Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am really pleased to announce grant funding of $34,000 to produce commemorative medals marking the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli. These grants were made through the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program, with the medallions project being coordinated by the Pelican RSL sub-branch in the Shortland electorate. The medallions will be an important, lasting memory of our Anzac history. About 20,000 medallions are being produced, and they will be delivered to schoolchildren in local schools in the eastern side of Lake Macquarie and the northern part of Wyong Shire. The front of the medallion will feature Simpson and his donkey helping a wounded soldier, and on the back will be the words 'courage, mateship, endurance and sacrifice'. Each medallion will come in a protective velvet pouch. They will be a great talking point for families and a great keepsake for all those students in the Shortland electorate. It will bring home to them the importance of the celebration of Gallipoli. It will be part of the history. When they have children of their own, they can pull out that medallion, show it to them and talk to them about the importance of Gallipoli and Anzac Day.