The fire which gutted the Darwin RSL was devastating, reconstruction can’t come soon enough

THE huge crowds that turn out for Anzac Day commemorations each year are proof positive that Territorians, like all Australians, hold our military heritage dear

RSL on Cavenagh has been shut since a fire in 2018 . PICTURE: Katrina Bridgeford.

THE huge crowds that turn out for Anzac Day commemorations each year are proof positive that Territorians, like all Australians, hold our military heritage dear.

The fire which gutted the Darwin RSL on Cavenagh St last June was devastating to members and drew an outpouring of support from the broader Darwin community.

It has been a sad sight, ever since, to see the blackened remnants of the club on Cavenagh St.

The fire took with it irreplaceable memorabilia, and during a period of turmoil for the league in the Top End.

When the club’s old committee dissolved itself after it was unable to resolve internal differences over the club’s future direction, it seemed on the cards that Darwin — a city with a proud military heritage — might not have an RSL.

The situation become even more dire when The Hub at Palmerston closed, leaving the satellite city’s RSL sub-branch without a home.

News that the Darwin branch will soon begin rebuilding is welcome.

Veterans and their families deserve a permanent place to socialise.

As Darwin sub-branch president Stephen Gloster said: “There’s still a long way to go but we’re moving in the right direction, things are looking good.”

Hopefully, things get moving sooner rather than later and the new clubrooms will mark the start of a bright new era for the league in the Northern Territory.

All of us are looking forward to seeing, one Anzac Day soon, our servicemen and women enjoying a well deserved drink at a new RSL on Cavenagh St.