Labelled as an “historic” move, Dandenong Cranbourne RSL has launched its African Champion Social Association ‘day club’.
President John Wells said the social group, open to anyone of African background, started with a chance encounter during an Anzac Day march.
He had overheard two women speaking about how they wished they could join the RSL.
To their surprise, Mr Wells told them that they can. “Anyone can,” he said.
“I asked them why they wanted to join.
“They said they wanted to get into the mainstream part of the Australian community.”
One of those women Muna Elamin launched the day club at the RSL on 30 January.
Also on hand were RSL state president Rob Webster, federal MP Julian Hill and Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti.
“It’s almost a historic step – and Dandenong is one of the places that it can happen.
“We’ve got some very strong African people who are not looking for special treatment, but just for inclusion.”
Though the RSL hosts and sponsors the day club, it would not interfere in shaping it, Mr Wells said.
“We want them to feel free to run their own show.”
The sub-branch’s Vietnamese and Whirlybird day clubs had offered help in getting the African Champions up and running.
Mr Wells hoped all three would eventually merge into one.
At the launch, Ms Elamin was presented with replica medals awarded to her father, who fought for the British Army in North Africa in World War II.
The original medals were lost in the process of her family becoming refugees, Mr Wells said.
Ms Elamin’s daughter Danya was also presented with a laptop donated by the RSL.
