A Sydney benefactor appears to have stopped the sale of assets from Port Kembla RSL Club, offering hope for the club.
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There were bizarre scenes at the club this week as removalists hired by the club's liquidators were called off at the last minute as they prepared to remove items including poker machines, refrigerators and alcohol.
The club closed in May this year, after administrators Hall Chadwick were appointed in the face of a $900,000 debt accumulated by the licensed club.
The RSL and community members rallied in an attempt to raise the funds needed to save the club, but it was placed in liquidation earlier this month.
A representative from Hall Chadwick arrived at the club on Tuesday morning with three Sydney-based removalists and two large trucks to remove items.
Port Kembla RSL sub-branch president Jim Lyon said on Tuesday that the club's war memorabilia would be retained.
"The war memorabilia is safe, that's not being taken," he said.
"They're taking all the other club assets."
However, later in the morning activity ceased as the doors were locked and the removalists left.
Mr Lyon said Hall Chadwick had received a "stop order" in relation to the removal of club assets, but it was unclear immediately what had happened.
"I think someone has made an offer to them," he said.
Retired Sydney businesswoman Eleanor Howard, who was also at the scene on Tuesday, indicated she had tabled an offer to bail out the RSL club.
"I organised to send the couriers away," she said.
She declined to elaborate on details of her involvement, but said she had provided "monetary consideration". "It was on my initiative and money that the club still has everything inside it," she said.
"I would be very disappointed if they sold off the assets."
Ms Howard would not confirm to what extent, and in what form, she was financially involved with developments at the RSL, but said she wanted to see the club revived and continue into the future.
She told the Mercury she had previously been involved with other RSL clubs.
"I want the [Port Kembla] RSL [club] to be a mentoring body for people who want assistance and advice," she said.
"There will be a new club open on those premises, an RSL club for the community."
Liquidator Blair Pleash of Hall Chadwick, declined to elaborate on Tuesday's events, and could not confirm any financial details around the club's current situation.
"It's part of a confidential sale negotiation, which is continuing," he said.
"The club's assets are remaining there at the moment, but that hasn't been settled and we are in negotiations with a number of people."
