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)
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NEW SOUTH WALES |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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.
