John Sturgess & Neil Murphy: Attitude fuels demise of RSAs

All RSA members are entitled to use the Napier RSA, says John Sturgess and Neil Murphy.

The self-righteous and negative perspective expressed by David Frances in his letter to the editor of Saturday, November 21 is a classic illustration of the intolerance and tunnel vision that has seen many RSA Clubs nationwide fail over recent years.

The unfortunate toll of "old father time" on our respected older veterans has brought dramatic changes to the membership demographics within the RSA Clubs: Those clubs which have embraced open membership are thriving - the others are history.

Veterans of David Frances's ilk remain in an "out-of-step" time warp which has been a major factor in the demise of clubs that failed to adapt to the times.

The various modern club adaptations remain fully committed as ever to the traditions of mutual support, respect and traditions of remembrance on which the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association was founded. A less critical and more respectful note would have been in order.

Mr Frances's letter raises a number of issues which reveal a lack of comprehension of the history of the RNZR&SA, an embarrassing archaic attitude to gender parity and calls into question the competence and dedication of RSA staff and committee members who are operating the Club business operations in the tough commercial environment of today's embattled hospitality industry.

In respect of his reference to the lack of welcoming formalities at the Napier RSA function he attended, I suspect that issue would point back directly to the organisers. The convening of a welcoming committee depends on timely invitations included in the planning and liaison process. Every reunion that I have attended at Napier RSA (or any other RSA) have included the local Mayor (or representation) a local MP, an RSA Committee representative and usually a Kaumatua. A simple protocol of invitation is all that is required.

It is a surprise that Mr Frances has not noticed that the separate "Cat Bar" culture was eliminated from the Club scene generations ago. Female service personnel are an integral part of all NZ Defence and Police services, including a brave commitment to front-line operations. Our first female soldier was killed in action in Afghanistan, a stark wake-up call to the reality of gender equality. Lest we Forget.

How dare Mr Frances challenge the full participation of any bona fide member in any role in the RNZR&SA movement. All members as of right are certainly most welcome to a glass of wine or tipple of preference.

Historically the original RSA was founded 100 years ago next year by soldiers invalided home from the disastrous battlefields of World War I. It was formed as a humanitarian veteran support organisation with the motto of "people helping people".

The development of the clubs and bars evolved around mutual support groups recovering from trauma and wounds. They had a far more serious role than "cheap grog" watering holes to exchange war stories around. Many were reluctant to speak about or recall the horrors they had faced and needed the therapy of being among others who really understood.

The governance and profitability of the RSA Club businesses has always been critical to generating the funding necessary to fulfilling the role of welfare assistance to veterans, widows, families and community. To be financially sustainable in today's economy the business model has to be professionally and competently administered. The dedicated staff merit support, not brickbats.

On the other hand consider Mr Frances's enthusiastic support for the "sting" operations conducted by those charged with the preservation of good law and order to entrap the very charitable organisations of those who served in harm's way to uphold those same democratic principles. The modus operandi of relentlessly pursuing victimless legal licensing minutiae beggars belief.

To the majority of the community such deceptive underhand activities are seen to be a misapplication of scarce thinly spread law enforcement resources away from where they are urgently needed to protect against real threats to public safety.

There are no winners from such valueless transactions and the only losers and victims are those reliant on humanitarian assistance from our RSA business-generated welfare funding, and perhaps the negative naysayers like your correspondent.

"Honi Soit Qui Mal y Pense." ("Evil be to he who evil thinks")

-John Sturgess is a Captain RNZIR Retd and Neil Murphy is the Chief Executive Officer of the Hastings RSA

-Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion, and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz