First round of Armistice Centenary Grants announced

Communities across the country are set to receive almost $320,000 under the Armistice Centenary Grants Program to develop 50 projects to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of the First World War.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the round of grants had been designed to support local projects and activities that appropriately acknowledge the end of the war 100 years ago.

“The response from the community to the Armistice Centenary Grants Program has been overwhelming and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is working to process applications as soon as possible,” Mr Chester said.

“The high level of interest in commemorating this important date in our history is a true testament to the success of the Anzac Centenary 2014–18 and I have no doubt these projects will create a lasting legacy of remembrance.”

Under the program, every electorate in Australia is eligible to receive up to $50,000 to commemorate Australia’s wartime history and the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

“Examples of successful projects and activities include the installation of monuments, exhibitions and displays; upgrades to existing memorials to include gardens and landscaping; and the development of educational resources such as themed films and publications,” Mr Chester said.

“In Victoria, in the electorate of Bendigo, $9091 has been committed to a local project to undertake an Armistice Day Re-Enactment of the events that occurred on 11 November 1918.

“In the NSW electorate of Robertson, $17,424 has been provided for the purchase of 16 uniforms to be worn by locals in parades and commemorative services that pay tribute to First World War service men and women and the Armistice Centenary.”

Details of the first 50 community projects are listed below, with more successful grant recipients to be announced over the coming months.

 

GRANTS:

NEW SOUTH WALES

Recipient	Location	Electorate	Funding description	Amount $
Bodangora Public Reserve Trust	Bodangora	Calare	Installation of a concrete path and flag pole to the Bodangora War Memorial.	3,000
Lithgow City Band Inc	Lithgow	Calare	Produce and perform a musical-dramatic play “1918 Back from the Brink” to commemorate the end of the First World War.	5,000
Blackheath Phoenix Choir Inc	Glenbrook, Blackheath, Lithgow	Macquarie	Staging of two concerts including a premiere of a special new ‘remembrance’ composition to be performed in Armistice day concerts.	8,348
Kyogle RSL Sub-Branch	Kyogle	Page	Create an exhibition of First World War memorabilia.	3,728
Cobar Shire Council	Nymagee, Canbelego, Euabalong, Mt Hope & Murrin Bridge	Parkes	Hold a commemorative event and create permanent monuments in villages throughout Cobar Shire in honour of service personnel  from the First World War.	5,699
Eumungerie-Coboco RSL Sub Branch	Eumungerie	Parkes	Additional works at the Eumungerie Memorial Cenotaph.	3,000
Gunnedah Shire Council	Tambar Springs	Parkes	Conduct a significant “Centenary of Armistice Day” event at the historic Tambar Springs Cenotaph, and upgrade the grounds surrounding the Cenotaph.	3,752
Narromine Aviation Museum Incorporated	Narromine	Parkes	A centenary display of photographic prints from the collection of Lieutenant H. Bowden Fletcher from 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, at the Narromine Aviation Museum.	3,264
Nyngan Museum	Nyngan	Parkes	Install a water feature and plaque as part of the war memorial and purchase display cabinets for First World War memorabilia.	3,187
Barmedman Tidy Towns / Anzac Committee	Barmedman	Riverina	Placement of a bronze plaque on a Cenotaph in Barmedman Anzac Memorial Park, and hold a commemorative service and community event on Armistice Day 2018.	1,217
National Service 1951-72 Re-Enactment Unit Inc	North Avoca	Robertson	To purchase 16 uniforms to be worn by members at parades and commemorative services during 2018 in tribute to First World War service personnel and the Armistice Centenary.	17,424
Terrigal Wamberal RSL Sub Branch	Wamberal & Terrigal	Robertson	To hold a special commemorative service at Breakers Country Club and Terrigal Beach, followed by an opening of a commemorative display featuring First World War memorabilia.	3,726
Total Grants – NSW			Total $61,345

 

