La Trobe MP Jason Wood, right, inspected the upgraded facilities at the Upwey-Belgrave RSL sub-branch last week with former president Rob Ferguson, left, and member and contributing renovator Colin Jordon, centre.By Paul Pickering
THE UPWEY-Belgrave RSL sub-branch began a new era last week with the official opening of its newly-renovated headquarters.
The plush new facilities at the Mast Gully Road branch are the result of five years of planning, $230,000 worth of federal funding and 12 months of construction.
Rob Ferguson, immediate former president of the branch, said the upgraded facilities include a new meeting room/library, full kitchen, new toilets, improved disability access and the conversion of the existing bungalow into a small museum.
Mr Ferguson believes the upgrade will allow the branch to provide a better atmosphere for members, as well as opening up opportunities to strengthen partnerships with the local community.
“We’re going to be able to offer the community beautiful facilities, and at the same time keep the branch pokies free – which is important to us,” Mr Ferguson said.
“We’re hoping it will build on the partnerships we have, because now we’re able to offer people a warm, cosy and friendly atmosphere with good facilities.”
The meeting room/library, in particular, is set to become a social hub for school and community groups, with plans already in place to develop an education program to be run in conjunction with local schools.
The new kitchen will also allow the branch to offer professionally cooked meals for the first time from early next year.
While Mr Ferguson was keen to thank the Department of Transport and Regional Services and Department of Veteran Affairs for bank-rolling the upgrade, he said there was also a lot of members and local businesses that helped out with the renovations.
“We received an enormous donation (of concrete) from Boral, and the electrician did all the work and never charged,” he said.
The first real test of the new facilities will be this Sunday, as the community is invited back to the branch after the traditional Remembrance Day service at the Belgrave War Memorial.
The Upwey-Belgrave RSL sub-branch can be contacted on 9754 3665.
