Mond

Friday, 20 October 2006

SYKES: RESTORING COMMUNITY WAR MEMORIAL GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE

The Nationals Member for Benalla Bill Sykes is encouraging organisations within the Benalla Electorate to apply for funding to restore war memorials and honour boards.

The Restoring Community War Memorials Grants Program provides funding of up to $7000 for ex-service organisations, local councils, schools and community groups to preserve, restore and enhance local war memorials and honour boards.

Dr Sykes said, “War memorials and honour boards provide great insight into our history and honours those local servicemen and women who died in the service of their country.”

Repairs to broken statues that form part of a memorial, repairs to barriers and fences, re-lettering, new plaques, lighting, landscaping, interpretative signs and, if necessary, re-location, are all projects that will be considered for funding.

Previous recipients in the Benalla Electorate have been:

• Bright War Memorial – Bright

 • Mystic War Memorial – Mystic Park

 • Fallen Soldiers Memorial – Mansfield

 • Nagambie War Memorial – Nagambie

 • Tatong Primary School – Tatong

• Thornton Memorial Hall – Thornton

 • Benalla War Memorial – Benalla

 • St John’s Honour Roll - Nagambie

Dr Sykes continued, “The community cenotaphs and war memorials are an essential element of the streetscapes of many towns in the Benalla electorate and contribute strongly to our love for our own towns and our sense of place.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I urge all eligible organisations to apply for funding so that our cenotaphs and war memorials remain a source of community pride and respect, not only on Anzac Day, Darwin Defenders Day and special wartime anniversaries, but every day,” Bill Sykes said.

Applications for the grants close on 7 February 2007, and further information and application forms are available at www.veterans.vic.gov.au phone 1300 366356 or contact Peta Clark at Bill Sykes office ph 5762 2100.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989