Update: Monday 25 May 2020

After careful consideration of the NSW Government’s further easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the Merimbula RSL Club has chosen not to reopen on Monday June 1.

There is a lack of clarity around the rules for reopening and until we have a clearer understanding of what we can and can’t do, we feel the safest decision for our staff, members and guests is to wait. At the same time we will be rostering staff from Wednesday June 3 to come to work and help get our premises prepared for our opening, in anticipation of clearer guidelines being released in the next week.

Last week we said ‘we will be back’ but we feel like we can start adding the word ‘soon’… and we can’t wait!

Tuesday 19 May 2020

As you would be aware, from last Friday May 15 the NSW Government eased COVID-19 restrictions ever so slightly, which allowed pubs and clubs to open under certain conditions. While we welcome the easing of restrictions, and are super keen to welcome our members and guests once again, at this stage we will remain closed. We are in close contact with Clubs NSW about when it is safe to reopen. We will keep you updated via our Facebook page, website, the Merimbula News Weekly and 2EC local radio. We will be back, and we can’t wait!

4pm, Monday 6 April 2020

Dear Members and Guests

It is with a heavy heart that I regrettably advise the Merimbula RSL Club will close its doors from this Wednesday April 8, 2020 until further notice.

We did our best to remain open in some capacity over the past fortnight by providing a takeaway lunch and dinner menu from our dining room as well as keeping our bottle shop open. But for the safety of our staff, members and guests we have decided the best option for now is to close our doors.

Our bottle shop will be open on Tuesday April 7 from 12 noon – 8pm before closing. Our final takeaway dinner will be on Tuesday night April 7 from 5.30pm-7.30pm. We sincerely thank our staff and the customers who supported our takeaway service and bottle shop over the past two weeks.

It is a tough time for us all but we know we are part of a strong, resilient and robust community – we will get through this, together. We look forward to the day when we reopen and welcome you with open arms – it will be quite the celebration!

Please stay safe and look after your friends, family and those who are most vulnerable in our community.

With warmest regards

Michael Mutsch
Merimbula RSL Club
Secretary Manager

6.15pm, Monday March 23 2020

We’ll get through this

We are part of a strong, resilient and robust community and have faced many challenging situations together. This year has been our most challenging to date and our focus is on the health and wellbeing of our staff, members and guests.

In consultation with ClubsNSW we have made the following changes which come into effect on Wednesday March 25

  • Our bottle shop in Main Street will be open from 12 noon – 8pm daily
  • We have a revised takeaway menu on our website and on display in the club
  • You can order and collect takeaway in person, including takeaway cake from our Dining Room daily between 12 noon – 2pm & 5.30pm – 7.30pm
  • We are not able to serve coffee, tea or other Coffee Shop drinks at this time
  • We are unable to accept any cash – all transactions need to be via a card

We also ask that you follow the most current coronavirus (COVID-19) health advice and if you are unwell or have travelled overseas in the past 14 days we ask that you please don’t come into the club.

As this is an evolving and changing situation, please follow our Facebook page and check in regularly here on our website for updates

9am Monday 23 March 2020

Dear RSL Members and Guests,

Firstly we would like to commend everyone who has been coming to the club as the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation has evolved, and respecting our hygiene and social distancing rules. We would also like to commend our staff for the way they have stepped up to manage through these difficult times.

As you would have seen on the news yesterday, the Federal Government has ordered non-essential services to close. As such, we will be closing the Merimbula RSL Club at 12 noon (midday) today. We apologise for the short notice and the inconvenience this has caused, but it is in everyone’s best interests to respect the information from leading health professionals to do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus.

We are waiting on further direction from ClubNSW about what services the club will be able to provide. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for updates.

Wednesday 18 March 2020

Due to this morning’s announcement regarding the ban on indoor, non-essential gathering to 100 people, the Merimbula RSL Club has no choice but to cancel the Club’s member draws on Wednesday and Sunday as well as cancel the raffles on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The safety to Club staff, members and visitors are paramount, so we have also turned off a number of poker machines and reduced the seating capacity in the scenic lounge, main bar area and dining room.

As we are unable to maintain a ‘safe’ distance in the Courtesy Bus this service is also cancelled until further notice.

The Club is still waiting on advice from our main body ClubsNSW in regards to how this 100 person ban is defined, and further restrictions could to come into play with very little notice.

The Merimbula RSL apologies for any inconvenience caused and we will keep you updated as best we can on our Facebook page and website.

Tuesday 17 March, 2020
An important update for members, guests and visitors.
 
As a community-based organisation, we are taking advice on COVID–19 (Coronavirus) seriously, and as a result have implemented the following measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff, members, guests and visitors. Our primary concern will be to protect people, ensure our obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and maintain our duty of care to our staff, and to persons on, or seeking to visit our premises.
 
All persons who have returned from overseas from midnight Monday 16 March 2020, or been in contact with people who have returned from overseas travel are required by law to self-isolate for a period of 14 days and as a result will not be permitted to enter the Club premises.
 
All persons whose place of employment, education or socialisation that has been closed due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 are not to enter the Club.
 
All persons who experience or show signs of flu like symptoms are not to enter the Club. These symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness and shortness of breath.
 
Persons who are onsite and showing flu like symptoms will be asked to leave the premises.
We encourage all persons who are experiencing flu like symptoms to follow the advice of NSW Health. For more information on COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus.
 
We encourage all staff, members, guests and visitors to practise good hygiene at all times.
 
The Club has increased signage within the venue to inform staff, members, guests and visitors of good hygiene practices.
 
The Club’s staff will be discouraged from engaging in personal contact, such as the shaking of hands with fellow staff, members, guests and visitors. Please do not take this in any other way than as a preventative and control measure to help prevent the spread of viruses.
 
The Club is also instituting frequent sanitisation of “high touch areas” including bathrooms, door handles and buttons.
 
The Club will continue to monitor the advice of ClubsNSW and implement advice accordingly.
 
Events, Entertainment and Functions

The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve rapidly. Following advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on 13 March 2020 it is recommended that non-essential, organised gatherings be limited to fewer than 500 people.
 
This includes events such as concerts, sporting fixtures with large crowds, exhibitions and religious celebrations.
 
While all Australians are encouraged to exercise personal responsibility for social distancing, there are no current restrictions recommended on attending other settings, such as shopping centres, or using public transport.
 
For non-essential organised gatherings with fewer than 500 attendees, NSW Health recommends that organisers:
 
– remind attendees and staff not to attend if they are feeling unwell
– remind attendees and staff not to attend if they have travelled overseas in the past 14 days
– ensure emergency management practices are up to date
– brief staff on how to practise good hygiene and make it easy for staff and attendees to practise good hygiene
– have adequate hand washing facilities available
 
NSW Health also offers the following advice for attendees:
 
– stay home and do not attend if you are feeling unwell
– stay home and do not attend if you have travelled overseas in the past 14 days.
 
Should the advice from AHPPC change, the Club will update its policy accordingly.
 
While onsite at the Club, staff, members, guests and visitors are encouraged to practise good personal hygiene including:
 
– cleaning your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub
– cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow.
 
We encourage attendees of organised functions and events at the Club to liaise directly with those organisers, rather than the Club.
 
Persons who do not cooperate with our advice in relation to COVID-19 will be asked to leave our premises.
 
We ask for your complete cooperation and understanding as we continue our commitment to offering a quality-based community hub for all people of our community to enjoy.
 
If you have any questions, please seek to liaise with our Club’s management.
 
Further updates may apply.
 
Michael Mutsch
Merimbula RSL – Secretary Manager