A popular bar caught in the middle of a hostilities between two clubs is set to reopen.
The Diggers Bar within the Tewantin Noosa RSL Club has been closed since April last year following a lease renewal disagreement.
It brought to the surface a tumultuous relationship between the RSL and the Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub Branch.
This extended to misunderstanding over membership and the relocation of sub-branch meetings to a nearby pub.
The sub-branch is trustee of part of the building that it shares with the RSL club at 1 Memorial Avenue, Tewantin.
Prior to the closure, the space for the Diggers Bar was leased back to the club as an income stream to support veterans’ welfare and run the sub-branch.
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A special general meeting in November last year resulted in a new board being appointed, which defused tensions between the two groups.
The future of the bar was also addressed at the November meeting and the RSL club indicated it was “on track” to lease the space back from the sub-branch.
Following the annual general meeting in December, the sub-branch announced it would be holding its meetings and monthly raffles back at the Diggers Bar.
“Today is the day we have all been working so hard to finally see eventuate,” a sub-branch statement on December 18 stated.
“It has been a long, hard year but today we reap the fruits of our toil.
“Our membership status and voting rights have been returned, we are all welcome back into the RSL club, but the final piece to the puzzle we have fought for is finally in place – the Diggers Bar is back.”
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The Tewantin Noosa RSL Club has since announced the Diggers Bar will officially reopen on January 26.
The “grand” reopening will take place from 11am and include live music, fee pool tables and a sausage sizzle.
In a recent post to the Tewantin Noosa Member Group on Facebook, the sub-branch outlined it was pleased the hostilities were behind it.
“We know this year is going to be a better, brighter, more positive year, focusing on rebuilding relationships and getting back to what really matters – the welfare and wellbeing of our veterans,” the post read.
The Tewantin Noosa Sub Branch and the RSL have been approached for further comment.
