This week the Braidwood Times features four pages of information about the Braidwood Services Club, including this history of how the Club got going.
The idea of a Club was first floated during the course of the Second World War. The concept was for memorial club rooms for returned servicemen. A section of land within Ryrie Park was applied for and tentative plans drawn up; there was no consideration of the idea developing into licenced premises at the time.
As more and more servicemen returned, the idea evolved into a more ambitious concept which included licenced premises, club rooms, and sporting and recreational facilities.
Numerous suggestions resolved into three final possibilities; memorial club rooms on land within Ryrie Park, taking over the Literary Institute, and the building of a Country Club in the Police Paddock. (The Police Paddock was located at the end of Wallace Street where the Colonial Motel now stands.)
The third suggestion was adopted by ballot. The newly formed sub-branch of the RSL secured meeting rooms within the Oddfellows Hall (now the Museum Building). On February 18, 1949, seventy members resolved to form a Braidwood Servicemen's Club.
An election of office bearers voted in the following men;
Patron: R T “Top” Hassall
President: GH “Bob” Chapman
Vice presidents: Laurie Anderson and Dr Don Cunningham
Secretary: Gary Maddrell
Treasurer: Laurie Anderson
Committee: Jack Bunn, Harold Burgess, Tony Taffa, David Chapman, Ian Irwin, Alan McGrath, WH Whittaker Jnr.
The following year the AGM elected Jack Bunn as President, a position he held for the following 30 years.
An initial application for an area of three acres in the Police Paddock was made to the Department of Lands. On February 9, 1950, this application was revised up to seventeen acres to enable the construction of a bowling green, tennis courts, golf links and a swimming pool.
But before this application went through, it was suggested by Ron Hargreaves, Keith Taylor and Harry McGrath that the Servicemen's Club consider a site on the Common, part of which was in use by a golf club.
A meeting of club members at the Literary Institute on April 15, 1951 approved this suggestion. The club then applied for a liquor licence on September 7, 1951. A provisional licence was granted subject to plans and specifications of the Club rooms being submitted to the Court.
Mr RG Magoffin, architect, of Sydney, was engaged to draw up plans.
On December 14, 1951, the committee decided to raise finance for construction by means of unsecured debentures in multiples of $20 (in today's money equivalent).
The currency of the debentures was five years, and 5% interest was payable on them.
Trustees for the debenture holdings were appointed. These were WR McDowell, Oscar Roberts and Jack Webb. The task of actually raising the money was left of Jack Bunn. An amount of $12,680 was amassed by sale of debentures.
A stock drive was also held, and, along with other donations, a further $3,200 was raised. The Tallaganda Shire Memorial Fund contributed $1000, and the RSL Auxiliary contributed $2400.
On July 9, 1953, the committee accepted the tender of $15,720 submitted by Eddy, Cornish & Muir Construction Co for building of the first phase of the project, and work commenced in August, 1953. A liquor licence was applied for and granted on March 13, 1954, and trading started as from that date with Stan and Nina Kodermac in charge of the bar.
Barlow & Orford of Braidwood successfully submitted a tender of $20,216 for construction of the second phase on July 11, 1956. And the third building phase commenced at the end of August, 1962, following acceptance of a tender of $74,406 submitted by RS Orford.
Since trading operations began, the Braidwood Servicemen's Club has donated in excess of $250,000 to local charities and sporting organisations.
So from humble beginnings utilising locally raised funds and a dedicated and persevering committee, the Club has evolved from the idea of Tea Rooms in Ryrie Park to the wonderful community facility that Braidwood enjoys today.
Email a friend