NSW: Councils will receive grants for war memorials

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2008
NSW: Councils will receive grants for war memorials

SYDNEY, April 10 AAP - Communities in NSW will be given grants to protect and restore
war memorials, NSW Premier Morris Iemma says.

The $250,000 Community War Memorials Fund grants would be handed out twice a year,
Mr Iemma said in a statement today.

"Cities and towns across the state have memorials honouring the thousands of NSW residents
who made the supreme sacrifice for our country," he said.

"Those war memorials are among the most precious objects in our community. They were
built - almost universally - by local fundraising and belong to the people."

NSW Returned and Serviceman's League state president Don Rowe welcomed the funding
announcement, saying it would allow many communities, particularly in regional areas,
to make much-needed repairs to their war memorials.

"A great many of these war memorials have been built for 80 or 90 years and, sadly,
a number of them are coming into disrepair," Mr Rowe said today.

"A lot of them are crumbling.

"This ... will ensure that those memorials are fixed up, and remain a prominent meeting
place for the community on ANZAC day and Remembrance Day to ensure that sacrifice is never
forgotten."

Among the first recipients of the grant are Blue Mountains City Council, Eurobodalla
Shire Council and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The grants will be decided by a State War Memorials Committee which will announce further
recipients around ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.

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KEYWORD: MEMORIALS IEMMA

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