Kokoda Hall

23/04/2025

🌺 ANZAC Day – This Friday 🌺

The Cairns RSL Sub Branch has been working around the clock in preparation for ANZAC Day — a day to honour the service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, past and present.

🕯️ Dawn Service
Join us at the Cenotaph on the Cairns Esplanade this Friday at 5:30am for the Dawn Service.

🎖️ Veterans March-In
Veterans wishing to march into the Dawn Service and be seated in the dedicated Veterans' area are invited to gather outside the Aquarius Apartment building (to the right of the RSL Club) at 5:15am for a 5:20am step-off.

🌸 Wreath Laying
If you would like to lay a wreath during the service, please contact our office on 4249 3030 to register.
Wreaths are also available for purchase from the Cairns RSL Sub Branch Office.

Let’s come together as a community to remember and reflect.
Lest We Forget.

14/04/2025

🎟️ ANZAC Day Raffle – Get Your Tickets! 🏌️‍♂️⛳️

Don’t forget to grab your raffle tickets—there are 25 amazing prizes up for grabs, and you don’t want to miss out! From golf gear to local goodies, there’s something for everyone. 🙌

Massive thanks to Half Moon Bay Golf Club, Cairns Local Businesses, and the awesome George for making this raffle possible. 💙

All funds raised go towards supporting our Defence families. ❤️

👉 Get your tickets here:
$20 for 5 tickets - https://crslsb.org.au/shop/anzac-raffle-5-for-20/
Single ticket $5 - https://crslsb.org.au/shop/anzac-raffle/

📅 Winners will be drawn at the ANZAC Day Golf Tournament on Sunday, 27 April.

Good luck, and thanks for your support! 🎟️👏🏆

26/02/2025

Cairns Military History - Redlynch in WW2

Did You Know? Cairns' Role in WWII Healthcare & Troop Staging

During WWII, thousands of Australian and US troops trained near Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands, creating a need for more hospital beds. Enter Jungara US Army Station Hospital, built at Redlynch in 1943 with 750 beds and over 140 prefabricated buildings. By March 1944, it was taken over by the 116th Australian General Hospital, which became a leading centre for malaria research—critical for soldiers battling the disease in the Pacific.

Nearby, the Redlynch Staging Camp saw thousands of troops pass through on their way to New Guinea, Borneo, and beyond. It served as a final stop for resupply and even had a cinema to keep morale high.

Cairns played a vital role in the war effort—both in treating the wounded and preparing soldiers for battle. 🎖️ If you would like to read more about Redlynch during World War Two please click on the link - https://crslsb.org.au/redlynch-in-ww2/

09/02/2025

Cairns Military History

The Other Gun

Following on from our last Cairns Military History story, let’s take a look at The Other Gun—a familiar sight to many.

To the north (left) of the Cenotaph, when viewed from the Cairns RSL front door, stands a British 25-pounder artillery gun/howitzer, painted in jungle green.

This iconic weapon was the Allies’ most widely used artillery piece during World War II and remained in service across Commonwealth nations until the 1960s, when it was replaced by the U.S.-made 105 mm Howitzer.

Initially, the 25-pounders were modified WWI-era 18-pounder guns before being manufactured to new specifications. They were produced by the Ordnance Group in Great Britain and distributed to Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa as a primary artillery piece of the time.

🔹 Calibre: 87.6 mm (3.45 inches)
🔹 Range: Up to 12.25 km
🔹 Am******on: High explosive, armour-piercing, smoke, illumination, and shot rounds
🔹 Weight: 1,800 kg
🔹 Length: 2.4 m | Width: 1.79 m
🔹 Mobility: Towable on two pneumatic tyres

This particular 25-pounder was presented to the Cairns RSL Sub Branch on 6 April 1974 by the Commonwealth of Australia. It came from the 5/11th Field Regiment and is believed to have been the Alpha (No. 1) gun of one of the regiment’s three batteries.

The plaque at its base was added in March 2007, presented by Councillor Kevin Byrne, Mayor of Cairns.

📍 Next time you visit the RSL, take a moment to appreciate this incredible piece of military history!

22/01/2025

Cairns Military History

🚢 Have you noticed the naval gun near the Cenotaph?

If you stand at the front door of the Cairns RSL and look across the street, you'll spot a large, dark, rusty-coloured naval gun to the right (south) of the Cenotaph, proudly mounted on a concrete platform and aimed seawards.

This is the 5-Inch Vavasseur Coastal Defence Gun, an incredible piece of history that dates back to May 1889! It was sent to Cairns by the Queensland Colonial Government to arm the Cairns Naval Brigade in preparation for a feared Russian invasion.

🔹 Fun Facts About the Gun:

- It’s a breech-loading weapon, made in England in 1887 by the Royal Carriage Factory.
- With a calibre of 5 inches (125mm) and weighing 3 tonnes, it could fire up to 5 miles (8km)!
- Originally mounted near the old Courthouse on the Esplanade, it was used by the Cairns Naval Brigade for drills.
- A firing mishap in 1898 damaged the barrel, requiring a replacement.
- In 1889, a spirited rivalry between the Cairns Naval Brigade and the Cairns Artillery Volunteer Corps ended in “many injuries” during an exercise—one poor bloke nearly lost an ear!

