VOLUNTEERS, of the Wagga RSL Sub-Branch, will restart its fundraising efforts after its two-year ban was overturned yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The city's sub-branch, along with hundreds of other groups throughout the state, were forced to stop fundraising following a financial scandal at state level two-years ago.
Wagga RSL Sub-Branch treasurer David Williams was happy to hear the group could finally get "back to doing what they do best" after a long, difficult period.
"It has been a hard time for everyone throughout the state, but the city's sub-branch has been lucky to own their own property, which has definitely helped us survive the fundraising drought," he said.
"But, it has been a shocking time for our smaller sub-branches who would have felt the financial clout."
Going on from here, the sub-branch must apply to the state's Fair Trading Department to resume its normal fundraising activities, which Mr Williams expects will be quickly approved.
Afterwards, the sub-branch is free to continue its usual fundraising activities, including raffles, cake stalls and sausage sizzles.
Despite the sub-branch's two-year hiatus, Mr Williams has no doubt the community will rally behind them.
The local members were given permission to sell badges in the lead up to Anzac Day this year for the first time since the ban was enforced.
Mr Williams said the community had noticed the absence of their bi-annual selling stations for Anzac and Remembrance Day and gave their wholehearted support.
But, the plan moving forward is bring back the sub-branch's regular fundraisers.
"The sub-branch will push the boat out on our Remembrance Day fundraising in a big way," he said.
"We will step up our raffles, which we have only been able to sell to our members over the past two years.
"Also, we will reach out to Bunnings - who have been incredibly generous in the past - and get our barbecues up-and-running.
The state's RSL president James Brown said the two-year ban was needed to protect local volunteers after it was made clear the charity was facing an issue with fundraising compliance.
"There was very little data available to the new RSL leadership that showed the extent or nature of fundraising at a local level - it took nearly a year to collect that information from our sub-branches," he said.
"The restriction was necessary to protect our hardworking local volunteers from unintentionally breaching the law and risking hefty fines or, in the worst case, a criminal penalty."
Mr Brown said that lifting the ban was a part of state-wide reforms to help restore community trust in the iconic veterans' charity.
He said the sub-branches are now free to apply for fundraising approval and get back to normal business of raising money for veterans and their families.
In other news:
While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to you inbox each day at 6am from the Daily Advertiser? To make sure you're up to date with all the Wagga news sign up here.