Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA069
Monday, 17 August 2009
SANDAKAN PRISONERS OF WAR REMEMBERED AT NEW CENTRE
Visitors to Sabah, Malaysia, can now learn more about one of the worst atrocities experienced
by Australian servicemen during the Second World War with the new Australian Memorial Hall
opening today at the Kundasang Memorial Gardens.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Alan Griffin said more than 2400 Australian and British soldiers
died at the Sandakan prisoner of war camp and on the ‘death marches’ from Sandakan to
Ranau in 1945.
“The Australian Government provided around $155,000 for the construction of the Australian
Memorial Hall at the Kundasang Memorial Gardens to house an audiovisual display as well as
memorabilia and historical material,” Mr Griffin said. Additional funding was provided to assist
with security at the site.
“Although not an official Australian Government memorial, the Kundasang Memorial Gardens
honour our prisoners of war and the local people killed trying to assist them.”
Officially opened by Her Excellency Penny Williams, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia,
the new gallery and audio-visual centre will add to visitors’ understanding of the terrible events
in the region during the Second World War and honour the sacrifice of Australian prisoners of
war at Sandakan.
“The Kundasang Memorial Gardens are regularly visited by locals and tourists including many
Australians. Australia and Sabah have a strong relationship and the new hall will give visitors
an increased understanding of our shared history,” Mr Griffin said.
The funding is provided by the Australian Government’s Overseas Privately-Constructed
Memorial Restoration Program, administered by the Office of Australian War Graves.
The Program provides funding to restore existing memorials outside Australian territory which
directly commemorate Australia’s military involvement in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping
operations and recognise the contribution of Australian servicemen and women.
For more information on the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program
contact the Office of Australian War Graves or visit
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
NEWS 
