 |
| Goodna Services Club general manager Deb Colbert outside
the building which has been decorated with the largest
Australian flag in Ipswich.
|
DON'T be surprised if you hear Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi ringing out around Goodna early next month.
That's when the revamped Goodna RSL re-opens nearly a year and a half after the Queensland flood disaster.
The building, which was almost fully submerged during the flood, will reopen to the public on July 5 with a paint job that takes patriotism to a new level.
The building's three road-facing facades are adorned with three huge Australian flags, while a new flagpole will be erected at the rear of the premises to fly an oversized Australian flag that can be seen from the Ipswich Motorway.
General manager Deb Colbert said the paint job would make the RSL a Goodna landmark while respecting the sacrifice made by generations of Australian servicemen.
"Being an RSL we are patriotic," Ms Colbert said.
"Everybody fought under that flag. A lot of people died under that flag.
"So why not put it on there and bring back what RSLs are all about."
The wave-shaped wall above the windows on the front of the club houses the biggest of the three flags more than 20m across.
The front doors of the club will open to the public nearly 18 months after the disaster that consumed much of Goodna.
The club minimised some of the financial loss by trading out of the function centre on Brisbane Tce since May last year but for staff the reopening of the main club can't come soon enough.
"I can't wait to get back into this building," Ms Colbert said.
"It's been a tough time for the staff in general but I've been overwhelmed with interest for new jobs."
More than 25 tradesmen are working on the site each day as they work to prepare the RSL for the long-awaited opening.
The club has a new look both inside and out but the GM was giving little away when questioned about what patrons can expect to find.
"All I can say at this stage is that it will be very special," Ms Colbert said.
13.6.12
COMMENT: Congratulations to all the members (more than 50,000) and Committee of the Goodna Services Club on this milestone after the devastating Brisbane River flood of 11 January 2011. This has been a long and mighty effort and will be a major boost for the Club, the community and the Goodna Town Centre. - PaulGTully@gmail.com
