RSL Sub-Branch president Greg Laird confirmed the Port Macquarie branch would follow a state council directive and not sell the popular poppy this year.

While confirming it will follow the edict, Mr Laird said members of the women’s auxiliary and sub-branch would be ‘out on the streets from Monday’ handing out some 1000 poppies for free.

Mr Laird said a ‘kerfuffle’ in state branch meant that the sub-branch had stopped all fundraising and the accepting of donations.

“We anticipate that this situation will not be forever,” he said. “But it is in place while we get back to complying with government fundraising advice and charitable organisation status at the state level.

“This has nothing to do with our branch. What happened at the state branch level is an embarrassment.”

An inquiry by Patricia Bergin SC into RSL NSW – the Bergin Inquiry – and an investigation into state organisation by the Australia Charities and not-for-profits Commission is currently underway.

State president, James Brown said that since it was elected in May, the new state council has been reviewing the operations of the League.

“We have been particularly conscious of the need to review our operations with regard to the raising of funds from the public given our ongoing engagement with the Bergin Inquiry and ACNC investigation,” Mr Brown said in a statement.

Mr Laird praised the Port Macquarie community for their support of the sub-branch through the purchase of poppies over the years.

“While we can’t fundraise for Remembrance Day, we can provide a poppy free to the community as a way of saying thank you for your support,” he said.

“We know that people in Port Macquarie take great pride in wearing a poppy as part of Remembrance Day.

“Right now though, you can’t even give me ten bucks as a donation,” he said.

Mr Laird said the loss of sales from poppies would have an impact in some areas of the sub-branch movement at the local level.

“The biggest impact is on our women’s auxiliary who do a lot of our fundraising through stalls, raffles and, of course, the sale of poppies.

“They (the women’s auxiliary) are sitting on their hands. We love them dearly for all their hard work but they can’t do any fundraising. It’s a travesty.”

Despite the setback, Mr Laird said he was looking forward to the Remembrance Day service on Saturday.

Hastings Secondary College Port Macquarie campus’ Tanisha Palmer will provide the main address. Mr Laird said Tanisha is the daughter of an Afghanistan veteran.

“I am really looking forward to hearing more from our young citizens on these important occasions,” he added.

Port Macquarie’s Remembrance Day service starts on November 11 from 10.45am. The service is at the new cenotaph on the Town Square.