Light at the end of the tunnel for RSL as rebuild cash starts to flow

The Darwin RSL expects to release tenders for the rebuild of its clubhouse within months following a devastating fire last year.

Darwin RSL sub-branch president Stephen Gloster with Navy veteran Don Milford at the Hotel Darwin, which hosted this year’s gunfire breakfast following the loss of the Cavenagh St clubhouse.

A TENDER to rebuild the Darwin RSL clubhouse could be released within months following a successful meeting with the club’s insurer on Friday.

Sub-branch president Stephen Gloster said money had now started to flow and the club would likely have a design proposal to put to members by the end of next month.

The RSL club has been without a home since its building on Cavenagh St was destroyed by fire in June last year but Mr Gloster said there was now “light at the end of the tunnel”.

“We haven’t got anything in writing but we’re happy to be moving down the track,” he said.

“We’ll probably go out for tenders in the next four or five months.”

Mr Gloster said while the total cost of the rebuild was yet to be determined, the terms of the insurance policy meant the building would be restored to its former glory.

“Our policy states for replacement of what we had so that’s both for the club and for the league so whatever we get will not be less than what we had before,” he said.

“There’s still a long way to go but we’re moving in the right direction, things are looking good.”

The fire tore through the building in the early hours of June 24, leaving a damage bill fire investigators estimated would be in the millions of dollars.

The blaze started in the roof cavity and was not deemed to be suspicious.

But despite the loss of the club house, veterans and their families have still had a place to socialise following the opening of the Billeroy House welfare centre in February.

The sub-branch elected a new committee earlier this year after the old committee voted to dissolve itself, citing conflict over the future direction of the club.

In the interim, RSL NT chief executive Kim Henshaw and Territory president Bronson Horn took over management of the club and service delivery for members.

It followed a disagreement between the majority of committee members who wished to focus on veterans’ services and “a small group” whose priority was to maintain business operations “at all costs”.

The turbulent period of the past year also saw the closure of the North Darwin RSL sub-branch and the loss of the Palmerston club’s home when The Hub closed in June.