By RON LANE
The RSL and surf life saving clubs across Australia have joined forces to re-enact the Gallipoli landing on various beaches on 25 April.
When the enactment is complete and the haunting refrains of the Last Post have drifted across the sands of Noosa Beach, many will retire to gather at the rooms of the Tewantin-Noosa RSL Club for their traditional morning drinks.
As old mates are greeted and family members introduced, we should spare a moment in time to reflect on the history of this proud club, and all those who made it possible.
One such person who will surely do this is a lady whose family is, without a doubt, held in very high regard. Her name is Olive Donaldson and for her family, the Tewantin RSL was a major part of family life.
“Our family believed in putting back into the community and what better cause than the local RSL,” she said.
But it goes much deeper. Olive’s father, W.J. (Bill) Ross a WWI veteran, was the foundation president of the sub-branch of the RSSAILA Tewantin.
The concept for this first came into being in August 1920, when the assistant state secretary of the Queensland RSL, Mr Harry Buchanan MM and Bar, visited Tewantin while on his honeymoon. Buchanan, one of the first ashore at Gallopili, together with Olive’s uncle, Mr Ben Ross of Tewantin, gathered together a group of locals who had served overseas to form the sub-branch.
As a result of what can now be termed the foundation meeting, the following office-bearers were appointed: president, W.J. (Bill) Ross, vice-president H.J. Johns, secretary, W. Fielding and treasurer H.G. Fielding. Among those appointed to the committee were G. Gibson, G. Burgess and E.T. Johns DCM.
In 1928 a man who was to give outstanding services came on board as secretary. His name was Bill Lack. For Olive the fact that her father Bill Ross was first president and her uncle Ben Ross, was a founding member is indeed a great source of pride.
The foundation president Bill Ross, was certainly representative of those who had served overseas, having been a member of the 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion, 10th Artillery Brigade.
Bill was involved in several actions the major of which were, Mont St Quentin on 31 August 1918, and the Hindenburg Line 18 September, also in 1918. It was during this engagement that he was gassed and as a result he was to spend time convalescing in a London Hospital.
It was during this period that he was reunited with his brother Ben, and another local lad Harry Johns.
Shot through both legs during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1916, Ben was taken prisoner and spent two years in a German prison camp, before being repatriated to England in 1918.
According to a document written by Bill Ross, regarding the history of the sub-branch, meetings were originally held in the Royal Mail Hotel, Martins Hotel or a the Tewantin School of Arts.
The school of arts committee decided to add a room for the purpose of sub-branch meetings. With the support of many local ladies, who were to become the forerunners of the ladies’ auxiliary formed in 1935, the committee of Mrs E. Donovan, Mrs K. Ede, Mrs G. Gibson and Mrs W. Ross (Olive’s mother) were able to raise the necessary funds; but whenever the sub-branch wished to hold meetings, it was found it had been let to some other organisation.
As a result, secretary Bill Fielding who owned a small sawmill out at Tinbeerwah, made a few trestles and donated five boards to build a table. The meetings were then held at the home of the president Bill Ross.
Sometime later, Mr. H.F. Walker MLA a Boer War veteran and first member for the seat of Cooroora, was negotiating the purchase of a block of land on the Eastern side of the big fig tree, located opposite the Royal Mail Hotel.
However at the same time, the school of arts committee asked the RSL to take over their hall, an offer which they immediately accepted. It was during this period that the local council also offered financial assistance.
After Martins Hotel was destroyed by fire, Martins Hall, which stood adjacent was purchased by the sub-branch for 50 pounds. It was decided to pull down both the school of arts and Martin Hall, replacing it with one big hall, which came to be known as the Memorial Hall.
Money was tight and funds for the demolition and new building were received via a loan from H.F. Walker and Lionel Donovan.
President Bill Ross paid particular note to the outstanding work of both the ladies’ committee, and the returned servicemen. Their contribution to the repayment of the loan was well noted. Another group that gave assistance was the sub-branch of the Gympie RSL and in particular member Clarrie Trudgian.
From August 1920 through to 1940 there were men whose names should not be forgotten as their work and loyalty consolidated this great organisation within our community.
Just to name a few, Edgar Bennett, Charlie Law, Jack Pope, Earnie Jehu and Arthur Cave, were outstanding. On 1 July 1958, Bill Ross and Bill Lack were awarded Gold Badge Life Membership for services rendered.
For Lack it came as recognition for his 31 years as sub-branch secretary and for Bill Ross his work and loyalty since foundation.
During WWII the ladies’ auxiliary and the sub-branch ran dances for comfort funds. Diggers, stationed in the area would attend and the feeling between the troops and locals was good. On many occasions the music was supplied by musicians from among the Diggers.
When peace was declared and local servicemen flocked to join, and work on further extensions began, none was more welcome than Harry Buchanan the founding member from the 1920s.
When the former State Treasurer Sir Thomas Hiley KBE opened the extensions on 8th June 1979 he said, “When it comes to national purpose and putting Australia first the RSL stands out like a beacon.’’
Since then the club has again been rebuilt and the sub-branch continues to make outstanding contribution to our community.
At present under the umbrella of the sub-branch are the Youth Development Project, Legacy Ladies, the Men’s Shed and of recent times Mates 4 Mates; and these are just a few of many.
In more recent times members, such as Ken Bridges, Wayne Carter, Ian Rowe, Dean Harlow, Bruce Hutcherson, Rob Wareing and Vern Johnson, just to name a few, have passed through their doors and left their mark in the annals of this proud club.
The mission statement that covers the creation of the RSL badge, worn to identify its members, says it all.
“No wealth or influence can purchase the badge, which may be worn only by those who have served their country”. LEST WE FORGET.
