Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants worth close to $170,000, will fund 64 projects across Australia will commemorate Australia’s wartime history and honour those who served, and continue to serve, Australia in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

The Saluting Their Service grants program provides several rounds of funding each year to help communities build and maintain memorials, capture the wartime history of their towns and preserve memorabilia for future generations.

Commemorative projects play a major role in educating Australians, both young and old, about our wartime heritage, and this funding will support a range of initiatives across Australia, including veteran reunions, commemorative ceremonies, restoration of existing memorials and the installation of commemorative displays.”

Since 2008, more than $7 million has been provided to over 1,800 commemorative projects across the country.

The Tamworth Memorial to the Australian Light Horse (pictured below) is just one example  of the many memorials that have been created to honour our military heritage. This memorial came to fruition through the hard work of the local community, together with some funding from both the State and Federal governments. This memorial is dedicated to all horses that died in war. Newcastle sculptor Tanya Bartlett was commissioned to create the horse and trooper in bronze, with the four large bronze plaques telling of the exploits of the Light Horse during World War One. The memorial was unveiled on 29 October 2009.

Tamworth Memorial to the Australian Light Horse (known locally as the Waler Memorial)

 

SALUTING THEIR SERVICE COMMEMORATIVE GRANT RECIPIENTS

NEW SOUTH WALES
Recipient Location Funding description Total $
Brooklyn RSL Sub-branch BROOKLYN NSW To help restore and upgrade the Brooklyn War Memorial.

7,176
7th Division Engineer’s Association MANLY NSW Towards a luncheon on 25 March 2012 at North Fort Memorial Walkway, North Head, following a plaque dedication and unveiling.

3,000
9th Australian Division Council of NSW SYDNEY NSW Towards a luncheon held in October 2011 at the Combined Services Club, Sydney, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk.

600
Ballina RSL Sub-branch BALLINA NSW To help install a display cabinet in the Ballina RSL Club to house a large amount of donated wartime memorabilia.

3,000
Bulahdelah Show Society Inc BULAHDELAH NSW To help restore the Soldiers Memorial Gates at the entrance to the Bulahdelah Showground.

4,000
Bungendore War Memorial Management Committee BUNGENDORE NSW To help restore the Bungendore War Memorial.

4,000
Camden RSL Sub-branch CAMDEN NSW To help clean and restore the First World War Memorial in Macarthur Park, Camden.

4,000
City of Penrith RSL Sub-branch PENRITH NSW To help restore and upgrade the medal and memorabilia display at the Penrith RSL Club.

4,000
HMAS Sydney Association Inc SYDNEY NSW Towards a luncheon held in November 2011 at the NSW Bowlers Club following a service at the Sydney Cenotaph to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Sydney II.

1,750
Ingleburn RSL Sub-branch INGLEBURN NSW To help restore and upgrade the Ingleburn War Memorial.

4,000
Katoomba RSL Sub-branch KATOOMBA NSW To help restore the Bofors Gun which is displayed outside the Katoomba RSL Club.

3,000
Kogarah City Council KOGARAH NSW To help replace a dilapidated flagpole and upgrade the granite path surrounding the Kogarah War Memorial.

4,000
Lismore City Council NIMBIN NSW To help upgrade the surrounds and access to the Nimbin War Memorial.

1,390
Merewether RSL Sub-branch MEREWETHER NSW To help  upgrade the courtyard at the Mitchell Park War Memorial in Merewether.

4,000
Naval Association of Australia, Tuggerah Lakes Sub Section LONG JETTY NSW Towards a luncheon on 6 May 2012 following a service at Long Jetty to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

1,250
Operation Pilgrimage Group RYDE NSW To help frame the portraits of all Victoria Cross recipients which will be included in an Anzac travelling photographic portrait exhibition, In the Company of Heroes, during 2012-2015. Once completed, the exhibition will be  donated to selected RSA/RSL clubs.

3,000
Portland RSL Sub-branch PORTLAND NSW To help install a new flagpole and upgrade the access and surrounds of the Portland War Memorial.

4,000
St Joseph’s College HUNTERS HILL NSW To help erect an honour board at St Joseph’s College to commemorate former students who served during the Vietnam War.

3,102
Temora RSL Sub-branch TEMORA NSW To help install a secure cabinet in the Temora Rural Museum to display a book of remembrance commemorating 718 local men and women who served during the Second World War.

1,952
Waverley Council BONDI JUNCTION NSW To help restore and upgrade the war memorial in Waverley Park.

