Grant boosts RSL

By Ed Merrison
UPWEY-BELGRAVE RSL has been bowled over by news it has been awarded almost $180,000 in Federal funding.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood announced the funding of up to $179,000 towards the renovation and upgrading of the RSL premises on Wednesday, 19 July.
The funding is in addition to a $30,000 grant announced last December from the Department of Veterans Affairs which has contributed to a new decking area and toilet block.
The next raft of upgrades will include improved access for disabled people, a full kitchen renovation, air-conditioning, a new meeting room, library and office, landscaping, and the conversion of an existing bungalow into a museum.
The club’s immediate past president Rob Ferguson said members been blown away by the funding announcement.
“It’s really been a wonderful piece of news.
“We knew we were going to continue the work we’ve been doing but this means we’re going to continue much sooner and keep the energy and the transition going.
“We’re really going to be able to provide this community with a great resource,” he said.
Mr Ferguson said the current RSL committee had inherited a solid, stable sub branch with a good reputation from the World War II veterans.
He said a younger crop of veterans and former servicemen, including current president Dennis Moffat, had since shown commitment to the club’s vision as a community hub for veterans and the wider community.
“It’s a wonderful group of people and it’s not only veterans because you don’t have to be a veteran to be part of the RSL. We welcome everybody,” he said.
Mr Wood commended RSL members and the community on their hard work to date in upgrading the RSL.
He also congratulated them on putting together an excellent business case for the grant from the Federal Government’s Regional Partnerships program.
“This Regional Partnership project will not only help the RSL sub-branch improve its services to the veteran community in the Dandenong Ranges but provide a facility that can also be used by other community groups in the area.”
Grants from the Regional Partnerships program are open to all kinds of community groups, and Mr Wood said he was currently discussing projects with groups such as Upwey Bowling Club, Sherbrooke Art Society and Upwey-Tecoma Football Club.