EVENTS at MERSL

There are many events held at our RSL throughout the year. The principal ones are related to ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. More details about the activities related to those two occasions are outlined below.

In addition to these activities, there are many social events which are arranged throughout the year. These include regular entertainment afternoons and evenings involving professional musicians, the running of the Footy tipping competition and its annual wind-up and presentation at the end of the season, and various activities related to horse-racing events. The latter include the following:

Calcutta ... The first of the November events is usually the 'Calcutta' held on the Monday night before the Melbourne Cup, but ticket sales are available for a couple of weeks prior. As many would know, these aren't ticket sales to attend the function ... they are tickets sold to go in the barrel from which ticket numbers are drawn, each being given a horse in the Cup. Those familiar with such events will know how things unfold from there!

Oaks Day ... The Thursday after Cup Tuesday involves a large gathering of the ladies who dress in their finest and are seated in tables similarly decorated. The event has gone from strength to strength, as the saying goes, so that the 2024 event was a 'sell-out' and enjoyed immensely by all present. A buffet feast is provided, and the MC attempts to keep the whole occasion following some planned stages, while his assistant is usually engaged in doing otherwise.

There are some syndicate tickets bought on behalf of all present with any winnings distributed among attendees. Music keeps everything moving along in the gaps between the announcements and stories provided by the MC. Staff do a magnificent job in putting the whole show together.

Aside from these 'general' activities there is also the Golf Club, the Fishing Club, the Darts Club and weekly Poker nights.