Mr Jack Steep was re-elected president of Port Macquarie RSL Sub-branch for the eleventh time, and the second successive year, at the annual general meeting on Friday night.

One hundred and eleven members of the sub-branch attended the meeting held in the RSL Club auditorium.

The president reported: “Our membership during the year increased by 64, bringing our total sub-branch membership to 515, which, of course, is something to be proud of and should be a record for country towns.

Last year [1966] has seen a vast expansion of activities within the sub-branch. These events have been brought about by several factors.

One being the culmination of some of our projects — mainly the baths, which were started off by the RSL nine years ago, and were opened and dedicated as a memorial on 1st of October, 1966.

Nine years seems a long time, but the finished article is something to be proud of and full marks must go to the Municipal Council for their thoroughness in the completion and attendance to detail.

Secondly, and at long last, came the extension of rate concessions to TPIs, Service Pensioners and War Widows.

This has been a vexed matter for as far back as I can recall in League activities.

However, this was only brought about by direct approach to the Municipal Council, whom we once again publicly thank for their co-operation.

The purchase of the Kenny property, and the Central Garage, has certainly provided us with the necessary land for the extension of our building.

But, it has created problems as well, one for instance being the fact that we have now the responsibility of paying Land Tax.

The connection of sewerage to the Central Garage and the placing of a new concrete floor, also in the garage, cost us over $1100. However, these matters were necessary and we have since received a small adjustment to the rent.

Briefly, the garage is not essential to our operations but, as long as it pays it way, I think we were justified in purchasing same.

In any case, to purchase the Kenny property we were obliged to buy right through to Horton Street.

With regard to the arrangements between the club and sub-branch; these are – the sub-branch owns the land on which our buildings are erected.

A loan has been raised to extend our club and this loan will be repaid by us from money received from the club in the form of rent.

This will not be a matter to regard lightly and during the next year or two perhaps some amenities may suffer, such as smokos, barbecues, artists for Anzac Day, etc.

But the functioning of the sub-branch and the services to its members and dependants will in no way be impaired.

Anzac Day was perhaps not as well attended, however the Dawn Service was a real success.

The march was again blessed by fine weather, while the 300-odd who attended the dinner were unanimous in their praise of the evening.

The Children’s Picnic proved popular as usual, and I thank all those who assisted there.