ARARAT - After 12 years as Ararat RSL Sub Branch general manager Brian Cairns is leaving to take up the position of chief operations officer of the Victorian head office of the RSL.

Mr Cairns commenced his position as general manager of the Ararat RSL on March 13 1996. The then committee of the Ararat RSL were seeking the services of an experienced manager to manage the transition from the old Queen Street clubrooms to the new Sub Branch premises in High Street Ararat.

Ararat was fortunate to secure the services of Mr Cairns, given that he had previously been the general manager of the Rosebud RSL on the Mornington Peninsula for four years and was looking to move for a `tree change' with his wife Wendy and young children Stephanie and Tom.

Mr Cairns' previous employment history as a qualified municipal clerk made him a fairly unique applicant for any senior management position and it was Ararat's significant gain as a consequence.

"Brian tells us he arrived with a four year plan advising Wendy that if things did not work out then they could always return to the Mornington Peninsula,'' Ararat Sub Branch president Frank Neulist said.

"In fact when he first arrived people would say to him why would you leave the obvious attractions of the seaside to live in the bush? His initial four year plan has since turned into a 12 year commitment to the Ararat RSL and the people of Ararat and district.''

Mr Cairns' efforts have seen the Ararat RSL recognised as one of the premier RSL Sub Branches throughout the state, regularly winning major industry accolades including nine prestigious Tattersalls George Awards for business excellence.

Since taking over the reins in March 1996 Brian has overseen capital development of more than $3.5 million and has secured the future of the Ararat RSL Sub Branch together with its 40 local staff members.