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The changing face of RSAs around the country is a focus for Sir Buck Shelford, of Red Beach, who became the Royal NZ RSA’s national president five months ago.
This includes finding a way forward for RSAs that are struggling, which in some cases, Sir Buck says, may include encouraging those clubs to divest themselves of old, high maintenance buildings.
As a starting point, national office is in the process of sending out a Warrant of Fitness (WOF) to all clubs, asking for financial information, as well as details about their facilities and how they are run.
“We are there for support and advice – we can’t tell the clubs what to do,” he says. “But, based on that information, we will be suggesting that if they are continually struggling, they look at options to reset or modernise. If their facilities are run down and old, and maintenance costs are high, they should consider closing the doors and moving. Our wealth as an organisation is in our people, but also in the bricks and mortar – we don’t want to lose that with the cost of maintenance, as things run down.”
He suggests this may be an issue for the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA to consider.
“Do they need the large space they have at Vipond Road – perhaps the former site, at the Silverdale War Memorial [Ōrewa Rotary House] or even no buildings at all, but a regular meeting place would be sufficient? That works well for other RSAs. In Vipond, there is no foot traffic and that has an impact, whatever you do. If you can’t make your books work after 10 years, should you still be in that location?”
It is a question that Hibiscus Coast Community RSA president, David Newman, does not shy away from.
“I recently discussed selling this site with the committee, and there was almost no support for that,” he says. “Clearly it would have to be a committee decision and currently there is no appetite for it.”
He says the memorial wall at the entrance to the RSA is a big factor for some members.
However, when that WOF arrives from national office, Newman says the local club will show up fairly well.
He says among the strong points is that the Hibiscus RSA owns its land (some of which it recently sold for development to increase cash reserves) and that its membership is made up of 30 percent service personnel and 70 percent associates (such as families and community members). There is also a wide age group on the committee, from 40-75 years.
Newman says the last seven months have been “an uphill climb” for the club, but that things are getting better regarding turnover.
The club is expected to make a loss of around $150,000 this financial year, but $120,000 of that will have been spent on the maintenance of facilities.
The little museum, which sat on the land sold for development, is being re-established and should open soon.
The building of new clubrooms, which was once considered, has been shelved, Newman says.
“The capital we have [from the land sale] will only be touched by resolution of a Special General Meeting of members,” he says.
Newman describes Sir Buck as a breath of fresh air for the organisation – particularly as the former All Black doesn’t mind asking the hard questions.
Those questions include whether the RSA’s support should be extended to service personnel who did not serve in a conflict overseas.
Sir Buck says the organisation is also currently discussing plans to introduce an NZ Veteran’s (or Armed Forces) Day, on Armistice Day, November 11.
“It would be a new occasion to focus the nation’s attention on its armed forces, including big parades, and a chance to bring in more funds,” Sir Buck says.
“The Royal NZ RSA is a great organisation, but in need of a ‘restart’,” he says. “And with the team we have now, we are working hard to change things. There is a mood to evolve to another level.”
