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There are more than 200 000 clubs in all of Australia, of which 4000 are licensed. They employ over 70 000 Australians and have an annual turnover in excess of $60 billion. With those sorts of figures, you are bound to find something that will suit your requirements for a wake venue whether you are in search of cosy intimacy or a large scale function complemented by reliable service. If you are looking for a venue able to cater for five people or to accommodate five thousand people, clubs really are a great option. Clubs are community based by nature with patrons that have often been loyal members for years. As such, there is a welcoming ambience of comfort and familiarity, some regulars don’t even have to announce their order at the bar or bistro. As humans we need to be recognised, we like intimacy, familiarity, consistency and tradition. In particular, at the time of losing a loved one we are emotionally vulnerable and need these comforts more than ever.
The atmosphere, attention and service that clubs provide highlight them as the perfect place to host a wake. When you are looking for suitable club in which to hold your wake there are a number of factors you should take into account. Firstly, location location location! You need to consider if the club is conveniently situated in relation to the funeral service. Easy access from the cemetery or crematoria to the post- funeral event is essential. Another consideration that may not be obvious is the fact that an environment can determine the mood of a gathering. The comfortable, friendly atmosphere of Australian clubs will lift the spirits. Your wake will be a celebration of the deceased’s life rather than a mourning ritual. The RSL club is a place for the returned soldier to meet with others who have shared similar experiences. These days the functions of clubs as meeting places has diversified. The casual atmosphere of our clubs makes it very easy for people to meet, friends can socialise and strangers are able to comfortably mingle, drink and chat. The purpose of a wake is to celebrate a person’s life and enjoy the memory of their experiences. Celebratinggenerally means drinking and drinking typically leads to nibbling. Clubs specialise in catering. They provide a wide selection of food and the drinks are always flowing copiously. The RSL is fundamentally a welfare organisation. In their mission statement they promise “to ensure that programs are in place for the wellbeing, care, compensation and commemoration of serving and ex-service Defence Force members and their dependants.” So, if your loved one served with the Australian forces, a commemoration to their life and work would be no less than a wake held at the appropriate RSL club. The preservation of the organisation and its loyal members is upheld in the entry regulations. Admittance to an RSL club is restricted to club members and bona-fide travellers. Individual clubs, however, may offer reciprocal rights on presentation of membership identification for another RSL club, members of the RSL itself, and of the Australian Defence Force. Members’ guests are expected to comply with the procedures of the RSL and to be considerate of club etiquette (such as dress codes), in order to enjoy the many facilities and services. Clubs have a lot to offer and most are very welcoming to outside visitors. Despite their rules regarding signing in, dress codes and behaviour, the regulations are not oppressive and a “good time” and “attentive service” are promoted. Traditionally, an RSL is a place of reflection and commemoration, a place that encourages tribute to the deceased and acknowledgement of the achievements of fallen comrades. Most Australians are familiar with the chant that is synonymous with the RSL: "They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.” RSL’s are symbols of remembrance, they are a link to the past and also have a strong social aspect. People worry the future of the RSL is uncertain as its members get older, but hope lies with a younger generation and newer uses for this historical icon.
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