By 1911, the Cairns Naval Brigade was absorbed into the Australian Navy, and the gun eventually fell into storage. Thanks to the Cairns RSL Sub Branch, it was refurbished and placed in its current position by the Cenotaph, standing as a symbol of Cairns' maritime heritage.

💡 Next time you visit the Cairns RSL, take a moment to admire this historic piece and its remarkable story.

📜 Fun fact: The plaque next to the gun was presented to the Cairns RSL Sub Branch by Councillor Kevin Byrne, Mayor of Cairns, in March 2007.

Have you stopped to check it out yet? Let us know! 👇

20/12/2024

🎄𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿! 🎄

The Cairns RSL Sub Branch and Kokoda Hall Museum will be closed from 3:30pm, Friday, 20 December, and will reopen on Monday, 6 January 2025, as our staff and volunteers take a well-deserved break during this festive season.

We would like to extend our warmest wishes to our members, their families, and the entire Cairns veterans community for a joyful Christmas and a happy New Year.

We also acknowledge that Christmas can be a challenging time for some. If you need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to RSL Queensland on 134 775 or Open Arms on 1800 011 046.

Thank you for your incredible support throughout 2024. We can’t wait to see you all again in 2025! 🎉

16/12/2024

🎄 A Christmas Treasure from the Frontlines 🎄

Did you know the Kokoda Hall Museum at the Cairns RSL Sub Branch holds some fascinating Christmas artifacts? Among them is the story of the iconic Princess Mary Christmas Gift Tin, a cherished keepsake from the First World War!

Christmas 1914 was unlike any other. With the war raging, Princess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of King George V, wanted to bring a touch of Christmas cheer to "every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front."

Her idea? A beautifully designed brass gift tin filled with treats like to***co, chocolate, spices, or pencils, depending on the recipient. Nurses received chocolate, Sikhs were gifted sugar candy and spices, and non-smokers got confectionery instead of to***co.

Thanks to her public appeal, over £162,000 was raised (around £18 million today!). These tins became beloved by the troops, often kept long after the contents were gone, used to store photographs, papers, or small mementos from home. Some were even sent back to families as a reminder of love and resilience during difficult times.

🎁 The Kokoda Hall Museum proudly showcases such treasures that remind us of the enduring spirit of Christmas, even in the darkest times. Come explore the stories behind these artifacts and more!

✨ Fun Fact: Some of these tins are still found in private collections today, a testament to their special place in history.

🌟 Visit the Museum and take a step back in time this holiday season!

08/07/2024

🎬 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗦𝗟 𝗦𝘂𝗯 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵 '𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 - 𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗻𝗮𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗿'

It is with great honour that we invite the Cairns Community to the launch of the Cairns RSL Sub Branch's 'Vietnam Veteran Documentary - 50th Anniversary of the End of Australia's Involvement in the Vietnam War.'
This documentary is the result of twelve months of hard work and dedication. It tells the compelling stories of fourteen Vietnam Veterans and their families who reside in Far North Queensland. We are excited to share their experiences and contributions with you.
Event Details:
📅 Date: Friday, 9 August 2024
📍 Venue: CPAC Theatre, Cairns
⏰ Time: 6.30pm
🎟️ Cost: FREE for all attendees

Please join us for this special event. Secure your FREE tickets by clicking on the link below or call our office at 4249 3030. RSVP by 6 August.
🔗 Get Your Free Tickets Here https://crslsb.org.au/.../cairns-rsl-sub-branch-vietnam.../

We look forward to seeing you all at the documentary launch!

21/03/2024

𝗔𝗡𝗭𝗔𝗖 𝗗𝗔𝗬 - 𝗥𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗲

The Cairns RSL Sub Branch is holding a Raffle to raise money to assist the Stratford Bowls Club so they can hold their annual ANZAC Day event on Anzac Day for current serving Defence Force members, Veterans, and the Cairns Community.

Stratford Bowls Club suffered substantial damage and has not been able to re-open their Greens since Cyclone Jasper and the flooding.

All proceeds will be donated to the Stratford Bowls Club - Please click on the link to purchase raffle tickets - https://crslsb.org.au/shop/anzac-day-raffle-3-for-10/

Raffle drawn on Sunday, 21 April 2024.

Your support and contribution is very much appreciated.
Stratford Bowls club

20/03/2024

𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

𝗛𝗠𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝟱𝟬 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀

HMAS Cairns recently marked its 50th birthday. The celebrations were attended by the Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith AM, CSM.

The Royal Australian Navy has been a regular visitor to the port of Cairns for many decades stretching well back before World War II. Many ships, both military and merchant, made Cairns their principal port of call when traveling up the east coast of Australia during World War II for resupply and refit before heading to New Guinea, Java, the Solomon Islands, and many other destinations throughout the Pacific.

To read more on the history of HMAS Cairns please click on the link -

HMAS Cairns marks 50 years HMAS Cairns recently marked its 50th birthday. The celebrations were attended by the Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith AM, CSM. History HMAS Cairns is named […]