RSA Review Spring 2020

12 RSA REVIEW • SPRING 2020 AROUND THE TRAPS - TARADALE RSA A substantial renovation programme at the 100-year-old Taradale RSA is set to be complete before its centennial celebrations (pencilled in for mid-November). allowing for the club to be presented in its best light to the Taradale community. The renovations, which began during Covid Alert level three, have had a huge helping hand from members who volunteered their labour and skills, saving the club an estimated three- quarters of its renovation budget. This work has included a newly decorated entranceway linedwithprints of news clippings andphotos of AnzacDay celebrations and other events over the club’s 100 years. One of these is the 75th anniversary in 1975, a year before Taradale RSA’s current president, Brayden Coldicutt, was born. “We have the youngest president in RNZRSA history,” says Taradale manager Ben Allen, who himself is only 36. The youthful president/manager team has a long family history with the Taradale RSA. Ben’s father, Ricky, wasmanaging the Taradale RSA at the time of the 75th anniversary, while Brayden is a third-generation Taradale RSA GUard CHanGes — taradaLe CeLeBrates club member with family history dating back to his great-grandfather, Gallipoli survivor, George Coldicutt Snr. Brayden was just 22 when, having served a year on the committee, hewas swept unopposed into the presidency two years ago. Just before that, the Taradale RSAwas having a tough time and the committee had mooted amalgamating with the Taradale Club. The idea was rebuffed by members, but the scare has galvanised the resolve of club members to trade their way out of trouble. And it has. Brayden is proud to say 20-25%of the club’s 1170 members are active, visiting the club at least two to three times a week. And the entire club has embraced the changes and driven the new ideas necessary to be successful. “The committee is on board every step of the way, and that’s what you need to have a successful club,” Ben says. “A committee that’s forward-thinking and a presidentwho supports new ideas andprogress. We are very lucky in that sense. If we didn’t have all these people, it couldn’t happen.” The club’s centennial celebrations were postponed because of Covid Alert Level Two from September until November 13-15. The programme will include a ‘Mix nMingle’ and a ‘re-opening’ of the new-look club on the Friday night, a formal dinner on the Saturday night, and a service at the Taradale Clock Tower on the Sunday morning. The service will be followed by an open day of activities and entertainment to showcase the club to the public. Meanwhile the RSA ismaking use of the extra time and continuing with renovations, which include updating the library and creating a memorabilia room. This special memorabilia area will include pieces from previous eras – World War 1, World War 2, and the VietnamWar will be BE showcased. The RSA is also hoping the area will be used as an educational centre for local schools to teach children the significance of sacrifices of the past. “We reallywant tomake it special,” says Ben. Kelly Deeks A huge helping hand from member volunteers has seen the new-look Taradale RSA (top left) take shape; it makes a startling contrast with the 1957-vintage clubrooms (top right). Club volunteers (below) also did a massive amount of work on the construction of that building. Far RIGHT Prints of news clippings and photos of commemorations and celebrations over the Taradale RSA’s 100 years line the entranceway to the club. ABOVE: A newspaper public notice delivers news of the official opening of the new clubrooms on May 18, 1957. LET ECOMIST HELP YOU PUT FLIES ON THEIR BACKS THIS SUMMER! Set and forget insect control using natural pyrethrins G&MDISTRIBUTORSHB Ltd Proud to supply and support the Taradale RSA, also with the support of Mr. Chips G&M Distributors Ltd distribute ambient, chilled & frozen food goods to the food service industry in Hawkes Bay & Taupo Sales: 06 842 1118 or 027 443 1010 sales@gmdistributorshb.co.nz