NSW VETERAN COMMUNITY RECEIVES $149,000 BOOST IN FUNDING  

Veteran communities from across New South Wales will share in $149,051 to help honour our nation’s past and present servicemen and women Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bruce Billson, announced today.

Mr Billson said the funding is part of the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service commemorations program, and helps bring our wartime history to life. 

"Saluting Their Service provides an important source of funding to community and ex-service organisations committed to recognising the service and sacrifice of our servicemen and women – past and present – and preserving Australia’s wartime heritage for future generations," Mr Billson said.

"Saluting Their Service encourages community understanding and participation by, for example, raising awareness of significant wartime anniversaries, supporting commemorative events, providing education resources for schools and preserving wartime memorabilia.  Many of these initiatives recall the major battles on the Western Front where we lost many thousands of lives 90 years ago.

"The Australian Government remains committed to supporting community projects that acknowledge those who have served, and continue to serve, our nation in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

"Since the program began ex-service and community organisations across Australia have benefited from Saluting Their Service funding" he said.

"As a nation, we remain indebted to the dedicated Australians who put their lives on the line in the service of Australia.  The Australian Government is committed to honouring them and their place in history—they will not be forgotten," Mr Billson said.

For more information about the Saluting Their Service commemorations program, go to www.dva.gov.au or call 1800 026 185.

Media inquiries: Cameron Hill  0408 239 521

Editors note: A list of grant recipients is attached

Saluting Their Service Grant New South Wales Recipients

• The HMAS Pirie Association will receive a grant of $500 to help hold a final reunion in Victoria during October for members of the Association.

• The 9th Australian Division Council will receive a grant of $750 to help hold a reunion in October to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein.

• The Bundanoon RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $4000 to help construct a war memorial in Bundanoon.

• Dungog Historical Society will receive a grant of $700 to help preserve and copy a World War I diary which was kept by two local brothers who enlisted in Dungog and were killed in action.

• Artillery Surveyors ’67 will receive a grant of $2025 to help develop a website for a unit history and historical resource of the Artillery Surveyors of 131 Divisional Locating Battery.

• The Cowra Breakout Association will receive a grant of $4000 to help install a new Observation Tower War Memorial at the Cowra prisoner of war camp dedicated to the guards from the 22nd Garrison.

• The U Australian Heavy Battery Association will receive a grant of $600 for the Association’s 60th and final reunion held in Sydney in April 2007.

• The 23 Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery Association will receive a grant of $1344 to help install two plaques at the Kogarah Multi User Depot dedicated to members of 18 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment and 23 Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery.

• The Royal Australian Engineers Sergeants Mess will receive a grant of $2150 for a reunion held in September to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Engineer Peacekeeping and Peacemaking operations worldwide.

• The Bowral Vietnam Memorial Walk Trust will receive a grant of $3272 to help replaces 22 vandalised trees in the Cherry Tree Walk at the Vietnam War Memorial in Bowral.

• The Bermagui RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $4000 to help install a new memorial in Bermagui dedicated to all local servicemen and women who served our nation in wars and conflicts.

• Redleaf Manor will receive a grant of $1639 to help install a flagpole in the grounds of the Manor in Concord for use by residents on days of commemoration.

• The Integrated Servicepeople’s Association of Australia will receive a grant of $3000 to help relocate the World War I Junee Reefs Memorial, which is currently located in the grounds of a demolished school, to the centre of Junee Reefs.

• Aged Disabled Association (trading as ADA Cottage) will receive a grant of $1639 to help install a flagpole at the aged care facility in Kandos to be used by residents on days of commemoration.

• Frank Partridge Victoria Cross Military Museum will receive a grant of $1760 to help install four flagpoles outside the museum to be used to raise the flags of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Merchant Navy.

• Megalong Valley Community Association will receive a grant of $1836 to help install an honour board in the Megalong Valley Community Hall dedicated to members of the local community who served Australia in wars and conflicts.

• The Avalon Beach RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $3000 to help install three glass fronted cabinets at the Sub-branch to display wartime memorabilia.

• The 2/5th Australia General Hospital Association will receive a grant of $3000 to help publish the second edition of the 2/5th Australian General Hospital unit history Proudly We Served.

• Forestville RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $3000 to help local school students and their families identify family members who served in wars and conflicts, and understand their achievements.

• Shoalhaven Heads RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $2250 for a commemorative service and luncheon held in September at the Shoalhaven Heads Bowling Club to honour World War II veterans, and to also mark the anniversary of the end of World War II.

• The Integrated Servicepeople’s Association of Australia will receive a grant of $4000 to help restore the Junee Reefs War Memorial.

• The 7th Australian Division Australian Imperial Forces Association will receive a grant of $3000 to help replace three inaccurate plaques on the Kokoda Trail Memorial in Wahroonga dedicated to the 7th Australian Division Australian Imperial Forces.

• Keena Investments (trading as Merrylands Aged Care Centre) will receive a grant of $1639 to help install a flagpole at the centre in Greystanes for use by residents on days of commemoration.

