Job seekers pitch in on recovery

James Johnson and his job seeker colleagues celebrate their new tools and tool belts donated by Bunnings before starting work on the flood damaged Goodna RSL building.

A TEAM of job seekers has been called in to offer a hand as the long-awaited rebuild of the Goodna RSL gets underway.

The Woogaroo St services club was destroyed in the January 2011 floods, and members have been waiting for the past 13 months to see some progress.

Tradesmen of all descriptions joined a group of about two dozen long-term unemployed at the RSL on Monday.

Together they will transform what is now an empty shell into a new and improved RSL, over a period of about six months and at a cost of about $4.6 million.

Goodna RSL Services Club president David Christie said the most significant changes would be carried out in the main room, known as the Gallipoli Room.

"It will still be referred to as the Gallipoli Room, but it will be transformed into a total sports bar," Mr Christie said.

"It will be really great to see it finally open and to see all our members back here again.

"People will be reunited with friends they haven't seen in ages."

The new design also features function rooms, gaming facilities, dining rooms, a coffee lounge and an alfresco dining area.

Goodna-based councillor Paul Tully and Mayor Paul Pisasale joined representatives from Bunnings Warehouse to present the job seekers with leather tool belts to help encourage them to take up careers in the construction industry.

"The RSL was the centre of social life in the eastern suburbs of Ipswich, as well as providing financial support to many community organisations," Cr Tully said.

Ipswich City Council negotiated with the project manager to allow job seekers from the Green Army program to take part. Cr Pisasale said it represented a significant boost to the young and unemployed.

He thanked state and federal governments for providing funding for two positions within council to identify job initiatives that would help the long-term unemployed gain work experience, while also contributing to the flood rebuild.