Dear Members,
This past year has seen a record trading year for Bexley RSL and Community Club. We returned to the members an after-tax profit of $1,397,000, significantly up on the $200,949 profit in 2021. This past year was our first full trading year since 2019, with no forced shutdowns due to the pandemic.

Throughout the year the Board continued to make improvements to your Club. The most significant was the purchase of a local property on Stoney Creek Rd, aimed at ensuring we do not become landlocked or surrounded by high rise apartments. You may have noticed our auditorium has now been fully refurbished into what we now call our Sports & Entertainment Lounge. This includes a 5 metre HD screen and an amazing sound system with several large TV’s showing sports and events. A mixture of new furniture was also added to the main lounge offering members a more comfortable and relaxed seating arrangement. Our new roof has certainly been tested recently with the tremendous downpour experienced in early February, which saw the suburb of Bexley reported on the Queensland news. Although the club carpark flooded with the torrents of water from Stoney Creek Rd, the new roof did us proud, with only minor leakage.

The Board has negotiated a new and extended lease with the Bexley RSL Sub Branch committee, based on 4 x 5-year lease terms (20 years), providing business certainty which allows for future capital investment that benefits the members and wider community, right though until 2043. The new lease sits with RSL NSW for final approval. Please also be reminded that this is a Board Election year for the period 2023 to 2025. Election details will be available in early April, which will be provided with the members AGM notification. The final election results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on the 7th of May. Members will also be asked to approve amendments to our constitution, which will see it bought it line with recent changes to the Corporation’s Act, Registered Clubs Act and at the same time provides an opportunity to make other necessary changes.

I would like to thank the Bexley RSL Sub Branch for their continued support. To my fellow Board Members, I thank you for your efforts and support during the past year, you have all contributed significantly to the Clubs achievements. This current Board all have diverse backgrounds; however, we have made the club’s position financially stronger, and the future has never looked brighter.

On behalf of our Vice President Brian Beatty, I would like to thank our General Manager Christian Vukelic, Operations Manager, Paul Cheeseman, their Management Team, and fellow workmates for doing an amazing job throughout the year.

Finally, on behalf of my fellow Board members, I would like to thank you our loyal members, your continued support is truly appreciated. We are grateful for the trust you put in us to deliver a friendly, welcoming, and safe environment for all to enjoy and look forward to seeing you at the Club in the future.

Les Crompton
President