Monday, 4 May 2020
LOCAL councils, RSL Sub Branches and community groups across the region are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to $10,000 from the State Government to restore and protect their war memorials.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said while public marches and services at local war memorials couldn’t occur on ANZAC Day this year due to COVID-19, the importance of paying respect to the sacrifice of service personnel had not been diminished.
“The government’s Community War Memorials Fund provides grants to help protect, conserve and repair war memorials across the State,” Mr Marshall said.
“A lot of people missed the special connection you get from attending your local war memorial with your community on ANZAC Day this year.
“That just reinforces the need to make sure these precious monuments are protected not just for this generation but for many more to come.
“Our war memorials give us a place to reflect and pay our respects to those brave soldiers who fought for the freedom we enjoy today.”
Mr Marshall said under the program, funding could be sought for specialist heritage advice or physical conservation work on halls, honour rolls, avenues of trees and stone monuments.
One of the previous local sites to benefit from the state-wide grants program was Inverell’s War Memorial Cenotaph.
“Previous grants were used by the Inverell RSL Sub Branch to restore the cenotaph, clean re-guild the honour roll names,” Mr Marshall said.
“A security camera was also purchased and installed to watch over the cenotaph and the honour boards on the wall of the war memorial pool refurbished too.”
Applications for funding are now open and close on Monday, 27 July 2020.
For more information and to apply, visit www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/heritage/community-war-memorials-fund/
MEDIA: Kris Wall 0447 432 392
Photo caption: Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall is encouraging local councils, RSL Sub Branches and community organisations to apply for the State Government’s Community War Memorials Fund.