The Canning Districts RSL is facing an uncertain future after the passing of president Rob Noble this month and no one to take over the role.
Other committee members, who are aged in their 80s and due to retire, have taken over the reins of the 170-member club but are calling for younger members to step up.
Mr Noble, 71, passed away surrounded by his family on July 15 after a long battle with lung cancer.
The well-respected president took up the position in 2011 and the committee credits him with being one of the club’s most active and thorough members.
Secretary Terry Reynolds said he had a knack for the role and would be missed.
“He was very active in the role, he was devoted to the club and thorough,” he said.
“He met a lot with people outside the club, assisted on Monday mornings with the finance and accounting from the weekend and he looked after the gardens.”
Mr Reynolds said it was a major blow to lose Mr Noble because he was such an effective president and with the rest of the committee ageing they were hoping to get younger ex service men and women into the club to continue his work.
He said despite strong membership numbers many were ineligible for president or secretary roles because they were not ex service people.
“The club needs a new president and the club elections are in October,” Mr Reynolds said.
“Our vice president is standing down because he is 84-years-old.
“I’m the secretary and running the show at present but I’m 83 and I’m waiting to retire and we have no other ex service person eligible because you’ve got to be an ex service person to take the position.
“For the future of our club we’ve got to have our president and vice president and a secretary too because I’ve been doing the job for 15 years.”
He said younger ex service people had attended dawn services and other ceremonies and he encouraged them to come down to the club and consider joining.
“They’re around, they may be working but even so we have a meeting every second Sunday of the month and if they’re not working on a Sunday they can come and do the job,” he said.
“The age factor doesn’t come into it, if a 30-year-old applied it’s okay, same as a 70-year-old.
“They’ll get comradeship and the feeling of belonging to a club.
“We just want people to rip down here and have a look and let them see that this is a pretty good joint and they might come down a bit more.”
Committee member Peter Dempsey helped Mr Noble in the club’s garden and said he has been a great president.
“He came to me one day and said how do I join the club and how can I help out in the garden and I said you’ve got me mate, you’re in,” he said.
Mr Dempsey reiterated Mr Reynolds’ call for new members.
“We need a whole new committee, we’re all too old, we just can’t attract young ex service people,” he said.
Anyone interested in joining the club or taking on a committee role should call Mr Reynolds on 9398 4928 or the club on 9350 5593.
The club opens at 162 Wharf Street, Cannington from Tuesday to Friday with regular Friday night dinners and socials.
