Fast-forward 80 years, and the Digger’s Club is celebrating their anniversary on Saturday June 23 as the second oldest Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League (RSL) building in NSW.

New blood and experienced hands in the Club’s board look forward to having many years of community service ahead.

Emily McKinnon is one of the youngest directors of the club with her partner Matt Storrier, and says being a part of the board of directors at this landmark anniversary is “extremely rewarding.”

“It’s really special to be here and be a part of the 80th celebrations,” Ms McKinnon said.

One the other end of the scale, Irene Brown has been on the board “for too many years” and has seen the Club through many fundraisers and community events.

“I love working here and I think the community needs this place, because where does everyone go? They come here,” Mrs Brown said.

“It’s the place keeping the Yenda community together.”

In 1921 the RSL raised funds to the amount of £400 to purchase a building, and saw the completion in at the end of 1927.

At the end of 1927, they had built a small room with a fireplace and chimney.

Finally a meeting place for various small associations and for two years it formed an additional class room for the public school.

After a few years, a veranda was built around the building by voluntary labours, giving more room for meetings and entertainment.

It became, and still is to this day, a meeting place for various associations.

In June 1938 when the “Diggers Club” was formed, further alterations and additions were made, including a locker system to hold liquor.

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Police raids saw the liquor confiscated, but after six months of legal battles the liquor was returned.

During the war, the “Diggers Club” was the headquarters of the local unit of the Volunteer Defence Corps.

Head down to the Club from 6.00pm on Saturday June 23 to celebrate.