• Uniting Care Ageing Western Region (trading as Bernard Austin Lodge) will receive a grant of $1639 to help install a flagpole in the grounds of Bernard Austin Lodge in Liverpool for use by residents on days of commemoration.

• Principal Healthcare Finance (trading as Norah Head Nursing Home) will receive a grant of $1639 to help install a flagpole in the grounds of the Norah Head Nursing Home in Toukley for use by residents on days of commemoration.

• No 77 Squadron Association will receive a grant of $2200 to help publish the biography of the late Wing Commander Dick Cresswell titled Mr Double Seven.

• Weethalle RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $4000 to help construct a memorial in RSL Cenotaph Memorial Park in Weethalle dedicated to the servicemen and women from the district who served in all wars and conflicts.

• The Balgowlah, Seaforth, Clontarf RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $1650 to help restore and relocate a 25-pounder Field Gun to the Balgowlah RSL Memorial Club and improve the immediate surrounds.

• Nelligen Progress Association will receive a grant of $2500 to help replace the soldier’s gun on the Nelligen War Memorial Cenotaph.

• The Cootamundra War Memorial Precinct Committee will receive a grant of $4000 to help refurbish the Cootamundra War Memorial Obelisk, which was originally erected shortly after the end of World War I.

• St Andrew’s Village Ballina will receive a grant of $2639 to help install a flagpole and memorial plaque at the village for use by residents on days of commemoration.

• Catholic Health Care (trading as Stella Maris Catholic Healthcare) will receive a grant of $1638 to help install a flagpole in the grounds of Stella Maris Aged Care in Cronulla to be used by residents on days of commemoration.

• The Coonamble Hostel Association will receive a grant of $1636 to help install a flagpole in the grounds of the Koonambil Hostel in Coonamble to be used by residents on days of commemoration.

• The Entrance/Long Jetty RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $3000 to install a water and weather proof safety glass shelter around a World War II Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun located outside The Entrance/Long Jetty Military Museum.

• The First Battalion Association will receive a grant of $5223 to help install three plaques in the Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial dedicated to the 1st Australian Infantry Battalion 1st Division Australian Imperial Forces 1914-1918, the 1st Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment 1945, and the 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion 6th Division Australian Imperial Forces 1939-1945.

• Berry and District Historical Society will receive a grant of $3000 to help restore and display wartime memorabilia held at the Berry Museum.

• The Epping RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $24,000 to help upgrade the Boronia Park Epping War Memorial Cenotaph to accommodate the increasing number of people attending remembrance services each year.

• Wommin Bay Village will receive a grant of $1108 to install a plaque on Kingscliff Memorial Walkway dedicated to all veterans who served Australia in time of war or conflict.

• Gosford RSL Leisure Living will receive a grant of $4000 to restore and upgrade the memorial at the Gosford RSL Leisure Living facility.

• The Mary Andrews Retirement Village in South Hurstville will receive a grant of $1639 to install a flagpole in their grounds for their residents’ use on days of commemoration.

• The Balranald Shire Council will receive a grant of $1639 to replace the flagpole at the Balranald Retirement Village for use by residents on days of commemoration.

• The Uralla RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $1820 to upgrade the Korean, World War II and Vietnam Memorials in Uralla.

• The Australian Air Force Cadets 313 (City of Dubbo) Squadron will receive a grant of $3278 to help restore two DC3 propellers, a Mantra R530 Missile and a 500lb bomb located at the Kokoda Barracks in Dubbo.

• The Sussex Inlet RSL Bowling Club will receive a grant of $2634 to restore existing honour boards located at the club and install a new honour board dedicated to all veterans who served in wars and conflicts in which Australia was involved.

• The NSW Scottish Regimental Association will receive a grant of $3000 to purchase a display cabinet to exhibit and preserve wartime memorabilia acquired by the NSW Scottish Regiment at the Pymble Training Depot.

• Cudgen Primary School will receive a grant of $1500 to install two plaques at the Wheelchair Walkway, Kingscliff, which were created by students to commemorate the Indonesian Confrontation and the Battle of Buna.

• The Kingscliff RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $3000 to hold a Remembrance Day Exhibition from 9–12 November 2007 at the Kingscliff RSL Hall to promote public awareness of the contribution veterans have made to Australia’s military history.

• The Eastwood Baptist Church will receive a grant of $830 to restore the World War II Honour Roll in the Eastwood Baptist Church.

• The Great Lakes Christian Outreach Centre will receive a grant of $4000 to restore and preserve Light Horse memorabilia and exhibit the Light Horse memorabilia in various locations to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Charge of the Light Horse in Beersheba.

• The Wagga Wagga RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $830 to amend wrongly spelled names on the Wagga Wagga Cenotaph Honour Roll and add names that have been missed.

• The Auburn RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $3905 to restore the Word War I Honour Roll of students from Auburn West Public School who enlisted in the War, and restore the World War I Honour Roll of students from Auburn North Public School who enlisted in the War.

• Shoalhaven City Council will receive a grant of $4000 to upgrade the Voyager Park Memorial located in Huskisson to improve access.