THE Mount Gambier Community RSL has withdrawn financial support for the city’s long running pipe band because of its ongoing financial predicament.
A not-for-profit organisation, Mount Gambier’s RSL – which is the largest in the state – is not expected to make a profit this financial year.
The RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band – which has been an iconic musical ensemble in the city for more than 100 years – has now turned to local government for key sponsorship.
The RSL has been the major sponsor of the band for decades, but has wound back financial support in recent years.
RSL president Bob Sandow has apologised to the band for withdrawing financial support.
“This personally saddens me as president of the Mount Gambier Community RSL as our relationship has been many years in the making,” Mr Sandow said.
“Over that period our relationship has served both parties extremely well over the many RSL commemorative services.”
He said he hoped the organisation could be in a position next year to resume its community role and provide assistance to the band.
“It is no secret we are struggling financially – we haven’t made a profit for five years,” Mr Sandow said.
But he said the organisation was implementing a number of changes to get it back on the road to long-term profitability.
“We have been making a number of changes so we have a brighter result next financial year,” Mr Sandow explained.
“We are a not-for-profit group and all our profits go back into the community, but we have to make a profit first.”
The facility’s overhaul includes a new gaming area at the rear of the property and a new function area.
Enquiries have also been strong from hospitality operators for the potential leasing of the bistro.
“We want to hand that over to people who know how to run a bistro – our main focus is on veterans and their widows,” Mr Sandow said.
“We employ 35 people and we want to stay here for another 100 years – we can achieve that with the ongoing support from the community.
Band president Ross Anderson said RSL sponsorship had been declining over the past few years because of the financial position of the club.
“Our band has been in a position to absorb the reduction in funds until now, however the complete loss of the entire sponsorship changes our financial position,” Mr Anderson said.
He said the pipeband’s constitution mandated it played for and supported the community.
“We play at a range of community events and rarely refuse any community requests,” Mr Anderson said.
Many of these functions are charitable or are for organisations that are not in a position to make any donation to the band.
“We do fundraise, but our main efforts are towards playing for the community,” Mr Anderson said.
“If we need to do extra fund-raising, it will reduce our ability to meet community requests.”
The band has 20 members with half under the age of 20 and seven under 14.
“The RSL support was originally for $3000 a year, which has been reduced over the past two years,” Mr Anderson said.
The band has now requested $1500 from the City Council and Grant District Council to meet the shortfall.
At a Grant council’s meeting, elected members threw their support behind the band by agreeing to a $1000 allocation in the 2017/18 budget.
The matter is yet to be tabled formally for consideration by Mount Gambier City Council.
