Marking their final resting place
The Hon Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
The service and sacrifice of our First World War veterans should never be forgotten.
Yet many lie in unmarked graves because they lacked the family or funds for a funeral.
Today the Albanese Government is announcing the previously unmarked graves of almost 200 First World War veterans across Australia will be forever honoured with an appropriate marker.
Funding totalling $113,000 will go to 26 organisations and individuals nationwide through the latest round of the Marking Private Graves Program, with individual grants up to $620 per grave marker.
An estimated 331,800 Australian personnel were deployed during the First World War.
Approximately 60,000 were killed or are listed as missing in action, leaving some 270,000 service men and women who returned to Australia.
Official commemoration in the form of a graveside memorial was provided to more than 30,000 of these service men and women, whose death was accepted as directly related to their war service.
The remaining 240,000 First World War veterans were buried privately, some of whom are at rest in unmarked graves.
The Making Private Graves grant program enables communities to posthumously honour the memories of First World War veterans buried in that way by permanently marking their final resting place, helping preserve our military history.
This year’s recipients include RSL sub-branches, cemetery trusts, historical societies, and individuals committed to honouring veterans. The full list of recipients is available below.
More information about the MPG grant program is available on the DVA website.
Audio of Minister Keogh speaking to this announcement can be accessed here.
| Applicant Name | State of Grave Marker | Funding Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kyabram RSL Sub Branch | VIC | $620 |
| the Trustee for Trafalgar Public Cemetery Trust | VIC | $1,720 |
| Headstone Project Victoria Inc. | VIC | $4,960 |
| The Trustee for Linton Public Cemetery Trust | VIC | $620 |
| Shire of Wickepin | WA | $1,143 |
| Greenbushes Eco-Cultural Discovery Centre Inc. | WA | $620 |
| Lynette Hildebrandt | WA | $620 |
| Eastern Goldfields Historical Society Inc. | WA | $4,960 |
| Robert Finlay & Helen Phillips | NSW | $620 |
| The Headstone Project SA | SA | $13,020 |
| Katrina Trevethan and Catherine Walker | QLD | $75,640 |
| Jennifer Derksen | QLD | $620 |
| Tanya Easterby | QLD | $4,340 |
| Friends of Nudah Historic Cemetery Inc. | QLD | $3,100 |
| Ann-Margaret Leighton | QLD | $620 |
Media contact
Stephanie Mathews (Minister Keogh’s Office): 0407 034 485
DVA Media Team: media.team@dva.gov.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608