TASMANIA VETERAN COMMUNITY RECEIVES $29,000 BOOST IN FUNDING  

Veteran communities from across Tasmania will share in $29,709 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 Tasmania Recipients

• The Tasmanian Ex-RAN Association, Devonport/Ulverstone Branch, will receive a grant of $3000 to help restore the naval history globe in HMAS Shropshire Naval Memorial Park.

• New Town Primary School will receive a grant of $4000 to help establish an Avenue of Honour in New Town including the installation of 35 plaques at the base of an existing avenue of trees to commemorate former students from New Town State School who died during World War I.  The school will receive a further grant of $4000 to help restore the World War I Honour Board located in the foyer of the school.

• Beaconsfield RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $1760 to help upgrade the Wall of Remembrance at RSL Park in Beaconsfield.

• Huon Valley Council will receive a grant of $4000 to help construct a community memorial in Cradoc Park dedicated to those from the district who served during World War I.

• The Naval Military & Air Force Club of Tasmania will receive a grant of $3000 to restore and preserve the portrait of Lieutenant General J L Whitham CMG DSO for display in the Military Museum of Tasmania at Anglesea Barracks in Hobart. 

• The Latrobe RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $1639 to install a flagpole and new signage at the Latrobe RSL Sub-branch.

• Zeehan RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $4000 to upgrade the Zeehan RSL Memorial.

• The Scottsdale RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $3080 to install security lighting to a commemorative tree carving situated adjacent to the Scottsdale Cenotaph, and replace an old flagpole.

• The Sheffield RSL Sub-branch will receive a grant of $1230 to purchase a cabinet for secure display of wartime memorabilia at the Sheffield RSL Sub-branch.