A toast to the volunteers who've kept Coledale RSL club alive

This month marks three years since Coledale RSL reopened its doors after financial issues following the pandemic caused the closure of the club. Today, the club is kept alive and well by a dedicated team of volunteers who rallied together to keep their watering-hole going.

Club president Melissa Ellery said the fact that everyone in the community had a go and got up and tried something new and had been successful "warms everyone's heart".

"I think it’s a story that resonates with people and they love to hear communities coming together to fight for something, especially in a time where we’re all a little bit detached from each other," she said.

Mel joined the cause after the club had originally closed, jumping on board with locals trialling a volunteer-run model in a “last ditch attempt to try to save the place”. Three years later, Coledale RSL has gone above and beyond its original standing as a small pub, and is becoming a destination for holidayers looking to support a community project.

“We’ve actually got a few of our volunteers that have Airbnbs and they’ve had people that have actually come to stay there so that they can visit Coledale RSL, which is great,” Mel says.

“I think the media coverage has been a big help for us, and winning a few awards as well, with the support of the community and those people who come to visit, it’s really good.”

Today, the club boasts more than 80 volunteers, with about half of those showing up every single week to keep beers flowing and doors open. Recently, the club has clocked more than 5000 volunteer shifts since reopening. For Mel, the success of the club lies in its ability to foster connection.

"What started as something to help financially has now turned into something where [volunteers] have somewhere to connect with people... it's been this real story of connection and fighting loneliness," she says.

“They go do a shift, they pour a beer, and then they sit with their friends. It’s been a bigger story than what finance could ever be.”

After being named local business of the year for the Illawarra and South Coast last year, Coledale RSL is once again up for an award with Clubs NSW.

“The venue is not just a destination, but we also wanted it to be for the community and some of the work that we’ve been doing to support community groups,” Mel says

"If you've lost a loved one, we wanted to be the place where you have your wake... we've done funerals and we've done weddings as well. We really wanted it to be that point where if the community were going to work behind the bar – we wanted to make sure that it was their place.”

The club has also evolved into a foodie destination. The introduction of Rosie’s Fish and Chips in the bistro has brought interest from those looking to try some of the best fish and chips in NSW.

"They're setting up really amazing food at the moment. They’ve got a following of their own... so that's making us a little bit of a destination which is awesome,” Mel says.

As April 25 approaches, the club is preparing to honour the Anzacs with their traditional dawn service breakfast. Mel has a strong history with Anzac Day at Coledale RSL as the sounds of nearby bagpipes first drew her to the club.

“We moved down from Sydney and I remember being with my family on Cater Street, and there were bagpipes playing out the front of our house and I was like 'What is this?' We'd come from the city and I just loved it. It was like stepping back in time and just being with the community,” Mel says.

“So we’re doing it again this year… we keep with the same recipe every year and I love that because I think it’s the tradition of it.”

The day starts with a 6am dawn service, followed by a free breakfast for veterans (gold coin donation for non-veterans). The sub-branch will then lead the service and march and the RSL will host two-up from 11:30am into the afternoon.

"It’s really important that it’s about the veterans, about remembering the sacrifices they made. Peace is really important, and that we don't forget trying to have dialogue with each other and remembering," says Mel.

"The Lest We Forget is more important now than I think ever.”

With a new general manager on board, the club is looking to engage the next generation. Keep an eye out for upcoming events featuring Murray the Red Wiggle and Saturday afternoon music events designed for the 20-somethings in the community.

“The future is bright for us. We’re starting to put on some really great events. We’re doing discounted cocktails on some nights, and we’re doing lots of things to support like the 20-year-olds and to try to bring them into the RSL as well," Mel says.

“The whole idea is to make sure that the club is open for everybody and that we’ve always got something on for every age and demographic.”

Mel is looking forward to the work that the sub-branch is achieving in the community.

"The sub-branch have really landed on their feet... they've got some money behind them now too so that they can now start to give back to veterans. In the June long weekend, they're putting on a veteran surf competition in collaboration with Scarborough Boardriders.

"To me, that’s just another layer that we really hoped for in the business plan."