OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

In addition to our connections with local schools, the Sub Branch works with a number of other local groups and organizations, most notably the Nillumbik and Banyule Councils. The land on which our premises sits is within Banyule's area, although it was originally within the boundaries of the previous Eltham Shire Council. In the early 1900s, the owners of the land were the Petrie family, until the mid 1960s. Under an agreement between that family and the Eltham Shire Council, the land was transferred to the Council, to be used for public space, with the proviso that an area of that land be set aside for the construction of new clubrooms for the Montmorency RSL. (see the History section for in-depth description of this background). The agreement with the Petrie family also stipulated that the RSL would only pay a nominal rent for the use of the land allocated to it (that rent during the 1980s was $118 per annum).

In the early 1990s, there was an amalgamation of local Councils across the State and the outcome was that the geographical boundaries of the Eltham Shire Council and the Heidelberg Council, resulting in relocation of Council offices. The new Council boundaries resulted in the Petrie Park area becoming part of the new Banyule City Council. In the ensuing transfer of records, historical documents relating to the arrangement with the Eltham Shire Council appear to have been lost. The RSL only had limited records of the arrangements, none of which were recognized by the new Council. In the absence of those earlier agreements regarding the use of the park by the RSL, the 'new' Council decided that the rental for the land in Petrie Park would be determined on a 'commercial basis', resulting in the rent increasing to a figure in the thousands of dollars (with an accompanying arrangement that the annual rent would be put into an account, along with money from the Council, and used to benefit various community organizations).

About 20 years later and with the involvement of ANZAC House, the Eltham Sub Branch was closed (in 2010) and, a short time later, the Montmorency Sub Branch made arrangements for the Eltham members to join and hence to retain a connection to a local RSL. The result was the formation of the Montmorency-Eltham Sub Branch (the MERSL). The potential for an expansion of membership numbers required an extension of the current building and some of the funding for this was provided by ANZAC House, using part of the proceeds realized from the sale of the Eltham RSL land.

As the land allocated in Petrie Park for the RSL clubrooms was still essentially the same as before the council amalgamations and, separately, the closing down of the Eltham RSL, arrangements with the Banyule City Council for leasing the Petrie Park land and the joint efforts to support local organizations continued. After the Council re-structuring, there was no longer any formal connection between the Montmorency RSL (and later, the Montmorency-Eltham RSL) and the new Nillumbik Shire Council. Nevertheless, given the historical ties and the inclusion of many residents of Nillumbik as members of the MERSL, the two bodies have continued to provide mutual support regarding a range of community activities and programs.

There are also other connections which we have with various community groups who largely organize themselves but who make use of the MERSL facilities for regular activities. These include local Probus groups, 'Morning Melodies' (light entertainment for folk associated with local community assistance groups), and weekly Bingo sessions (the latter are organized by MERSL staff).