THE Jamberoo RSL Hall is sporting a new charcoal uniform after a visit from the Tooheys New Crew and more than 100 volunteers before Sunday's Anzac march.
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Work began on Thursday with volunteers coming from as far north as Wollongong and as far south as Berry.
Tradesmen and volunteers were given set tasks - some focused on building the covered deck, mounting doors and building interior walls, while others painted, landscaped and did repairs.
Work continued on Friday and Saturday, connecting the sewerage system to the main - until now, the hall had relied on a septic tank.
Tooheys New project manager Paul Gillespie described the turnout as "unreal".
"The more that roll up, the more we do," he said.
Kiama-Jamberoo RSL sub-branch secretary Dennis Seage was happy with the community response to the project.
"It looks chaotic, but everyone knows what they're doing - it's amazing," he said.
Among the tradesmen was Mr Seage's son, Shane, who directed 12 tradesmen during the deck construction.
“It’s Dad’s baby, so I’m helping him do it,” he said.
“It’ll be good that people will be able to use it and that it’ll get the makeover it deserves.”
For Jamberoo carpenter Dennis Denwar, the project was close to home.
“I’ve had a bit to do with Jamberoo over the years - my grandfather and my great-grandfather were born here and I like to sit at the bar of the pub,” he said.
But for Peter Bell, giving something back to the RSL movement was worth the trip from Berry - he found out about the project through the Vietnam Veterans Association and busied himself hanging doors.
“They’ve helped me a lot, so I travelled up to get them going,” he said.
Personnel from the Australian Navy’s Hydrographical Service in Wollongong also lent a hand - some worked on the deck, while others landscaped.
Meanwhile Andrew McGee single-handedly installed the kitchen.
“I don’t mind helping, especially when it’s a great community project,” he said.
But when NRL legend Paul Harragon handed over the hall to the community on Sunday after the Anzac service, it was without the memorial arch in Reid Park.
Kiama Council chose last week to keep the arch in front of the Jamberoo School of Arts pending further talks with the community, concerned the marble tablets would not survive the move.
RSL president Ian Pullar was disappointed with the decision.
“It’s disappointing we couldn’t take advantage of the funding when we had it,” he said.
Mr Pullar said the arch was quoted at $12,000 to move and it would be difficult to raise the funds without the Tooheys New Crew.
“It took a lot of time to fundraise for a new roof (for the RSL Hall),” he said.
Mr Gillespie said a compromise was reached with the council by unveiling a sandstone rising sun sculpture mounted on a boulder beside the arch.
“This way we can put some tradition back and if the RSL decides to move them down the track, it can be moved,” he said.