FEBRUARY 16 could be a sad day for Taree, with the likelihood that its more than 60-year-old RSL Women's Auxiliary will cease to exist.
"We just can't continue to operate, without an influx of younger women to help share the duties," president for the last five years, Lyn Turner said.
For Lyn, the likelihood of a final meeting on Thursday February 16 is particularly sad.
"It's difficult for me to go down with the sinking ship," she said. "My nana, Gladys Simmons, was one of the founding members in 1950 and my mother, Chris Probert, was its president for 30 consecutive years."
Lyn and an ever-diminishing group of auxiliary members have tried desperately to keep the group going in recent years, but the void caused by the loss of older and long-serving members is not being filled by younger women.
Compounding the problem are modern-day OH&S regulations which were not an issue in the days when the women of the auxiliary would cater for hundreds of guests at a time, at official RSL functions. Even something as simple as making a cake at home to sell at a street stall is now over-governed by red tape.
"So it looks like we'll just have to fold," Lyn said.
RSL women's auxiliaries across the state were first formed under the auspices of RSL sub-branches after World War I as a means of providing welfare for returned servicemen, but their job is just as important today with Australian servicemen and women still on active duty across the globe.
"Everything we do, we do for our Diggers, our ex-service members. Everything has changed in this world, but our constitution has not changed," Lyn said.
She said women were working more and longer hours, or stopping home to raise their families, and this meant many were unable to join an organisation where they could volunteer their time and efforts.
"Even grandparents these days are being called upon to look after their grandchildren, and cannot therefore give their time to an organisation such as ours.
"There are also so many other groups these days, all wanting to help different parts of the community.
"RSL women's auxiliaries have played a big part in helping their communities, but new members are just not stepping forward.
"We just can't continue the way we are. But it's so hard to quit when you're so passionate about the job you are doing."
While the Taree auxiliary was officially formed in February 1950, early records show a group of women were active before that, raising money to help returned ex-servicepeople.
Members hip has never been great, but throughout more than 60 years there has been a core of hardworking members, many who unfortunately have had to give up due to advancing age or not being well enough to attend meetings and fundraisers.
Much of the auxiliary's work is in the lead-up to Anzac Day (in March) and Remembrance Day (in November), and includes selling of badges and red poppies.
Lyn can't begin to estimate how much the Taree auxiliary has raised over the years. "But it's been a considerable amount. In the early days we kept the RSL sub-branch afloat."
In the early days members ran dances at Taree's old Belmore Hall, and hosted Diggers' Dinners.
"I've been told that in those days, our members saved their (war-time) butter coupons and redeemed them for butter to spread on the sandwiches at the dances and dinners, or to make sponge cakes and biscuits.
"In those days the town ran on generosity ... someone would donate a bunch of beetroot, or eggs, or a lettuce, for the salads."
Lyn recalls how she learnt to count, by helping her mum and nana cater for luncheons and dinners. "I was given the job of counting the potatoes as one of our long-time members peeled them."
There are some fascinating tales to be told courtesy of the auxiliary's old hand-written minute books which still exist, but many unfortunately have been lost or are irreparable.
"A lot were lost in floods in the days when the RSL office was on the ground floor of the old RSL Club (where Stacks Finance now stands, in lower Pulteney Street)," Lyn said.
Lyn, now 63, first joined the auxiliary in 1964-65 but left in 1970 when she moved to Sydney. On her return to the Manning she joined again in 1984 and has been an active member ever since, serving alongside her late mother, Chris Probert who spearheaded the group for three decades.
Roger, Lyn's husband, is a Vietnam veteran, and her sister and her daughter have both been active auxiliary members.
"So you see there's a big family connection. The auxiliary has been part of our family for as long as I can remember."
Next Thursday, February 16, is the auxiliary's annual general meeting, and if there is no influx of new members before then, the decision will be made to fold, Lyn said. She and two other members expect to transfer their membership to the Wingham RSL Auxiliary, which is still managing to operate.
"We've done everything possible to stay afloat... advertisements ... letters to the parents of cadet units and other organisations.
"You don't have to be someone who has a returned service person in the family, or a National Serviceman or whatever, you just have to be someone who is willing to take on a good cause.
"We are a welfare and benevolent group and as such have ensured that no ex-serviceman or woman has ever been buried in poverty ... never in a pauper's grave. Even ex-servicemen with no families... whose families all died years ago ... are buried with dignity because of the work we do."
Anyone wanting to join the auxiliary is invited to contact Lyn Turner on 0417 405 316 or Mavis Goodlad on 0428 564 897. You will be made most welcome.
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