4,000
Woy Woy Community Aged Care Ltd WOY WOY NSW To help install a flagpole at the entrance to the Woy Woy Community Aged Care facility for use by residents on days of commemoration.

595
Wyrallah Public School P&C Association WYRALLAH NSW To help relocate and restore the Second World War Memorial Archway at Wyrallah Public School.

3,500
Total grants –

22

Total $

69,315

VICTORIA
Recipient Location Funding description Funding $
3rd Cavalry Regiment (Vietnam) Association Inc TONGALA VIC Towards a luncheon held in October 2011 following an opening ceremony  to dedicate the new memorial in Tongala commemorating all who served in Cavalry during the Vietnam War.

2,850
Chocolyn Rural Fire Brigade CHOCOLYN VIC To help install a plaque in Chocolyn to commemorate First World War soldier settlers in the area.

2,010
Ex-HMAS Quickmatch Association GLEN WAVERLEY VIC Towards a reunion luncheon on 16 September 2012 at Waverley RSL Sub-branch to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the commissioning of HMAS Quickmatch.

1,250
Maribyrnong City Council
Strategy and Economic Development Branch		 FOOTSCRAY VIC To help restore 227 First and Second World War memorial plaques from the Avenue of Honour in Footscray.

4,000
Mount Evelyn RSL Sub-branch MOUNT EVELYN VIC To help erect a plaque on the cenotaph in Mount Evelyn to commemorate local servicemen and women who have died in all wars and conflicts.

1,000
Peninsula Ex-Service Women’s RSL Sub-branch FRANKSTON VIC Towards a luncheon held in December 2011 at the Frankston RSL function centre to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Women’s Service.

1,010
Shepparton RSL Sub-branch
Veteran’s Board of Trustees		 SHEPPARTON VIC To help install an honour board at the Shepparton RSL Sub-branch to commemorate local women who served in the defence forces during the First and Second World Wars.

1,910
Swan Hill RSL Sub-branch NYAH VIC To help restore two 25 Pound Short Howitzers for permanent display at the cenotaph in Nyah.

4,000
Warburton RSL Sub-branch WESBURN VIC To help restore and repaint the Cenotaph at Wesburn.

2,700
Wonthaggi RSL Sub-branch WONTHAGGI VIC To help erect an honour board in the RSL Hall, Wonthaggi, to commemorate local servicemen and women who served during the Second World War.

3,201
Total grants –

10

Total $

23,931

QUEENSLAND
Recipient Location Funding description Amount
5/7 RAR Association Qld BRACKEN RIDGE QLD To help purchase three sets of sling flagstaffs for the 5/7 RAR Unit banners for use on days of commemoration.

605
American Legion Douglas MacArthur Post AU03 BRISBANE QLD To assist visiting veterans who served on USS Lexington CV2 and other veterans of Task Force 17 ships with events and ceremonies to be held around the country to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

3,000
Beaudesert RSL Sub-Branch Inc BEAUDESERT QLD Towards a luncheon on 28 July 2012 at Beaudesert RSL Services Club to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.

1,450
Cairns Historical Society CAIRNS QLD To help  design and produce interpretive panels and material for the Cairns 1942 exhibition, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the War in the Pacific.

3,126
Charters Towers RSL Sub-branch CHARTERS TOWERS QLD To help restore four decommissioned guns on display outside the Charters Towers RSL Sub-branch.

3,000
Coral Sea Battle Commemorative Association of Australia (Inc) BRISBANE QLD Towards a dinner on 4 May 2012 at Parliament House, Brisbane, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

3,000
Greenbank RSL Sub-branch Inc HILLCREST QLD Towards a dinner held in November 2011 at the Greenbank Services Club to commemorate the centenary of the Royal Australian Navy and the 90th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force.

1,650
Julia Creek State School JULIA CREEK QLD To help replace a deteriorated soldier statue in the Anzac garden at Julia Creek State School.

2,000
Keperra Sanctuary Retirement Village
The Residents’ Committee		 KEPERRA QLD To help install a flagpole and memorial plaque at Keperra Sanctuary Retirement Village for use by residents on days of commemoration.

2,000
Logan City Historical Museum Society KINGSTON QLD Towards a luncheon held on 1 February 2012 at the Kingston Butter Factory Museum to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Fall of Singapore.

3,000
Pine Rivers RSL Sub-branch ALBANY CREEK QLD To help restore and upgrade the Reflection and Remembrance Garden at Albany Hills State School.

2,850
Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Sub-branch CORINDA QLD Towards a morning tea on 31 May 2012 following a service in Brisbane, to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the end of the Boer War.

