Did you miss our super soup night?

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm with meals on the first Friday of a month. Everyone is welcome ---- The super soup night on Friday, 2 June was one of the best attended, most enjoyable nights we've had for a long time after months (years?) of interruptions due to COVID lockouts and long-term construction and landscaping projects within the Tanunda Recreation Park.

Last Friday night made us feel as though we had put all that behind us and are now back to normal.

Our table setting at the Hut

Over 40 people attended and had options of four soups: pumpkin, mushroom, chicken noodle, or potato, bacon, and leek. These were accompanied by soft, tasty white bread rolls and of course a sweet consisting of apple crumble and custard or cream. Nobody was heard to say they didn't like the soup or the apple crumble.

As usual, a range of beverages was available at happy hour prices.

Making our night even more special were the presentation of cheques to three local organisations that provide services to us during ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day commemorative events, and a couple of poems by our in-house bush poet, Maurie O'Brien who has presented on several occasions.

Maurie has a collection of 31 poems titled, "ANZAC Poems and Other Sprigs of Wattle" that is available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback versions. It's well worth a look if you're interested in poetry or military history.

On Friday evenings when the Hut is open and we aren't having a meal, we have a variety of snacks available, happy hour beverage prices including tea and coffee and plenty of friendly chat. If you live in the area or are passing through, please do come and join us after 5 pm. 

Visiting the Goolwa RSL Sub-Branch

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome ----When Robin Henry visited Goolwa recently, he had no idea where the Goolwa RSL Sub-Branch was located or even if it existed. However, during a walk last Sunday, he and his wife Christina came across the club which, much to their surprise, was open. On a Sunday!

Goolwa RSL Main Hall

Later that day members were apparently attending to watch a football match, tuck into some pies, and perhaps have a liquid refreshment or two. One member was pulling on the pullover of his preferred football team.

The RSL occupies a beautiful heritage building that was once a horse stable. Inside it is well decked out with themic displays of memorabilia from the four main wars. I understand that memorabilia is being collected for the Iraq, Afghanistan wars.

As you can see in the image at right, the walls are covered with photos, plaques, and even a frame containing details of the RSL Objects which I thought was a good idea - reminding us of what the RSL is about.

It's a very pleasant, well-laid out club that is a credit to all those who have contributed to its establishment and interior decorating.

If you're visiting Goolwa, whether as an RSL member or as a visitor, do drop in. You'll be most welcome and see some excellent memorabilia including the last Australian flag displayed in Vietnam.

ANZAC Day 2023 - An Enormous Success

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome ----

ANZAC Day at Tanunda was another enormous success.

Outside the Hut

An estimated 1,500-2,000 people attended Tanunda RSL's commemorative dawn service at the Tanunda Memorial Gardens yesterday. Both President, Trevor Klose and member Patsy Biscoe, who had provided entertainment to troops during the Vietnam war, reminded us that this year is the 50th Anniversary of the Australian engagement in South Vietnam. 

The Australian Government plans a commemorative year of dedicated events for this anniversary.

Serving Army chaplain Father Mark Sexton led the commemorative services as he has for many years.

More than 165 people joined us at our Hut after the service for a Gunfire Breakfast we provided with the support of the Barossa Valley Rotary Club volunteers who did an excellent job yet again preparing and distributing food and refreshments.

As we marched along Murray Street to the Soldiers' Memorial Hall in Basedow Road, hundreds of people lined the street to watch and acknowledge us by clapping. It's very encouraging to see so many people turn out for ANZAC Day here, and across Australia.

Some people return every ANZAC and Remembrance Day, we remember their faces; some visit our Friday evening happy hours, and others were visitors to the Barossa Valley who took time to join us. Visitors like Lyndie and Gordon Minett from Rosewood, Queensland. Whoever they are, we are always happy to welcome them to our small club.

Lyndie and Gordon Minett

Behind the scenes, a lot of organization goes into organizing our commemorative days. Our Tanunda RSL management committee volunteers work for several months planning, ordering memorabilia, and liaising with all of those involved to ensure things run smoothly on the day.

We appreciate very much all those who help us organize, plan and run our commemorative days. There are too many to list here, but they know who they are, and they know they are appreciated.

A couple of additional photos of the occasion are shown below.

Get your Memorabilia - 18-19 April 23!

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome ----

Image credit: Militaryshop.com.au

Before ANZAC and Remembrance Days each year, we hold a kiosk outside Foodland Tanunda where we have an extensive range of fantastic memorabilia available for sale.

There is a range of prices from $3 and items include pens, badges, water and other drink bottles and mugs, stubby holders, poppy umbrellas, baseball caps, wrist bands, poppy hold-all bags, and much more.

We update and renew our memorabilia collection twice annually, so there's always something new, novel, and interesting for sale. It's a gold mine for collectors of militaria.

