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Potted History of the Ingleburn RSL Sub branch
The catalyst for the formation of the Ingleburn RSL Sub branch
was in 1925, when the then Ingleburn Council took over 10
acres of land and with the help of the community which included
many ex servicemen, developed it into Ingleburn Park.
The following year, 1926, the Park was officially opened
and all ex-servicemen were invited. At this time most of them
were members of Liverpool RSL Sub branch. At the opening 3
ex-servicemen , Archie Graham, Billy Hilder and Harry Mayne,
suggested the forming of a Sub branch at Ingleburn, all present
agreed and a meeting was called to elect office bearers and
establish number of those willing to join.
A representative of the NSW RSL Headquarters was present
at the meeting and acted as Returning Officer. So the Ingleburn
RSL Sub branch was born, the first Executive Officers being
Archie Graham, President, Billy Hilder, Treasurer and Harry
Haye as Secretary. General Meetings were held on the 3rd Thursday
of the month.
Once the Sub branch was established, a Women's Auxiliary
was formed and it proved to be of invaluable assistance in
future years particularly during the depression years. The
first President, by the way, was Sister Olive McRae, a nursing
sister who served overseas during World War I.
The Council decided to hand the then right of way, to the
Ingleburn RSL Sub branch - adjacent to the entrance to the
existing Ingleburn Memorial Park in about 1930. Sub branch
members began to cultivate roses, privet hedges and plant
date palms. An Obelisk was then constructed, being built from
bricks recovered from the demolished Church of England which
had stood on the corner of Cumberland and Minto Roads. A time
capsule filled with newspaper and clippings of the time and
placed under its base. A brick fence and wrought iron gates
were erected in 1931 and officially opened by Major General
Sir Charles Rosenthal on the 25th October, 1931. The dedication
service was conducted by Reverend J.H. McGoun of Campbelltown
with a guard of honour being formed at the entrance gates.
During the depression years the Sub branch delivered assistance
parcels to the needy with the assistance of the Women's Auxiliary.
A number of visits being made to the homeless along the banks
of the Georges River. Other projects undertaken included house
repairs and even assistance with construction.
With the advent of World War II, the Sub branch formed an
RSL Younger Set to assist with farewell functions for those
servicemen going overseas. About this time the Fathers Association
was formed to support those serving overseas.
When the RSL Headquarters erected a hut in the Ingleburn
Camp, then known as Balikpapan Barracks, the Sub branch staffed
the reading and rest rooms assisted by the Liverpool and Campbelltown
Sub branches. When the 2nd AIF moved out of the now renamed
Bardia Barracks, the hut was closed. In 1943 RSL Headquarters
offered the building to the Sub branch on the proviso that
they remove it. A block of land was purchased in Oxford Road
for 100 pounds and then came the problems of transporting
it, as the roads and bridges in the Ingleburn area were too
narrow. Eventually with the help of the NSW Railway, the hut
negotiated the Minto Crossing and was put on the block. The
hut contained 9 tables and 36 chairs. Regular housie and euchre
nights were run. The official opening was conducted by the
then President of the NSW RSL, Colonel Hymen on the 29th January,
1944. Due to the efforts of the Sub branch, the Fathers Association
and the Community the adjoining block of land was purchased
on the 29th June, 1944, the corner of Cumberland and Oxford
Roads.
In 1945 with the dramatic increase in membership, the building
was extended; the completed extensions were officially opened
by Major General R.Pollard.
With continued expansion of membership, overcrowding and
parking became a problem and a search for land to accommodate
future needs was commenced. In 1970, 61/2 acres were purchased
at what is now 70 Chester Road, work started on the building
in 1973, and on the 7th June, 1975, the completed building
was officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales,
Sir Roden Cutler VC, KCMG,KCVO,CBE.
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