With the two year ban on fundraising finally lifted, the Tamworth RSL sub-branch is looking to get back in the black, starting with Vietnam Veterans Day on Sunday.
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The RSL was blocked from fundraising in 2017 amid concerns compliance failures could potentially expose hundreds of volunteers to legal penalties, while former NSW president Don Rowe continues to face fraud charges.
Locally, president Jayne McCarthy said that while the image of the RSL has been tarnished, the "Tamworth community understands that it had nothing to do with our sun-branch, and have been really supportive."
"The ban on fundraising did hurt us, because it supports what we do as a sub-branch," she said.
"That money goes towards commemorations, volunteer work and welfare for veterans, so it is great that we can get back into the fundraising and supporting our local community of veterans."
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On Sunday the sub-branch's first fundraising effort since the ban will see a packed house at the Capitol Theatre to watch a 10am screening of new Australian movie Danger Close, about the battle of Long Tan, before the Vietnam Veterans Service later that afternoon.
"That movie will be quite emotional for quite a few of our local veterans," Mrs McCarthy said. The morning will also include a talk from the Open Arms counselling service about mental health."
On Thursday 10 members of the Tamworth sub-branch joined members from all over the region at a governance and compliance training session in Gunnedah.
The workshop is part of a state-wide initiative by RSL NSW that all 348 sub-branches have been invited to undertake.
Acting RSL NSW president Ray James said the training is "part of evolving RSL NSW more broadly, and ensuring the public can have full confidence in supporting the important grassroots activities."
"The RSL is vastly different than it was 100 years ago, so it is imperative that members remain fully across legislative requirements," he said.
