Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA009
Saturday, 28 February 2009
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL DIRECTOR REAPPOINTED
Major General Steve Gower AO AO (Mil) (Retd) has been reappointed Director of the Australian
War Memorial for a further two years, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin announced
today.
The appointment follows the strong endorsement of the Council of the Australian War Memorial,
chaired by General Peter Cosgrove AC MC (Retd). The Council is an independent body that
sets the overall direction of the Memorial and oversees its conduct and operations. The
Director reports to the Council.
“Steve Gower has been Director of the Memorial since 1996 and has accomplished much in this
time,” Mr Griffin said.
“During his tenure the Memorial has attracted around 800,000 annual visitors, the Anzac Hall
and CEW Bean Buildings were constructed; the Memorial was inducted into the Tourism Hall of
Fame; and most recently, the new Conflicts 1945 to Today gallery opened.
“The level of corporate support has also grown since he became Director. The Memorial’s
corporate benefactors include Mr Kerry Stokes AC, Boeing, the Vincent Fairfax Family
Foundation, the Australian Submarine Corporation, BAE Systems, QANTAS and Thales. This
support has assisted the Memorial to improve its galleries, as illustrated by the impressive
Iroquois helicopter dust-off re-enactment sponsored by Dick and Pip Smith.”
Steve Gower has made a significant contribution in both the museum and tourism sectors
locally and internationally and was honoured for this contribution at the 2005 ACT Tourism
Awards.
“I congratulate MAJGEN Gower on his achievements to date and look forward to seeing the
Memorial benefit from his continued good work,” Mr Griffin said.
As a former career soldier, Steve Gower served in South Vietnam during 1966-67 and held
senior positions in Defence Personnel, Logistics and Public Information. He sat on the Museum
Management Board of the International Council of Museum Directors, and is a former Chair of
the Council of Australasian Museum Directors.
Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 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.
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