Castle Hill RSL Sub-Branch History
Veterans will be celebrating over 80 years of Castle Hill RSL sub-branch history with a special anniversary lunch on Saturday, 27th August.
And while members will be commemorating the history of the sub-branch they are looking to the future and appealing to younger veterans to get involved and become members.
The club was formally constituted as a sub-branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers League of Australia on August 27th 1941 but COVID meant that the 80th anniversary lunch had to be postponed.
Although the sub-branch was officially formed in 1941, Hills veterans started to meet in homes and halls in 1932 with a Ladies Auxilliary formed the following year.
Veterans were granted a parcel of land in 1935 to build a hall at the corner of Old Northern Rd and Old Castle Hill Rd at Arthur Whitling Park where the Castle Hill Metro now stands and in 1936 the Castle Hill Anzac Memorial Hall was opened (see photo).
Due to its popularity with outside hirers members excavated space under the stage where veterans could meet and drink at “The Dug Out”.
The first welfare officer was appointed in 1950. At this time there was no Government assistance for unemployment, sickness or death.
The club became known as the Castle Hill RSL sub-branch in 1954 and was granted a liquor licence. Up untilthat point it was operating illegally but was tolerated by the authorities.
A new club building at the site was completed in 1967 and The Dug Out became the cool room. The completed three-storey premises included a mixed lounge and dance floor, a bar and food servery, Board room, sub-Branch office and billiard room.
In 1971 investigations began on how to expand the club premises to accommodate the influx of new members. Baulkham Hills Shire Council vetoed any suggestion to extend the existing premises but agreed to a new building at the club’s Castle Street property. The club built bigger premises and moved in 1974 to the site it still occupies.
In 2001 Castle Hill RSL sub-branch sold the club building to Castle Hill RSL Club Limited.
President David Hand said: “The 80th celebration is a time to remember those before us who put a lot of time, sweat, and possibly a few beers, into forming a place where local veterans could meet.
“It is also a time to thank our current members for their ongoing hard work in keeping the Castle Hill and District RSL sub-Branch a great place for veterans, young and old, to come together.”
He said the sub-branch would welcome young veterans. With many veteran members aging and unable to fill volunteer executive positions in the sub-branch it is also recruiting a limited number of affiliate members.
To find out more about joining your local RSL sub-branch visit www.rslnsw.org.au[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”68779″ size=”full” align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
