Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am pleased to update the House today on the progress of the Centenary of Anzac grants in my electorate of Richmond. The funding of $125,000 per electorate rightly commemorates the service and sacrifice of Australian service men and women in the First World War. I am delighted to report that the Richmond committee has now been convened and is working hard on local commemorations. The committee is chaired by Dr John Griffin of the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL sub-branch and attended by the following representatives: from Byron Bay RSL, Violet Hill; from Murwillumbah RSL, Derek Sims; from Mullumbimby RSL, Paul Smith; from Kingscliff RSL, Hugh Aitken; and from the Legacy Far North Coast Branch, Kevin Sharpley.

The local RSLs will be a focal point to assist the community in their applications. These applications will then be referred to the committee for recommendation to the minister. The committee's initial discussion focused on the many ways in which to support local community groups with ideas and examples of eligible activities under the program. The committee noted the centenary provided opportunities for Australians of all ages to work together to mark the centenary through local organisations. The committee will also be encouraging and working alongside our local schools to create projects to help ensure the Anzac legacy continues to be handed down to younger generations.

It was a great honour for me to convene the inaugural meeting of the Richmond Anzac Centenary committee and I look forward to continuing to work alongside this wonderful committee group, and the community as well, as together we remember the service and sacrifice of so many.