QUEENSLAND

Recipient	Location	Electorate	Funding description	Amount $
Caloundra RSL Sub Branch Inc	Caloundra	Fisher	To extend the existing memorial garden and provide refurbishment and additional seating to the garden at the Caloundra RSL.	3,725
TS Centaur Australian Navy Cadets	Maleny	Fisher	Installation of a new flag pole, stone plinth and plaque to commemorate the Centenary of the Armistice and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and women.	5,224
Bundaberg State High School	Bundaberg	Hinkler	Renovation of the Bundaberg State High School remembrance memorial garden.	10,000
Atherton RSL Sub-Branch	Atherton	Kennedy	Wall mounted presentation of the 15th Battalion that will become a permanent display of First World War memorabilia in the Atherton RSL Sub-Branch building.	3,000
Cairns RSL Sub Branch	Cairns	Leichhardt	Produce a digital documentary record of the Armistice Centenary commemoration in Cairns.	12,090
Cairns RSL Sub Branch	Cairns	Leichhardt	Carry out a First World War family educational event that directly engages young people in a historical treasure hunt throughout Cairns City on Armistice Day 2018.	15,516
Mossman RSL Sub-Branch	Mossman	Leichhardt	Complete First World War Centenary projects in the Douglas Shire district, including a commemorative mosaic, poppy display, memorial plaques and upgraded Cenotaph.	20,002
Nundah Northgate RSL Sub Branch	Nundah	Lilley	Installation of a display cabinet for the display of Sub-Branch military memorabilia.	5,500
Charleville RSL Sub Branch Inc	Charleville	Maranoa	To commemorate Armistice with a twilight service and concert event.	11,205
Jandowae RSL Sub Branch	Jandowae	Maranoa	Beautification of the memorial gardens at the front of the Jandowae Memorial Hall.	3,500
Augusta State School	Augustine Heights	Oxley	Creation of a mural to acknowledge the Armistice Centenary and sacrifice of service personnel.	3,500
Darra State School	Darra	Oxley	Installation of flagpoles and a commemorative plaque at Darra State School.	2,728
Kruger State School	Bellbird Park	Oxley	Installation of flagpoles at Kruger State School.	3,669
Pallara State School	Pallara	Oxley	Create a commemorative memorial garden at the school.	2,408
Woodcrest State College	Springfield	Oxley	Installation of flagpoles for commemorative purposes.	3,867
St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School	Mango Hill	Petrie	Creation of a memorial wall with commemorative art work and landscaping of monument area.	4,319
The Gap RSL Sub-Branch	The Gap	Ryan	To construct four columns to match the existing memorial columns with decorative metal gates, archway and emblems at The Gap Memorial Park.	21,000
Total Grants – QLD			Total $131,253

 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Recipient	Location	Electorate	Funding description	Amount $
RSL Morphett Vale & District Sub-Branch	Morphett Vale	Kingston	Purchase of two display cabinets that will house First World War memorabilia.	10,000
RSL Morphett Vale & District Sub-Branch	Morphett Vale	Kingston	Landscaping of grounds including installation of a plaque, water feature and pavers to create a commemorative garden.	3,000
Tea Tree Gully Returned and Services League Sub-Branch	Tea Tree Gully	Makin	Conduct a commemorative service and unveil a plaque dedicated to the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front 100 years ago.	5,063
RSL McLaren Vale & District Sub-Branch Inc	McLaren Vale	Mayo	Install a flagpole, plinth, plaque and lighting at the RSL.	6,737
Total Grants – SA			Total $24,800

 

VICTORIA

Recipient	Location	Electorate	Funding description	Amount $
Arch of Victory / Avenue of Honour Committee	Ballarat	Ballarat	Restoration of the Memorial Cairn and Cross of Remembrance.	13,637
Castlemaine RSL Sub-Branch	Bendigo	Bendigo	Purchase new display cabinets.	4,988
Woodend RSL Sub-Branch	Woodend	Bendigo	Undertake a Woodend Armistice Day Re-Enactment of the events that occurred on 11 November 1918.	9,091
Bright RSL Sub-Branch Inc	Bright	Indi	The production and showing of six First World War films on and around Armistice Day.	6,500
Mansfield RSL Sub-Branch	Mansfield	Indi	Replace a panel over the Mansfield Memorial Gate arch, polish the granite panels and re-gild the names of First World War service personnel.	5,000
Beaconsfield Primary School	Beaconsfield	La Trobe	Create an Armistice Centenary memorial garden.	8,091
St Margaret’s / Berwick Grammar School	Officer	La Trobe	Construct a memorial garden commemorating First World War service personnel from the Berwick community who attended the old Berwick Boys Grammar School.	5,408
Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub-Branch Inc	Upwey	La Trobe	Create six dioramas that depict life in the trenches and the effect of the war on the home front.	5,166
Berwick-Pakenham Historical Society	Warragul	McMillan	Research, collect and publish stories of First World War service personnel listed on the First World War memorials in the Pakenham district.	10,000
Foster RSL Sub-Branch	Foster	McMillan	Create and install a new honour roll for the Foster War Memorial Arts Centre.	5,420
Mirboo & District Historical Society	Mirboo North	McMillan	Create a new honour board for the Hall and hold a public celebration for the unveiling.	3,150
West Gippsland Genealogical Society	Warragul	McMillan	Research and publish a collection of stories of First World War service personnel from West Gippsland.	3,000
Beaufort Garden Club	Beaufort	Wannon	Install security lighting for illumination and protection of First World War carvings and restore the memorial garden.	3,186
Portland Bay School	Portland	Wannon	Construct a steel memorial poppy statue at Portland Bay School’s new campus.	2,950
Warrnambool RSL Sub-Branch	Warrnambool	Wannon	Install three bronze commemorative plaques.	6,364
Total Grants – VIC			Total $91,951

 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Recipient	Location	Electorate	Funding description	Amount $
Pickering Brook Heritage Group Inc	Pickering Brook	Canning	Erect of two adult sized metal silhouettes ‘Soldier on Guard’ to complete the existing War Memorial.	3,000
Nungarin Heritage, Machinery & Army Museum Inc	Nungarin	Durack	Erect flag poles and install two cast bronze plaques as a commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice.	6,820
Total Grants – WA			Total $9,820

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