The Terrigal Wamberal RSL Sub-Branch will celebrate its 80th anniversary with a luncheon on August 8 at the Breakers Memorial Country Club Auditorium.
The sub-branch was inaugurated as a member of the Returned Sailors’ & Soldiers’ Imperial League of Australia (NSW Branch) on August 8, 1945, with the RSL name later changed to the Returned & Services League of Australia.
A converted military hut was the initial sub-branch premises and was located near the current location of the Terrigal Bowling Club.
Once established, the building was referred to as the Terrigal Soldiers’ Hall and the bowling club became the preferred venue for post-meeting ‘smokos’.
In 1949, the sub-branch appointed a woman as Patron.
She was Mrs P Sheean, who was elected to mark the vast amount of work she had done for the sub-branch and her efforts in raising funds.
A Women’s Auxiliary was formed in 1953 and assisted in fundraising activities over many years until it disbanded in 1998.
In 1964 the sub-branch bought nine acres of land in Dover Rd, Wamberal, from a local builder for 1,500 pounds.
The banks were initially reluctant to finance the purchase as they did not believe that there was enough equity in the land to cover the loan.
As a result, several members were required to underwrite the loan with their guarantees before funding was approved.
Around that time, a public meeting was called to establish an RSL Club.
The meeting was well attended, and it was resolved to form a club and call it the Terrigal Wamberal RSL Club.
The sub-branch had plans drawn up for a large building with a construction cost of between 300,000 and 500,000 pounds.
The Committee felt that the cost of the building was far too expensive, considering the population of the area was only around 2,000.
In addition, there was no town water or sewerage available, and the road to the land was in a state of disrepair.
Further meetings were called during 1965, but interest waned to the point where membership of the proposed club ceased to exist.
In 1966 the sub-branch decided to try and erect a small clubhouse on its nine acres.
With limited funds, they approached Gosford Brick Works and Sterland Bros for the supply of building materials on a time payment plan.
With voluntary labour from members and other local supporters, the first stage of the first clubhouse was completed, with the debt for the building material paid off over the next two to three years.
On November 28, 1968, a meeting was held in the old CWA Hall Terrigal to discuss establishment of an RSL club.
Terrigal Memorial Country Club Ltd was incorporated under the Act on September 23, 1970, with a membership of 270.
The club’s only sporting activities were darts and indoor bowls and it had no liquor licence.
The sub-branch committee then decided to begin construction of a small golf course on the existing nine acres and apply to Gosford Council to lease 25 acres of adjoining land.
In 1972 the members played the three holes three times for their nine-hole competition.
Membership increased dramatically, leading to the Court granting the club’s liquor licence in 1973.
Voluntary work continued on additional golf holes.
The first greenkeeper was Bob Day and the first Secretary Manager, Sid Almond, was also appointed in 1973.
In 1974 a further 15 acres of land became available and was purchased for $15,000.
This gave the club a total of 50 acres of land, with an established clubhouse, tennis courts, bowling greens and a golf course.
In 1976 two all-weather tennis courts were built on the lakefront area.
In 1978 the clubhouse was extended on the eastern end, and a dining room, extra lounge area, bottom bar games room and toilets upstairs were added.
The club initially leased the building and grounds from the sub-branch but in 1983 members agreed to sell the assets of the sub-branch to the club on the condition it would be provided with a room from which to conduct its activities.
The name of the club was changed to the Breakers Country Club (trading as the Terrigal Memorial Country Club) in 2008.
A sandstone wall and plaque opposite the entrance to the club is registered as a War Memorial.
While the sub-branch no longer has any financial interests in the club, it operates at Breakers as a not-for-profit organisation, assisting the ex-services community.
The August 8 luncheon is open to all members, past members and their partners.
Make reservations by emailing Terrigal-WamberalSB@rslnsw.org.au
