End of an era

FOR 12 years, Cooroy’s Greg Holmes has been the membership officer at the Cooroy-Pomona RSL Sub Branch.

And while he has stepped down from this position, he hasn’t stepped back by any means. Greg said he still has roles at the sub branch that keep him busy.

“I am still one of the committee and I’m on the Garden of Remembrance at the Cooroy Cemetery; I am in charge of the roses.

“I am also assisting the new membership officer with the takeover, which will take a couple of months and then I will be on hand to help him when needed.”

Greg first started as the membership officer in 2011 after joining the RLS Sub Branch some six years earlier.

“I am a national serviceman. I was at Longreach in 1956 when I got the letter to report for national service. I did, and then I did three years with the CMF with the Queensland University regiment and 10 years on the reserve.

“I didn’t go overseas, so when I moved to Cooroy in 1994 and met Arthur Morris who had been a prisoner of war with the Japanese and had worked the Burma railway, and he asked me to join the sub branch, I didn’t feel I was worthy.

“When the conversation came up again with another sub branch member, he asked if I’d ever had family involved in wars and I’ve had 14; two of them didn’t make it back and the others were never the same again.

“He said to join the sub branch as a payback to them. So I did.”

Greg said, as the membership officer, his objective was to look after members, as well as increase and retain membership – something he has done and is incredibly proud of.

“Looking after members is the most important thing. That’s why every Wednesday from 1 pm to 6 pm we are there for members to come in and say hello and have a chat. We now have record numbers and nearly every member renews their membership.”

Greg also started meet-amember, an initiative to bring sub branch members together and a special session for veterans of more recent conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

“We have a day for everyone except those who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor and peacekeeping because that’s where all our PTSD is coming from.

“So with the help of retired Major General John Cantwell, last year we organised a special afternoon tea event for these younger members.”

Greg said he largely attributes his achievements to five Cooroy RSL staff members: Helen, Leanne, Shaleisa, Shanae and Shay.

“They are worth their weight in gold. Without them, I would not have been anywhere near as successful as I was.”

Majestic location for milestone

RON West has celebrated his 90th birthday.

A legend at the Majestic Theatre Pomona, the former owner and long-time organist celebrated the milestone with over 60 family and friends at the only fitting place – the theatre.

Ron said it was a terrific day. It was really great to have all my family together. It was very fitting to have it at the Majestic.”

Ron has been with the theatre since 1973. After he had owned it for 33 years, the theatre was sold to Pomona Arts Inc., a not-forprofit community group of volunteers.

Many of the volunteers involved in running the theatre were at the celebration.

Also at the event was the Noosa Jazz Club, which has found a home at the Majestic, and four of its musicians played traditional jazz numbers while Pomona Village Kitchen supplied finger food. The Majestic Theatre celebrated its centenary in 2021. It is the world’s oldest continuously running picture theatre, still showing silent films every Saturday at noon with Ron accompanying them on the Majestic’s vintage ‘37 Compton theatre organ.

Happy birthday, Ron.