The pride of Griffith’s monuments and statues will continue to feature front and centre in the city for generations to come, with the Banna Avenue Cenotaph receiving $9000 for repair and restorative works.
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The NSW Government has allocated more than $129,000 to fund 26 projects across the state as part of the Community War Memorials Fund.
President of the Griffith sub-branch of the RSL, Hank Veenhuizen, is pleased with the funding allocation, with plans already underway to put the money to good use.
“We saw in the paper a couple weeks ago ... that grants were available for war memorials, and we applied for it and got it.”
“The cenotaph needs a new paint job, and the door to the side needs repairs as well.
“The money will also go towards removing the wreath hooks on the side, used on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day celebrations, and will be replaced with removable brackets, in accordance with OHS requirements.”
“We’ve already had to shorten the hooks and put rubber on the end, but this way it is a lot safer, and the brackets can be stored away.”
Member for Murray Adrian Piccoli announced the funding was part of a proud commitment to honour Australia’s servicemen and women.
“It is fitting that as we commemorate the Centenary of Anzac we invest in repairing and looking after local war memorials in honour of those Australian servicemen and women who sacrificed so much for our nation,” Mr Piccoli said.
He highlighted the large number of successful applications coming from regional NSW in the second round of the Community War Memorials Fund.
The Community War Memorials Fund offers grants of up to $10,000 for the protection and conservation of war memorials, including statues, memorial gates, halls and honour rolls.
Mr Piccoli welcomed the NSW Government’s commitment to invest in the preservation of some of Murray’s longest surviving war memorials.
“These memorials have significant heritage value and meaning for their communities, with some commemorating conflicts as far back as the Boer War, which ended in 1902,” Mr Piccoli said.
“They also represent more than a century of architectural design history in regional NSW.”
The Community War Memorials Fund was set up to fund projects which help protect and conserve existing war memorials across the state.
The Veterans Affairs website offers further information on Community War Memorials Fund grants.