We buy our memorabilia from the Military Shop, Australia's premier supplier of all things military and their catalogue for 2023 may be viewed here. If we don't have what you want, the Military Shop will undoubtedly have it. Anything you buy after clicking the two links above will accrue a commission for Tanunda RSL. 

If you are in the area on Tuesday, 18th, or Wednesday 19th April, please view our display and have a chat with our volunteers. We'd love to meet you. 

We're always happy to have new members too, so if you're interested in supporting Tanunda RSL, please ask one of our volunteers about membership which is open to everyone 18 years or older.

Happy Hour Barbecue Night

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome ---- 

On Friday 14th April, our next Happy Hour, we will be having a barbecue.

The pool table is available too for anyone who wishes to play pool. Committee member, Robin Henry, will run a pool competition if sufficient members are interested. Robin will get your details on the night and the competition will be a "last player standing" deal. You could win a prize. 

So, get yourself down to the Tanunda Hotel and practise your pool skills, every bit helps.

Secretary Dawn has asked that if you intend to join us, RSVP by 12 April so we can plan our catering to ensure nobody misses out.

We look forward to your joining us for a great Happy Hour.

The Bugle has Landed

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Everyone is welcome ---- 

The March issue of Tanunda RSL's newsletter, "The Bugle" is now available and has a number of interesting stories under the following headings:

The Bugle Contents

You will find a copy you can read online or download by heading to the Newsletters link on the tab above.

Your feedback about The Bugle, including the content coverage, would be appreciated - use the comment box below.

Are there some topics you'd like the editor to cover?

Would you like to send us a short article for the next issue in June?

Breaking News - As they Say in the Media

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Meals on first Friday of month ---- 

The situation regarding entry to the Tanunda Recreation Park and thus the Hut has changed. You can now enter through the new entrance near the playground in Bilyara Road.

Apparently the bitumenisation has been completed.

Hooray! We're now listed on Google Maps

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Meals on first Friday of month ---- 

Now we are on Google Maps more people may find us. Feedback suggested that even some locals didn't know where our Hut is so we decided to do something about that. 

When we checked Google Maps, the Tanunda Recreation Park toilet, the show hall, playground, and the football club were flagged on the Tanunda map, but absolutely nothing appeared indicating our beloved Hut.  It was just a grey shape after one zoomed in on the map but if you didn't know what it was, it remained just a grey shape.

After contacting Google Maps administration several times we managed to get both the Hut flagged and the new entrance off Bilyara Road as previously our address was shown often on Park Street because it's parallel with it.

Google still has some updating to do, but you can find our location here marked as 18.

Now that you know exactly where we are, please come visit us on Friday evenings.

 

Fair Treatment for Special Forces Soldiers

Click image to increase size.

A Successful Remembrance Day Appeal

---- We open most Fridays from 5 pm. Meals on first Friday of month ---- Once again the generosity of our fellow Barossans and some visitors came to light during our Remembrance Day Appeal we held outside Foodland Tanunda.

Two lovely ladies agreed to pose

For those of us who volunteered at the memorabilia tables, it was a wintery experience as the front of Foodland is like a wind tunnel. But being the devoted and hardy souls we are, we beavered on and made a healthy amount for our sub-branch on behalf of those who serve and have served in the Australian Defence Force, their families, and our community.

We handed out 500 or more free poppies to young and old to wear on Friday, 11 November 22 or as often as they wish. I believe more will be available at the Tanunda Memorial Gardens where we hope we'll see you at 10:15 am for a 10:30 am commencement.

We were delighted to hear some parents telling their youngsters about the RSL and military and why we hold Remembrance Day.

As always, we are most grateful for the ongoing support we receive from our community.

As an afterthought, if you didn't get that badge, cap, mug or something from our memorabilia collection you really wanted, if you click on Military Shop link in the right hand column, you can visit their site to check out the vast array of militaria available.

The Hut Closed Good Friday

The Hut will be closed on Friday, 15 April 22, for the Easter long weekend.

We hope you have a pleasant and safe weekend and look forward to seeing you at the Hut on Friday, 22 April 22, the day after our first ever Fashion Parade at Lambert's Winery, and of course the weekend of ANZAC Day on the following Monday.

Next week on Tuesday and Wednesday, several volunteers will be selling memorabilia outside Foodland, Tanunda. Don't forget to say hello and update or add to your collection if you are nearby.

Next week promises to be a busy week for our colleagues and the many others who support the RSL.

The Hut is Open!

Happy Hour is back on track following our most recent lockdown.

Every Friday we open for Happy Hour and on alternative Fridays we have a two-course meal for $10 first-come, first-served.

We call the meal a "Mystery Meal" because we never know until the evening what it will consist of. 

Our meals come from the Tanunda Lutheran Home kitchen and the good news is that there is always something nice to eat. Nobody ever complains!

A range of beverages is available at very good prices, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

You could be part of this happy group and we look forward to you joining us soon. 

Attendees will be expected to comply with whatever government COVID-19 requirements are in force at the time.

Management Committee