have been very good partners for a long time through adversities.

“(But) the stumbling block has been recently a large sum of money being spent on refurbishing elevators which was outside the maintenance contract and as capital works.

“As you know landlords are typically responsible for capital works,” Mr Tull said. “Unfortunately, there was the Commonwealth Games and even though we survived it better than some clubs, we were unable to meet two loan repayments with the sub-branch because in real terms we had to pay for the lift refurbishments.

“From that point in time relations deteriorated a bit.”

COAST RSL CLUBS STRUGGLE WITH MEMBERSHIP

The RSL sub-branch’s members have voted to sell the site. Picture: Jerad Williams

Details of the memorial club plans for an upgrade would be unveiled to RSL staff today, he said.

Mr Tull said if the memorial club successfully purchased the site, it was hoped to continue operating as the Southport RSL memorial club despite the sub-branch no longer being located there.

“What the sub-branch chooses to do is beyond our control. One would hope they chose wisely given our long-term relationship,” he said.

“The situation is that the sub-branch is doing what they want to do. The club is profitable and trading. We are not closing our doors.”

Adding fuel to the fire and clouding things further, an August 27 letter from Mr Riebeling – seen by the Bulletin – claims three former or current members of the club had “either by accident or deliberately been presenting themselves as members of the Southport RSL Sub-Branch”.

Southport RSL in 1988.

“These persons have been known to use the ambiguous title of the club to gain recognition as RSL members,” Mr Riebeling’s letter alleges. “Do not be fooled into thinking these persons are members of the RSL.”

Mr Riebeling declined to comment yesterday about the sale, saying he was in western NSW and “out of the loop”.

But in a letter to state MP Sam O’Connor he insisted the RSL would continue to offer its services to the public.

“The sub-branch will still be located in Southport in a building yet to be determined. Our commitment to the support of the veteran community and community at large will not diminish,” Mr Riebeling wrote.

The RSL has been a community hub for decades

Southport RSL was founded in the aftermath of World War I and was established on its current site in 1938. Its existing building was erected in 1996.

Southport RSL’s TAB ceased operating this month but Mr Tull said that was long-planned after a decision not renew the contract.

Surfers Paradise RSL president Ross Eastgate said it was unclear if an entity left operating the bar, pokies and live entertainment could continue under the RSL banner if a sub-branch split off elsewhere.

Mr Eastgate said veterans’ welfare was a responsibility of a sub-branch, usually funded by the commercial operation.

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“Under the Queensland model, the sub-branch is the landlord and the club is the tenant. The club generates the incoming for the sub-branch to do what it needs to do.”

Mr Eastgate said under his Surfers Paradise RSL restructure and redevelopment it recently sold its building to an entity of Ryan Global whose owner Evan Ryan is a wealthy club member passionate about veteran welfare.

Under that restructure the club and welfare work is connected.

Asked if the club aiming to buy the Southport RSL land and buildings could operate as an RSL if the sub-branch departed, Mr Eastgate said: “I don’t think they can. We have sold our lease but we are still connected to our operators. It’s a very complex arrangement.”