Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA064d
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
$92,000 FOR PROJECTS TO HONOUR AUSTRALIA’S VETERANS IN VIC
Thirty-four local organisations across Victoria received a financial boost today with the
announcement of $91,920 in funding approved by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin,
for projects honouring Australia’s wartime heritage.
Mr Griffin said the funding is part of the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service
Commemorative grants program to help communities across the nation honour and
commemorate our wartime history.
“The grants will fund local activities and initiatives that recognise the service and sacrifice of the
men and women who have served Australia in wars, conflicts and peace operations,” Mr Griffin
said.
“Today, the Government is announcing funding for a range of projects including restoring four
war memorials devastated by the recent Victorian bushfires, displaying wartime memorabilia,
upgrading community war memorials, purchasing association banners and holding
commemorative events.
“In particular, helping regional and rural communities across Australia maintain their places of
remembrance is an important function of this grants program as these memorials play a central
role in honouring local sons and daughters who have served the nation.
“Commemorative activities in local communities play a major role in encouraging Australians –
especially younger Australians – to learn about our wartime experiences and provide an
opportunity for veterans to share their stories.”
Mr Griffin said today’s funding is part of $379,000 to support 152 projects nationally.
“Australia has a proud wartime history that has been part of the lives of so many Australian
families. The Government remains committed to honouring those who have served and
continue to serve, ensuring their legacy is remembered for generations to come.”
Mr Griffin encouraged local community and ex-service organisations interested in applying for
funding to visit www.dva.gov.au or contact their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (for metropolitan
callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).
Editors note: A list of grant recipients from Victoria is attached.
Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046.
To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
Saluting Their Service grants Victoria Recipients
Healesville RSL Sub-branch will receive $1500 to help restore four war memorials damaged
in the recent Victorian bushfires in the towns of Eildon, Yea, Kinglake and Marysville.
Mount Clear College will receive $3000 to help produce two large photographic montages
commemorating the service and sacrifice of local servicemen and women to be installed in
the college.
The Box Hill Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association of Australia will receive two
grants: $1950 to help hold a reunion dinner in August for members and guests to
commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba; and $1050 to help cover the
cost of a reunion dinner in March for members and guests to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the Battle of Hat Dich.
The Sunshine RSL Sub-branch on behalf of the Commemoration Park Memorial Committee
Community Group will receive $4000 to help restore and replace Second World War plaques
from the Yarraville Avenue of Honour and relocate them to the Battle for Australia War
Memorial in Spotswood.
The Springvale Remembrance and Community Vegetable Garden Committee will receive
$3938 to help install a memorial in the new Remembrance Garden at the Springvale
Veterans’ Support Centre dedicated to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force
who fought to defend Australia. The garden will offer visitors a place of reflection on days of
commemoration.
The Springvale Veterans’ Support Centre will receive $935 to help install a flagpole to fly the
Australian Flag on days of commemoration.
The 4/19 Prince of Wales’ Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room will receive $2853 to
help develop a display depicting the Regiment’s service in Vietnam.
The 2/4th Field Regiment Association will receive $400 to help install a plaque in the
Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial dedicated to the Regiment.
The 2/1 Australian Machine Gun Battalion Association will receive $1215 to help install a
plaque dedicated to the Battalion in the Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial.
Footscray City College will receive $3000 to help Year 9 students write and produce a book
featuring the stories of peacekeeper veterans.
The Williamstown Historical Society will receive $4000 to help restore the deteriorated
Trafalgar Lodge First World War Honour Roll located at the Williamstown Mechanics
Institute.
The Royal Australian Navy Corvettes Association of Victoria will receive $1325 to help
purchase a plaque dedicated to the Royal Australian Navy Corvettes and hold a service at
the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance for 50 guests.
The Dandenong High School Ex-Students Association will receive $3000 to help install a
stained glass window and bronze plaque at the School to commemorate the connection
between the 4th Light Horse Regiment and the School.
Kyneton RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help refurbish the Kyneton RSL Honour
Board listing the names of 181 locals who served in the First World War.
The North West Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association of Australia will receive
$1250 to help hold a commemorative service in August to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.
The Shrine of Remembrance will receive $3000 to help hold a Remembrance Day Poster
Competition in Victoria in 2009 to encourage primary school students to learn about the
significance of Remembrance Day and the First World War. The winning poster will go on
display at the Shrine.
The Victorian and Tasmanian Division of the Far East Strategic Reserve Navy Association
will receive two grants: $1510 to help install a memorial in Echuca commemorating the Far
East Strategic Reserve. It is the first memorial of its kind in regional Victoria; and $1350 to
help with the costs of a dinner held in May following the unveiling of the memorial.
The Lions Club of Lindenow will receive $3500 to help install lights and seating at the
Lindenow War Memorial and landscape surrounding grounds to improve safety and usability
for visiting veterans.
Violet Town RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help refurbish the Violet Town RSL War
Memorial including replacing a plinth and thorough cleaning.
The City of Boroondara will receive $4000 to help restore the Beckett Park War Memorial in
Balwyn including removing overgrown foliage and thorough cleaning.
Rupanyup RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help install a 4th Light Horse Regiment
Memorial in Memorial Park, Rupanyup, dedicated to several former local members of the
Regiment that captured Beersheba.
The Returned and Services Nurses’ Club of Victoria Sub-branch of the RSL will receive
$3000 to help exhibit a commemorative display at the Australian Light Horse Memorial Park
in Seymour depicting the role and sacrifice of Australian Army Nurses. The exhibition will be
on permanent display from August 2009.
Kongwak Community Group will receive $4000 to help replace missing and dying trees in
the Kongwak Avenue of Honour, install a plaque at the Kongwak War Memorial listing the
names of seven servicemen from the district who lost their lives on active duty and replace a
tree beside the memorial.
Leongatha RSL Sub-branch will receive $2972 to help purchase a large display case to
preserve and display wartime memorabilia donated to the Sub-branch including uniforms,
medals, documents, utensils and books.
Redbank Reserves Committee will receive $1012 to help install a plaque on the new war
memorial at Anzac Park, Redbank, dedicated to fifteen locals who served in the First World
War.
Newham Primary School will receive $3729 to help restore the School’s Honour Roll
displaying the names of 36 former students who fought in the First World War.
Warragul RSL Sub-branch will receive $3255 to help purchase and erect an internal halyard
flagpole at the new Sub-branch premises.
The Greater Shepparton City Council will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial next to
the clock tower in Tatura dedicated to the men and women who served Australia in times of
war and conflict. This will be Tatura’s first memorial.
Sorrento-Portsea RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help attach two plaques to the brick
wall adjacent to the Sub-branch premises commemorating locals who served in both World
Wars.
The 107 Field Battery Association will receive two grants: $3000 to help publish a unit
history of the 107 Field Battery Malaya and South Vietnam; and $2250 to help hold a hold a
dinner for members and guests in April 2010 to commemorate the 40th anniversary since the
deployment of 107 Field Battery Royal Australian Artillery to South Vietnam.
Friends of Same will receive $2926 to help hold a photographic exhibition Debt of Honour at
Melbourne’s Fortyfivedownstairs Art Gallery depicting Australian service in Portuguese
Timor in the Second World War.
NEWS 
