Mackay has lacked a critical stitch in its social fabric for more than 15 years: an RSL club

How you can get behind the campaign for new homes for our veterans and first responders in the Mackay region

Mackay has lacked a critical stitch in its social fabric for more than 15 years but plans are progressing to ensure greater support is provided to its veteran community.
It is a grim reality that former service men and woman - those who have served in the armed forces - and emergency professionals and first responders are among the most at risk of suicide.
Their routine exposure to trauma in a selfless sacrifice to community puts them in the at-risk category, and the toll it takes is alarming.
Also alarming is that no-one knows the exact number of veterans at risk of suicide, nor where they are.
Further, the number of returned service men and women who have died from suicide is unknown. So the extent of the issue, and the number of people needing help, is unclear.
What is abundantly clear, however, is that a social thread connecting people to similar lived experiences is critical.
Somewhere these men and women who live among us can feel comfortable and supported. Where they can expect understanding without explanation.
The Daily Mercury is today launching the campaign Hub for our Heroes - asking the Mackay region to get behind two projects dedicated to helping our service men and women as well as our first responders.

Mackay Daily Mercury has launched a campaign to find a Hub for Our Heroes.

One project is a social and welfare centre in town on the waterfront, the other a wellness hub at Kinchant Dam.

The Daily Mercury is behind a push to get a $100,000 feasibility study into the Kinchant Dam hub, a project which requires great bipartisan support.

Aerial views of ReNew Mackay's riverfront development which incorporates plans for an administrative hub that could become the home of the Mackay RSL sub-branch. Picture: ReNew Mackay

Mackay RSL Sub-branch president Ken Higgins is well-versed in the needs of the war-weary as a veteran himself.
Sub-branches across the state still exist - despite the closure of clubs and halls bearing an RSL crest - because they provide that critical social connection but here in Mackay we have no hub.
It makes it easy for the community to forget that for the 363 days of the year that are not ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, these sub-branch members are working for their veteran colleagues and their families.
 

 

Mackay RSL sub-branch president Ken Higgins at the site of the former Mackay RSL Club on Sydney St. Picture: Heidi Petith

The Mackay sub-branch had that physical presence on Sydney St for decades, the iconic and now heritage-listed slouch hat above the door a beacon for veterans.
But a series of factors including financial issues, a tightened market and its landlocked position in the CBD eventually led to its demise and it closed on November 28, 2006.
 

The slouch hat at the RSL Memorial Hall on Sydney St, Mackay. Picture: Heidi Petith

The building, owned by RSL Queensland and the RSL Pioneer-Fitzroy-Highlands District, is currently leased with no plans to change that arrangement. Nor are there plans to redevelop the RSL sub-branch at that location.
Karen May, before she was deputy mayor, stepped in with her husband John and tried to navigate the Sarina RSL club out of its financial plight.

 

The former Sarina RSL Club on Central St, Sarina. Picture: Tara Miko

Despite ardent efforts, the club's inherited debt, high overheads and high competition for patronage in the local community led to its demise.
Mrs May was adamant that any revival of any RSL club facility would need community support.
The Mackay plan has that, and its link to ReNew Mackay which has ambitious and well-developed plans for the waterfront precinct is a strong feather in the slouch hat.
 

Aerial views of ReNew Mackay's riverfront development proposal which incorporates plans for an administrative hub that could become the home of the Mackay RSL sub-branch. Picture: ReNew Mackay

More Hub for our Hereos stories:

• Hub for our heroes: Plans to find veterans a home in Mackay
• Why Mackay should be home to a revolutionary wellness hub
• 'We didn't even have PTSD. We used to call it being bomb-happy'
• Daily Mercury launches Hub for our Heroes campaign

The revival is viable because beyond the club in whatever iteration or name it bears will embody the sense of purpose it aspires to deliver, and that is veteran welfare.
ReNew Mackay is developing plans with PTSD Frontline, an organisation rooted in supporting veterans to curb alarmingly high suicide rates in returned service men and women, but also those in emergency services fields such as police, firefighters, paramedics and miners.

Daily Mercury deputy editor Tara Miko. Picture: Rae Wilson

Family is also critical to that, and the plans for Kinchant Waters incorporate all elements of support needed.
The Daily Mercury has a long tradition of fighting for infrastructure and services Mackay needs from the new hospital, the ring road and Bruce Highway upgrades.
We will roll out a series of Hub for our Heroes stories over the next two weeks to demonstrate why we are behind these projects, why they are needed and how we think they can be delivered.
We ask you to join us in our push to serve our community - whether that's sharing your stories, donating money, time or resources, or simply generating word of mouth for a good cause.
Drop me a line at [e-mail] with your thoughts or suggestions on how we can push for a much-needed home, or homes, for the people who fight to keep us safe.

Originally published as Mackay has lacked a critical stitch in its social fabric for more than 15 years: an RSL club