As Australians pause to honour the sacrifices of our servicemen and women this ANZAC Day, the Mackay RSL Sub Branch is celebrating a new beginning of its own.
After years of searching, the organisation has found a permanent base at Illawong Beach, a site that promises to become much more than just a meeting place for veterans. It will be a community wellness hub; a space where healing, support and camaraderie go hand in hand.
RSL Mackay Sub Branch President Ken Higgins OAM says the new facility symbolises a shift in how we honour service, not just in remembrance, but in action.
“Finding a place like this means we can support our veterans in real, meaningful ways,” Mr Higgins said.
“This isn’t just a building. It’s a future.”
And as thousands prepare to gather for Mackay’s ANZAC Day services, including what’s shaping up to be the biggest march yet, the new Illawong site stands as a reminder of how we can serve those who served us.
The significance of ANZAC Day has never dulled with time.
It is a solemn reminder of sacrifice, of futures lost too soon, and of the quiet strength borne by those who returned. For RSL Mackay Sub Branch President Ken Higgins OAM, a Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat, the day carries a profound weight — and a duty.
“We lost 60,000 in World War I, 40,000 in World War II,” he said. “But there’s another 60,000 who died after the war — from suicide, illness, and mustard gas complications. Those are sacrifices, too.”
Mr Higgins, who has been involved in the RSL for more than 50 years, believes the organisation’s longevity depends on evolving with the times while holding true to its roots.
That’s where Illawong comes in.
After six months of quietly settling in, the RSL has officially leased the former beach volleyball and mini-golf complex, now owned by Mackay Regional Council. The vision is ambitious but deeply considered — a community-centred wellness facility that supports veterans, first responders, their families, and the broader public.
“This is not just a veteran's space,” Mr Higgins said.
“It’s for anyone who wants to look after their physical and mental wellbeing. It’s about connection. It’s about community.”
The site’s existing facilities – including a mini golf course and pool – are already being used, and a three-stage master plan is in development in collaboration with council and an architect. Future plans include a gym and treatment rooms for allied health professionals, with Mr Higgins hopeful it will become a hub for services like exercise physiology, hydrotherapy, and rehabilitation.
Importantly, accessibility is at the heart of the design.
“We want this place to be welcoming for our challenged and disabled members too. Minimal stairs, good access, a warm environment.
"Everyone should feel like they belong,” he said.
Already, working bees have seen RSL members and volunteers rally together to breathe life into the facility. Their efforts reflect the shared spirit that defines the RSL – one of service, resilience, and quiet determination.
A significant hand-up to the project has come from a pledge from the LNP, if elected, in the form of $5 million to help with the construction of the hub.
“The new Hub will provide a critically important space for veterans’ services and advocacy to co-exist and deliver integrated support to current and ex-service personnel and their families,” Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said.
“These veterans fought to give us a better world to live in and the LNP wants to go above and beyond to support as many veterans and their families as possible.
“The LNP is pleased to commit the $5 million Hub in Mackay which is the least we can do to support Veterans and their families into the future.”
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Barnaby Joyce, visited Mackay and said that the new Hub in Mackay will provide a service in-situ for those in the region and surrounds.
“So often help is lost because of the extra requirements for veterans possibly dealing with issues for which they deserve support, can’t access the help to make life a little easier,” Mr Joyce said.
While there are dreams of turning the site into a premium event space down the line, he says the RSL is in no rush.
“If we’re going to do something, we’ll do it properly,” he said.
“We’d like to employ a facility manager eventually, but for now, it’s our volunteers keeping things moving.”
One of those volunteers is Vice President Mark Preston – a younger veteran who Mr Higgins describes as “exactly the kind of person we need.”
“The future of the RSL depends on younger veterans coming on board,” he said.
“But also on the families, the friends, the civilians who care. Numbers keep us going.
"We want to be here in another hundred years.”
That inclusive approach has already struck a chord in the community. This year’s ANZAC Day muster is expected to be the biggest in Mackay’s history, with more than 7,000 people set to march.
“It gives me hope,” Mr Higgins said.
“To see thousands of school kids understanding what ANZAC Day is about – that’s how the legacy lives on. Our soldiers’ stories will be carried in the hearts and minds of our children and grandchildren.”
One RSL member recalled how his own father was the sole survivor of four brothers. Two died in the war. One died after returning home, poisoned by gas. He came back, but he was never the same.
Their stories, often untold, echo in every ANZAC ceremony, every salute, every moment of silence.
The RSL invites the community to join them in honouring that legacy at a dawn service, the civic ceremony, or a game of 2-up at Harrup Park, a tradition that, much like the RSL itself, remains respectfully timeless.
Veterans Steve Haidle, John Whitelaw, Col Walz, RSL Mackay Sub Branch President Ken Higgins OAM, and Russell King gather at the new Illawong Beach facility, a place set to support and serve those who once served us. Photo credit: Amanda Wright
RSL Mackay sub-Branch President Ken Higgins, Vice President Mark Preston, Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox MP, and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP pictured during the announcement of a $5 million commitment towards a new Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Mackay. Photo supplied
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
