RSA to sell off its treasures

Alan Bines, Rotorua RSA museum curator with some of the military plaques to be sold. Photo / Stephen Parker

Last calls are going out for the rightful owners of Rotorua RSA memorabilia before it goes up for sale.

The Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust bought about 3500 items that will be held at the Rotorua Museum, but another 500 or so will be sold by the Rotorua RSA. All funds raised will go to paying off the organisation's debts.

Rotorua RSA museum curator of 25 years Alan Bines said no date had yet been set for the sale, but it was hoped to be held in the near future.

Former Rotorua RSA president Tony Horton with some of the ship models that are up for sale. Photo / Stephen Parker

But before that happened, he wanted to be confident none of the items should be rehomed.

"We've tried to contact everyone we have got contact numbers for to give them the option of coming in before our sale day but it's very hard to track right back."

He said some of the items had been donated by people who had since died and the RSA wanted to check whether their family members wanted the items back.

"We won't let anything go regardless of their name until I've proof that they are the rightful owner. It has to be in writing and that covers us."

There will be military plaques, tankards and other odds and ends, including ash trays forged out of artillery shells in prisoner of war camps.

All the uniforms, which mostly date from World War II, are to be auctioned in Wellington, and all the RSA's military weaponry has gone to Auckland to be auctioned next month.

The Rotorua Trust bought items of significance to Rotorua, Mr Bines said. They will be kept at the museum until the RSA has a new home. The agreement is the club can lend items.

The club closed in July and it's taken most of that time to sort through the memorabilia.

Staff from the Waiouru Army Museum visited to help with the collection.

"It's sad for me," Mr Bines said. "I've put things up and taken things down. Now that it's final it's dug in deep, I was very proud of what I'd done."

-If you think you are the rightful owner of any items left at the Rotorua RSA please call (07) 348 1055.