1,750
Submarines Association of Australia, Qld Branch (Inc) TENERIFFE QLD To help install interpretive signage along Submariners Walk at Teneriffe, outlining the operations of Australian submarines and midget submarines during the First and Second World Wars.

2,155
Totally and Permanently Disabled Ex-Servicepersons Association (Townsville) Inc NORTH WARD QLD To help install a memorial and flagpole with garden surrounds at Townsville Central School to be used on days of commemoration.

1,099
Turkey Beach Return Serviceman’s Friendship Group TURKEY BEACH QLD To help erect a memorial at Turkey Beach for use on days of commemoration.

4,000
Vietnam Legion Veterans’ Association Capricorn Coast Inc MARLBOROUGH QLD To help replace a plaque on the war memorial in Marlborough that commemorates two local men who died whilst on active service in the Vietnam War.

626
Warwick Central State School P&C Association WARWICK QLD To help install an honour board at Warwick Central State School to commemorate former students who have served in all wars and conflicts.

710
Total grants –

17

Total $

36,021

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Recipient Location Funding
Royal Australian Air Force Association (WA Div) Inc
Cambrai Village Residents Branch		 MERRIWA WA To help upgrade the war memorial at Cambrai Memorial Village, Merriwa, with two bronze alloy wreaths and a ‘Lest We Forget’ alloy ribbon.

1,685
Wirrabirra Primary School GOSNELLS WA To help install a flagpole at the Wirrabirra Primary School for use by students on days of commemoration.

843
Total grants –

2

Total $

2,528

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Recipient Location Funding description Total
Clare RSL Sub-branch CLARE SA To help install lighting at the First World War Memorial in Clare to enhance the memorial and deter vandalism.

4,000
Clare RSL Sub-branch CLARE SA To help install lighting on the Second World War Memorial in Clare to enhance the memorial and deter vandalism.

4,000
District Council of Orroroo Carrieton ORROROO SA To help remove, restore, frame and relocate the First World War memorial stained glass window from the Morchard Uniting Church to the Orroroo Memorial Hall.

3,300
East Torrens Historical Society Inc URAIDLA SA To help restore the First World War Honour Board at Uraidla Primary School.

4,000
Georgetown Community Development Association Inc GEORGETOWN SA To help erect an honour board in the Georgetown Memorial Hall to commemorate men from the local district who served during the Boer War.

3,091
Mount Lofty Districts Historical Society Inc STIRLING SA To help restore a rare First World War participation certificate for W.H. Driver, who was a member of The United Ancient Order of Druids  Lodge at Uraidla, and frame two copies for public display.

1,500
Mount Lofty Districts Historical Society Inc STIRLING SA To help restore the Scott’s Creek and Longwood Roll of Honour that lists the names of servicemen from the district who served in the armed services during the First World War, and frame two copies for public display.

1,900
Mypolonga RSL Sub-branch MYPOLONGA SA To help erect a commemorative wall at the front of the Mypolonga RSL Sub-branch.

4,000
Port Vincent RSL Sub-branch PORT VINCENT SA To help restore the war memorial at Port Vincent.

2,198
Total grants –

9

Total $

27,989

TASMANIA
Recipient Location Funding description Total
Beaconsfield RSL Sub-branch BEACONSFIELD TAS To help erect fencing around a decommissioned Leopard tank displayed in RSL Park, Beaconsfield, and spray the tank with anti-graffiti protective coating.

3,000
RAAF Association, Tasmanian Division North West Branch ULVERSTONE TAS To help install a plaque in Air Force Park, Ulverstone, to commemorate men and women from North West Tasmania who served with the Royal Australian Air Force in all wars and conflicts.

560
Total grants –

2

Total $

3,560

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Recipient Location Funding description Total
Giralang Primary School GIRALANG ACT To help establish a display area at the front entry of Giralang Primary School to commemorate the Rats of Tobruk. The school has had ties with the Rats of Tobruk since 1999 and is the custodian of their ceremonial banner.

3,000
No 34 Squadron RAAF Reunion CANBERRA ACT To help install two plaques, one at RAAF Memorial Grove, Federal Highway, and one at No 34 Squadron, Canberra Airport, to commemorate No 34 Squadron’s service to the nation since its formation in Darwin in February 1942.

3,322
Total grants –

2

Total $

6,322
Total of all grants

64

Grant Total $

$169,666

 

Local community and ex-service organisations are encouraged to apply for funding to support local commemorative initiatives.

For further information about the grants programs, contact the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) by phoning:  133 254 (metro callers), or 1800 555 254 (for non-metro callers). or visit their website.