A Cannington returned serviceman’s club is calling on young blood to join its ranks as it tries to reverse gradually falling membership numbers.
Canning Districts RSL has in recent years seen its member numbers drop and its fundraising efforts have fallen on harder times.
Organisers said a drop in interest in ex-services clubs was to blame, but they were not giving up on their organisation.
Club president Terry Reynolds, who served in the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force for 15 years, said there was a stigma with returned services clubs that Canning Districts was trying to shake.
Mr Reynolds said as older RSL members pass away, young members were not filling their places as fast, or as much as needed.
“The old RSL style was for old diggers, old ex-service personnel,” he said.
“That’s gone – sure you’ve got your backdrop of oldies, veterans, but we want younger people in.”
Canning Districts RSL was established in 1955 and has provided a social spot for ex-servicemen and women from the same clubhouse since.
Its members, who have served in wars from the mid-20th century to now, said it had been an important venue for meeting mates and talking about old times.
However, after 50 years of spinning the same yarns, members admitted they were keen to bring in younger patrons.
Secretary Eleanor Wilkins said the club’s committee had been working hard to grow interest in the club, but it needed a turnaround in fortune to ensure its healthy future.
“We’re just trying to come up with different ideas,” she said.
“We’ve just had Poppy Day, and we have karaoke every second Friday.”
The club has launched a number of events to boost interest and attendance at its clubhouse, including a car boot sale this weekend, quizzes and dances nights.
It also showed major sporting events like the Melbourne Cup and Australian Rules Football matches on indoor and outdoor televisions and hosts raffles, has a spit roast setup and regularly gives away donated bread from the local bakery to patrons.
Ms Wilkins said the club also offered cheaper drinks than most pubs, and its Friday night dinner specials included T-bone steaks, chicken schnitzels and seafood meals for less than $16.
She said it was important for RSL clubs across Australia to provide community events to maintain their relevance, and wanted to spread the word that their club was open to all.
“It’s not just a closed club where you have to be an ex-serviceman to be welcome,” she said.
“It’s all culture, it doesn’t matter what you are.”
Canning Districts RSL is located at 162 Wharf Street, Cannington.
Its car boot sale will be held on December 3 from 9.30am and will run into the afternoon.
Anybody interested in becoming involved with the event, or volunteering with the club, could contact Eleanor Wilkins on 9350 5593.
